Don’t just get older, grow bolder

Perimenopause is  the transitional time around menopause. Menopause is when a woman, trans or non-binary person’s periods stop. It’s marked by changes in the menstrual cycle, along with other physical and emotional symptoms.

Hang on, I think I’m too young! This time can last 2 to 10 years before when someone reach menopause (at around 51 years of age). So everyone, it’s really time to start thinking about this in your 40s!

What’s happening in my body at this time? We often just think of oestrogen as being involved in fertility and reproduction. However, oestrogen is a great multi-tasker! It influences our heart and blood vessels, our brain, as well as adipose tissues (the way our body stores fat).

Oestrogen has an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as cardio-protective one which keeps our HDL (high density lipoprotein or “good cholesterol”) high and blood vessels elastic.

Studies suggest that loss of oestrogen promotes abdominal fat accumulation and a drop in energy expenditure. Bone mineral density decreases most rapidly in the year (to three years) before the final menstrual period and declines but does not cease to three to four years following this.