Perimenopause and Menopause
Perimenopause and menopause are natural phases of life that involve significant changes in the reproductive system. While often associated with women, these experiences can also affect trans men and non-binary individuals who have ovaries and a uterus.
Perimenopause typically begins between 40 and 50 years of age. This transition period, where the body starts making less of certain hormones, can last anywhere from 1 to 12 years, with an average of 4 years. Menopause is officially reached when periods have been absent for a full year.
8 out of 10 people in the UK who go through menopause experience symptoms. The most common include hot flushes, night sweats, and anxiety. As progesterone levels drop and estrogen can become the more dominant hormone, a range of other potentially unpleasant symptoms may arise:
* Fatigue
* Depression
* Weight gain/low metabolism
* Water retention
* Headaches
* Low libido
* Mood swings/irritability
* Endometriosis
* Unstable blood sugar
* Craving sweet food and carbs
* Sluggish in mornings
For many, menopause can also be a time of re-evaluation and new beginnings, a period where one’s sense of purpose can shift significantly.
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly”.
Proverb
Stress
High stress levels can exacerbate perimenopause and menopause symptoms. Overworked adrenal glands, which play a role in hormone production, may contribute to more intense experiences. This phase of life often coincides with significant stressors, such as:
* Children leaving home
* Teenagers living at home
* Ageing relatives who need more support
* Work/money worries
* Prioritizing others’ needs over one’s own well-being
“Chronically elevated cortisol increases the likelihood of severe menopausal symptoms”.
Cagnacci et al, 2011 Mar, 18 (3): 273-8
Holistic approach
As a reflexologist I am here to:
- Listen and support.
- Provide relaxation and ease symptoms.
- Offer general lifestyle advice on the 5 pillars of menopause.
- Refer where necessary.
Research on reflexology and the menopause
– The effects of reflexology on sleep disorder in menopausal women. Maryam Asltoghiri, Zahra Ghodsi. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, Volume 31, 2012, Pages 242-246,
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– The effects of reflexology applied to women aged between 40 and 60 on vasomotor complaints and quality of life. Gozuyesil E, Baser M. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Aug;24:78-85.
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– The effects of reflexology on depression during menopause: A randomized controlled clinical trial. F Mahdavipour et al. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 47, 2019,
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– The effects of reflexology for menopausal women. Williamson, J et al. BJOG_Oxford, 2002 Vol 109:Number 9, pg 1050-1055
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