LET’S TALK HORMONES, BABY

Every day women tell me that they’re exhausted, experiencing ‘brain fog’, weight gain, mood changes, stress, dry and ageing skin, and waning libido. They feel their bodies have become alien to them, that their sparkle has faded, and they fear they may nev

Integrative GP Dr Simone Silver gives us the low-down on menopause hormone therapy (MHT)

SO many women still don’t know that hormone imbalances can make us feel grotty. We assume that these symptoms are a normal part of ageing or the result of leading stressful lives. We also assume that if our doctor does a few blood tests and finds no sign of disease, we must be fine.

But hormones regulate more than 400 functions in our bodies. They behave like an orchestra: each has a vital set of functions, its own tune to play – and they all interact together to produce a rich, layered ‘song’ of health and wellbeing. That’s why it’s so important that each hormone is in tune and plays its part in the greater composition. From the hair on your head to your mood, to glowing (or lacklustre) skin, to the health of your heart and arteries, and how mobile your joints are – hormones play a key role in keeping all these areas healthy or unhealthy.

KNOW THY HORMONES

The female hormones oestrogen and progesterone are responsible for breast development, your menstrual cycle and the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. They also play several other pivotal roles including weight regulation, mood balance, determining skin, joint, bone and heart health, and they perform a role in cognitive performance.

When your hormone symphony goes out of whack, a lot can happen. The menopausal transition (or perimenopause) can begin five to 10 years before actual menopause (defined by not having had a period for 12 months). During the transition, your hormone levels decline, but they also fluctuate, so you may have irregular periods, or they may become lighter or heavier. And changes in your mood and sleep can occur, also caused by hormones.

Progesterone usually declines first. It’s what regulates gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA), the neurochemical of calm and sleep – no wonder women in their forties often feel anxious or have trouble sleeping! Although organs such as the adrenal glands and fat cells continue to produce small amounts of female and male hormones after menopause, our levels never return to what they once were – that’s where menopause hormone therapy (MHT) can come in.

CONSIDERING MHT?

You need to think about what you consider a good quality of life to be. Your healthcare provider must also consider MHT within the context of your risk profile and how you may benefit from hormones. For some women, the thought of multiple hot flushes day and night is unacceptable; for others, concern about the potential risks of hormone treatment may be so stressful they’d rather endure menopausal symptoms. And for those with a history of breast cancer or severe liver disease, MHT isn’t an option at all as the potential risks may be too high.