Ladies, it's time to feel more like you.

When most of us discuss menopausal symptoms and changes, we are mostly actually talking about the changes that happen during perimenopause.  

Perimenopause is the stage leading up menopause, which is one day in time which occurs 12 months after your last period. After that you are post-menopausal. 

Some facts:

• Perimenopause is the stage leading up to menopause.
• On average, perimenopause lasts for around 2-4 years, but can last up to 10 years.
• Hormonal changes start around the age of 40, which then leads in towards perimenopause.
• Early signs of perimenopause include:
  • a change in the duration or timing of your menstrual cycle
  • gradual weight gain...so annoying
  • interruptions to sleep
  • changes in mood

Perimenopause happens because most of the time, our ovaries don’t just suddenly stop working.  Instead, ovaries gradually slow down over time as they begin to “run out” of eggs.  This ovarian slowing affects levels of hormones including oestrogen and progesterone.  This causes changes in menstrual periods and other symptoms. 

A common feature of perimenopause is irregular menstrual periods.  Periods may come less often or sometimes even more often.  You may start off skipping a period every now and again. Your periods may be longer or shorter than usual and bleeding may be lighter or heavier than usual. You can start to get breakthrough bleeding if you are on birth control.

PMS can also get worse as our hormones pay havoc. 

For many though, the first sign is gradual weight gain. We're talking really gradual, and sitting around your middle as your metabolism starts to slow. This is the time you might not even realise your hormones are starting to change. 

Symptoms of perimenopause aren’t fun (in fact, a lot of them are truthfully pretty daunting).  

Common symptoms during perimenopause are:

• Hot flushes
•  Night sweats
• Mood swings (yup, the occasional rage)
• Low libido (sex drive)
• Headaches
• Disturbed sleep
• Sore breasts
• Weight gain (especially around the waist)
• Vaginal dryness
• Tiredness and difficulty with concentration and memory
• Dry or itchy skin
• Sore muscles or joints.

The severity of symptoms can vary greatly from woman to woman but definitely seem to be made worse by stress, lack of exercise and/or poor diet.  

This isn’t to make you feel guilty (we all do enough of that already), but prioritising your own sleep and health during your 40's can sure set you up for happier and healthier decades to come.      

That's why we created Eir. 

Our simple solutions to supplement life over 40 are:

• Great friends we can share our stories with and hopefully have a giggle or two
• Supplements like Eir that are created specifically with you in mind
• The occasional margarita works wonders

We have lots of articles that explain more about the hormonal changes that occur during perimenopause and during your 40's and early 50's. You can read them here. 

Eir Products have been designed specifically for women over 40, by women over 40, and with you in mind. They are made in Australia and we back our products - we even have a money-back guarantee.  

Love Lisa & Kate x 

Meet our famous Power Duo, for 24 hour help for perimenopause and life over 40.