Menopause 101 with Niki Bezzant

 
 

Menopause 101 with Niki Bezzant

Niki Bezzant is a writer, speaker, journalist and author focusing on health, wellbeing and science. Niki was the founding editor of the Healthy Food Guide magazine and is now the author of #1 bestselling menopause book, This Changes Everything: the honest guide to menopause and perimenopause. She has a real passion for helping women navigate the menopause journey and beyond.

What is menopause?

Menopause is the natural end of ovarian function that happens in women. The average age for menopause in Aotearoa is 52, but menopause can happen any time between 45 and 55, and it can also be induced by surgery or cancer treatment. Early menopause (before the age of 40) can also happen for reasons that aren’t fully understood; this is known as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. Once we’re in menopause, the levels of oestrogen in the body have declined to levels similar to what we had as pre-pubescent girls. Progesterone and testosterone also naturally decline. Menopause is technically just one day; the day one year after your last menstrual period.

 

What is perimenopause?

Perimenopause is all the time leading up to that day. During perimenopause – which can happen as early as the late 30s – the levels of reproductive hormones start to fluctuate – sometimes quite wildy – and this is what can cause many of the symptoms we associate with this life stage.

How do I know if I’m in perimenopause?

There are no tests to tell you if you’re in perimenopause. Rather, it will be a combination of symptoms and cycles. The menstrual cycle becomes more irregular as perimenopause progresses, and this can be a good sign of where you are in the process, alongside the symptoms you may be experiencing. Blood tests won’t tell you whether you’re in perimenopause, and are not recommended by any of the global menopause bodies.

What are the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause?

There are many symptoms associated with this hormonal transition. These can affect almost every aspect of life. Things to note:

  • Not all symptoms are menopause, and it's really important to get anything unusual that's going on in your body checked out.

  • Not everyone will have every symptom - that would be very unlucky! Most people will have some, but one in five women will have no symptoms.

  • The classic symptoms we associate with menopause, like hot flushes, are common, but not everybody will have those. Symptoms can really vary greatly and it's very individual. Your experience might not be the same as someone else's.

Here’s a list of common symptoms:

  • changes in periods, longer cycles, shorter cycles, heavier or lighter bleeding

  • periods stopping

  • hot flushes

  • night sweats

  • brain fog

  • lack of concentration

  • loss of confidence

  • memory issues

  • depression

  • anxiety

  • panic attacks

  • low mood

  • anger/rage

  • headaches/migraines

  • relapse or worsening of bipolar or OCD

  • joint pain

  • onset of osteoarthritis

  • insomnia and sleep issues

  • weight gain

  • redistribution of weight (more around the trunk and waist)

  • IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and other gut issues

  • bloating

  • painful or dry vulva/vagina

  • pain during sex

  • recurrent UTIs (urinary tract infections)

  • overactive bladder

  • incontinence

  • loss of libodo

  • dry skin (and increase in wrinkles)

  • acne

  • eyesight/hearing changes

  • dry eyes

  • fatigue and tiredness

  • breast pain

  • constipation

  • itching/crawling skin

  • loss of muscle mass

  • thinning hair

  • muscle aches

  • racing heart/palpatations

What are some treatments to consider?

There are many ways to treat the symptoms of perimenopause. There's no one solution and no magic pill! In general, many of the things we do for our general wellbeing will be useful in managing menopause symptoms as well.

Download our FREE resource Menopause 101 with Niki Bezzant for more information.

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For personalised nutrition advice to help with perimenopause and menopause my team at Mission Nutrition would love to help!

 
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