Menopause is defined as 12 months from your last period. However, perimenopause, our hormone’s chaotic call for help, begins about 10 years prior to this.
We go from a regular cycle of 25–40 days, lasting between 3–7 days, to a very inconsistent cycle. We may miss periods, or have prolonged or heavy ones.
Perimenopause can start as early as 36, but more commonly around 45. This is because, the sex hormone which have driven the rhythms in our cycle are now in a state of flux. The main hormones driving this change are progesterone and oestrogen.
However, in a 2019 study published in the MayoClinic proceedings, a survey of 177 doctors of family internal medicine and obstetrics/gynecology revealed only 20% had received lectures on menopause through their degrees, and less than 7% felt confident to manage a woman through menopause.
In many instances, it seems the management for the menopause transition is HRT or bust. But with the well-known possible negative side effects of these, and their lack of effect for every woman, we need alternatives.
As such, physiotherapists are extremely well placed to provide alternative menopausal management to hormone therapy. Education, exercise prescription and nutritional change can all have huge positive effects on the physical and mental changes associated with perimenopause.
At SSP we have a special interest in the research into and the management of the menopausal woman. We believe demystifying this transition and educating ourselves and others on the hormonal changes that are occurring and how best to manage them, allows an improved quality of life for our female clients.
Call us today on 9817 7100, or book online, if you would like to know more about how we can help you take control over this inevitable, but what also should be a positive, next step of your life.
