Hormones play a big part in your wellness, doing everything from helping you conceive to ensuring you get a good night’s sleep. However, when these hormones fluctuate, as they inevitably will as you age, they can be more of a health concern than a helping hand. Hormones affect your wellbeing in different ways at different stages of your life, but there are things you can do to manage these hormonal changes and feel good every step of the way:
Your 20s and 30s: According to Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Yale University School of Medicine, ‘Hormone levels go through dramatic changes during your menstrual cycle,’ which is at its peak during your 20s and 30. You get a surge in estradiol (a form of estrogen) about 10 days after the onset of your period, which boosts your mood, while you can become irritable in the second half of your cycle due to an influx of progesterone.
If you use a hormonal contraceptive, like the Pill or a vaginal ring, watch out for a dip in your sex drive. Bat Sheva Marcus, the clinical director of the Medical Centre for Female Sexuality, in New York City, explains, ‘These [contraceptives] contain synthetic oestrogen, which blocks testosterone.’ To feel better, Eva Cwynar, an endocrinologist in Beverly Hills recommends eating cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, as studies have shown this can help keep your oestrogen and progesterone levels at the proper ratio. You can also try flaxseed oil, and Minkin recommends taking 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day, divided into three doses, for your severe PMS crankiness.
Your 40s: Even though your periods are still regular, your ovaries have begun to produce less oestrogen and progesterone, and your testosterone decreases. This is a period (pardon the pun) known as perimenopause (or pre-menopause), and can last up to five years. Minkin warns, ‘It isn’t a smooth process,’ and she’s right; perimenopause can cause hot flashes, a lag in your sex drive, and vaginal dryness. Kent Holtorf, an endocrinologist in Los Angeles, adds that you produce fewer thyroid hormones during this time, and ‘Thyroid hormones are the key determinants of your metabolism,’ so you might notice weight gain.
Erika Schwartz, an internist and a hormone specialist in New York City, comments, ‘You may start waking in the middle of the night or have difficulty falling asleep. Before turning to a sleep aid like Ambien, get your hormone levels checked. You may need hormone supplementation.’ To combat hot flashes, a study from Tarbiat Modarres University, in Iran, found that taking 400 ‘international units of vitamin E daily can help alleviate them.
Your 50s and Beyond: The average age for menopause is 51; it’s official when you haven’t had a period in over a year. This probably means you have erratic testosterone levels, frequent hot flashes and a zigzagging sex drive. Minkin says, ‘Oestrogen is involved with mechanisms that keep skin moist,’ so you might need a richer cream and conditioner to combat dry skin and brittle hair and nails. Holtorf notes, ‘Both oestrogen and thyroid hormones are needed for optimal brain function. When they drop in menopause, those low levels result in minor memory problems and cognitive dysfunction.’ Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is considered the gold standard for relieving all those irksome symptoms, including memory loss. Minkin notes, ‘It drives me crazy when women say, “I’ll just deal with my symptoms, and eventually it will be over.” Symptoms of menopause should be a wake-up call to see your doctor.’
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