WHAT IS PERI-MENOPAUSE?

Peri-menopause is related to the period of time that precedes the end of the menstrual cycles and which corresponds to hormonal disturbances. Cycles usually tend to shorten even though it is not rare to see them lengthen. Menstrual flow intensity undergoes the same mechanism as it can be increased or on the contrary, decreased. Keep in mind that if ovulation is deeply disturbed during peri-menopause it does not mean that you can’t get pregnant. Do not change the habits you had until you reach menopause.

Throughout this entire period, your body undergoes a multitude of biological and clinical changes. Oestrogens produced by ovaries since your puberty gradually dry up. During this period women can go through:

• Hyper-oestrogenism which causes irritability, breast pain, weight gain as well as abdominal swelling
• or through hypo-oestrogenism which provokes hot flashes, sleep troubles, general fatigue, loss of libido and low morale.

Since, they use to play a decisive role in many organs’ good health, their fluctuations affect almost every part of your body. Your bones, your heart, your breasts, your brain, your genitourinary system, your skin, your hair or even your nails are impacted by these natural changes. Understanding and identifying these mechanisms as early as possible helps to prevent inconveniences they cause and to properly prepare your body for the years that follow.

EACH MENOPAUSE IS UNIQUE

This phase of peri-menopause, like the following ones, varies enormously depending on the professional activity, the social demographic, the physical and psychological health and even the family clinical history of the individual. Each of you is unique and each of you will be affected differently. That is why it really needs to become a conversation between you and your practitioner. Nowadays, in addition to a regular and complete medical check-up, a simple blood test can indicate how likely symptoms are to manifest in the near future. Because each and every symptom has a treatment or a solution, whether pharmacological or not, early identification of changes will help you to choose the strategy that is the best for you to limit or sometimes even avoid undesirable effects.

6 TIPS TO HELP YOU TO GO THROUGH PERIMENOPOSE SERENELY

Menopause is not a disease; it is a natural process every woman experience differently. Here are 6 tips to improve your health, self-confidence and well-being.

1. Healthy diet
   What if perimenopause was the occasion to rediscover benefits of healthy food? Varied and proportionate healthy food consumption will help your body adapt to the changes it is facing. Healthy diet will help you to control weight gain. It will boost your density and skin hydration while providing your bones minerals and vitamins they may lack. It will protect your cardiovascular system and also have benefits into reducing hot flashes and sleep troubles.
2. Exercise
   Regular exercise along with healthy diet will help you maintain a healthy weight. It helps to decrease hot flashes; it reduces the risk of coronary artery disease, and it also has a beneficial effect on bone and skin density. If you’re not used to practice physical activity, surround yourself with others. It will make this moment funnier and will enhance both your motivation and dedication.
3. Skincare
   Boost your skin density and hydration by improving your intake of foods rich in vitamin E, D and omega 3. Practice physical exercises as much as you can and make yourself happy with beauty treatments adapted to your skin specificities.
4. Bad habits cessation
   Smoking as well as alcohol consumption is associated with numerous chronic diseases. We also know that smoking contributes to an earlier onset of perimenopause and a longer period leading to menopause. It has also been concluded that alcohol consumption has a trigger effect on hot flashes, night sweats and sleep trouble.
   Some other simple habits and routine may improve these latest symptoms. A few hours before bedtime, try to stop drinking all liquids, especially caffeine and alcohol. Avoid physical exercises in the evening and rather than spending time in front of your smartphones and tablets’ blue lights, try to close your eyes and meditate.
5. Dialogue
   Menopause is not a disease. You should be able to openly talk about it with your partner, members of your family and with your practitioner. Being surrounded, heard, understood and well advised during this transition period full of changes is decisive.
6. Medical check-up
   Peri-menopause is a real occasion for you to know more about your body. As you are getting older, it is time to empower yourself by making sure all the preventions you can take are followed-up. That includes everything from weight, vulvovaginal examination, pelvic ultrasound, bone densitometry, liver assessment and mammograms to contraceptive management if needed as well as cardiovascular management. Your body is the most precious capital you have. Like all others, the way you manage is determining. Menopause is thus the perfect occasion to invest and empower positively your body’s knowledge and general health. Take advantage of it!