Perimenopause and Menopause
The menopause is a natural change in the female reproductive system, which starts typically between 40 and 50 years of age with the perimenopause. The average time for the perimenopause is 4 years but it can be from 1 to 12 years. The menopause occurs when periods have been absent for a year.
8 out of 10 women in the UK experience some symptoms, the most common being hot flushes, night sweats and anxiety. When progesterone levels drop, and oestrogen becomes the dominant hormone, it can cause unpleasant menopause symptoms:
- 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
The menopause can also be a new beginning: a time when our sense of purpose as women can change enormously.
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly”.
Proverb
Stress
Overworked adrenal glands may make menopause symptoms worse. The menopause happens at a time in our lives when we are juggling the most things and stress levels are high:
- Children leaving home.
- Teenagers living at home.
- Ageing relatives that need more support.
- Work/money worries.
- Looking after everyone instead of ourselves.
“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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