by Dr. Catherine Multari, ND, FABNO, MSCP
The average age of menopause in Canada is 51.5 years. This number can be misleading for some as it does not account for the fact that the perimenopausal transition period can start up to 10 years prior to the final menstrual period.
The menopause transition is a time of empowerment. When women are educated and informed about what will happen as they approach menopause, they can make informed decisions that will impact their future health.
Perimenopause to post-menopause
Women may begin to experience symptoms during perimenopause caused by fluctuations and decline in estrogen and progesterone. Once they officially reach menopause, defined as one year after the final menstrual period, this is where we see a steep decline in estrogen.
There is no definitive blood test to confirm if someone is in perimenopause. Therefore, it is best to go off of an in depth, detailed history by a menopause specialist, which should include discussion around menopausal symptoms.
What are common signs and symptoms that occur when estrogen and progesterone fluctuate and decline during perimenopause and post-menopause?
It’s important to remember, most symptoms can be addressed with a variety of treatment options that can improve quality of life.
Menopause and cancer
Individuals facing a pre-menopausal cancer diagnosis may enter menopause well before the average age of menopause in Canada. This may be a result of the following:
Outside of the bothersome symptoms that may accompany menopause, there are also profound long-term health impacts to consider. Individuals who are postmenopausal (regardless of age) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, dementia, metabolic syndrome and mental health concerns.
Although Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) can be helpful for many, in terms of managing symptoms of menopause and decreasing the likelihood of long-term health impacts, those facing a hormone-positive cancer diagnosis (or other contraindications) will not be candidates for MHT.
What can you do?
The good news is, there are many options to improve menopausal symptoms. Rooted in a healthy, active lifestyle along with preventative action, here are a few recommendations for individuals experiencing the menopause transition — with or without a cancer diagnosis:
At such a critical point in an individual’s health journey, I would also recommend working with a dedicated health professional trained and certified in menopause care.
Menopause specialists can offer invaluable expertise and resources to facilitate a smoother transition.
You can find a directory of Menopause Society Certified Practitioners (MSCPs) at The Menopause Society webpage.
Remember, you are not alone in this journey. With support and proactive self-care, navigating menopause can be a manageable and empowering experience: the best is yet to come!
Dr. Catherine Multari, ND, FABNO, MSCP is a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. Dr. Multari is practicing at AlterEgo Health.
