Puberty to Perimenopause to Menopause

by Angle Fielden, CPhT

Most women spend their entire life making transitions into the next stage of life. At the age of 1 day old to say around 10 or 11 or puberty, our hormones a very stable and at a very low level.

The next stage of a women’s life takes place at puberty our hormone ratio of estrogen to progesterone begin to fluctuate due to the cycle we now have once a month. This process of a woman’s life takes place for around 30 to 45 years.

Now at around the age of 35 to 45 we will enter into perimenopause. Perimenopausal women are likely to have cycles in which they do not ovulate (Anovulatory).  When ovulation does not take place, estrogen is produced without an appropriate amount of progesterone. The lining of the uterus does not know when to shed its excessive lining. This results in heavy erratic menstrual cycles, which disrupt the well being of women, both physically and emotionally. As a woman ages the cells that mature into eggs also age. In other words, the best eggs ovulate first. The body does not produce new eggs after birth. When ovulation is impaired or absent, progesterone production is diminished or absent. The age of the eggs and frequent anovulatory cycles (with out ovulation) cause a wide range of problems. Pregnancy is more difficult, birth defects are more frequent, menstrual cycles are irregular, fibroids appear, the risk of breast cancer increases, bone loss begins, weight increases and mood swings occur.

Entering into menopause at around the age of 40 to 55 or so is the last transition. Now at this stage we should work on providing a low and stable level of hormones. There is no reason to mimic the cyclic stage of our life because there are no eggs left and we are no longer ovulating. You may have read other books or articles that say let’s fool the body into thinking its still young and let’s still have a period it’s healthier that way. I’m telling you that’s just not so. The only reason we have a period in the first place is to shed the lining after an egg has enter the uterus. It is to remove the egg and extra lining provided to the uterus so a baby may grow and have nourishment. Now if we have no more eggs and there is no ovulatory movement any more why don’t we just give the body a low amount of hormones to diminish symptoms and promote a healthier body?

In conclusion, a low hormonal balance is sufficient for lowering risk factors for estrogen related cancers, maintaining stronger bones and less osteoporosis, and promoting better brain function.

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