18/10/2024
One interesting fact I learnt this week is that I am predicted to live to 91 !
In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51, so women can therefore expect to live, on average, a third of their lives in postmenopausal years.
During these years, women are at an increased risk of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, dementia and cardiovascular disease given the protective effect of oestrogen has declined.
In recent years there has been a real sway towards encouraging women to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
I understand that it has been a bumper year for NHS HRT prescriptions which are up by 22% in a year with some 13 million prescriptions being written (source: BBC) and I am sure that this is reflected in the private sector too.
However, we also know from recent reports that HRT is not necessarily ‘the magic bullet’ we seek for a rest-bite from some troublesome menopausal symptoms or even increased longevity. Indeed for some women, with history of oestrogen based cancers, or suffer with oestrogen dominant conditions such as endometriosis, it is really not appropriate.
We are all genetically different and biochemically unique, so what might be an adequate level for one women, might be too low , or too high for another.
How did we ever survive before HRT, you may well ask yourself.
During menopause when our ovaries stop producing oestrodial, the most potent form of oestrogen, our bodies adapt to produce a weaker form called oestrone, to help protect us as we age. Of course it’s not all about oestrogen, our body is also able to produce progesterone from our adrenal glands, thereby keeping the delicate balance of our female hormones.
Hormones are chemical messengers which respond to their given environment, constantly ebbing and flowing, interacting with each other. So adding additional hormones, such as HRT, to an environment that is already imbalanced, perhaps through stress resulting in excess cortisol which will halt the production of progesterone, or poor blood sugar regulation, which creates high insulin, our fat-storing hormone with a knock-on of excess oestrogen (oestrogen dominance) will only exacerbate menopause symptoms, such as hot flushes, anxiety etc
Fuelling and nourishing our body through good nutrition, incorporate movement daily and introduce some stress-management techniques are good lifestyle practices to maintain balance whether you choose to take HRT or not.
At 58, I have apparently have another 33 years ahead of me and my simple approach to mitigate the risks of older age are:
· Eat 3 balanced meals daily - no dieting or depriving for me!
· Keep hydrated – helps supports detoxication which is key to maintain healthy hormone balance
· Exercise daily, even if it’s a gentle walk – no excuse when you have a dog!
· Do one thing that makes my heart sing daily – whether that’s coffee with the girls or messing around in the water.
Finding the balance is key!
Happy World Menopause Day!
