Five Reasons You're More Likely to Enter Menopause Before Your Mother Did – And Why Prioritizing Hormonal Balance is Essential Now

Thank you for joining me again this week as we discuss all things wellness and explore whether your current daily routines and lifestyle choices might predispose you to early perimenopause and menopause. Many women believe that the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are far off in the future until one day they hit you like a ton of bricks. In the United States, the average age of menopause is 51, though many women experience symptoms between the ages of 45 and 50. In the years leading up to menopause, a phase known as perimenopause, many women face discomforting symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, weight gain, and vaginal dryness. Unfortunately, these symptoms can persist for up to 10 years before a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period and is officially diagnosed with menopause. Sadly, due to internal and external factors, many women will begin experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or symptoms of hormonal imbalance in their 30’s. 

Imagine waking up with a sudden, unexplained 25-pound weight gain, lying in bed drenched in sweat night after night, or feeling your heart pounding out of your chest at 3:00 am. If you’re as unlucky as I was, you might experience all three of these symptoms along with unexplainable mood swings.  All these symptoms can leave you feeling overwhelmed while you try to manage work, family, and other life commitments. I remember being overwhelmed and unable to regulate my moods. On many occasions, before I understood what my body was experiencing, I remember sitting at my work desk literally snatching out my ponytail and sitting it in the middle of my desk. If you are wondering, yes, I really snatched my ponytail out in the middle of the day because I was so emotionally exhausted, unknowingly because of hormonal imbalance. Now that you can envision me with a ponytail sitting on my desktop and I have your attention, I want you to understand how essential it is to be proactive about understanding these risks and implementing strategies to maintain your well-being. If I had any idea that I would face these symptoms at the age of 36, I would have taken the time to identify my risk for early menopause and hormonal imbalance. I would have explored wellness routines that could promote hormonal balance and incorporated them into my daily routines sooner.

Below you will find 5 risks for hormonal imbalance that can lead to early menopause:

1.     Obesity: Let’s face it, most individuals living in America are bigger than ever before.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The prevalence of obesity increased from 30.5% in 1999-20001 to 41.9% in 2017–March 2020 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024).  As the average body mass index continues to increase, women become more susceptible to disease and hormonal imbalances. Women who are overweight and obese have an increased risk of early menopause and more severe symptoms during perimenopause and menopause.

2.     Stress: Prolonged stress elevates cortisol levels, which can disrupt the balance of other hormones in the body. High cortisol levels can affect the production of sex hormones, potentially leading to irregular menstrual cycles and early menopause. Chronic stress can also deplete the adrenal glands, further impacting hormonal health. I don’t know about you but over the last few years, I have been more stressed than ever before. No one tells you when you are younger, that when you enter your thirties, life has so many blessings that also can place additional stress in your life.

I’m 38 years old. In my thirties, I became a wife, a mom of two beautiful girls, went back to school twice, and lost my grandmother. Does this sound familiar to any of you? Although many things in my life bring so much joy, they also come with a lot of responsibilities that at times can be very stressful. Many days can be overwhelming with the day-to-day tasks that are required as a wife, mother, healthcare provider, and adult.  Although I have learned different coping strategies to manage the stress of day-to-day tasks, life can sometimes be very overwhelming and stressful. I believe the average woman can identify with these stressors that I have experienced. I want you to know how important it is to find coping strategies for stress and remove any unnecessary stressors from your life to reduce your chances of experiencing early menopause.

3.     Toxins: Women who are exposed to large and continuous amounts of Phthalates and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), through diet, personal care products, and plastics, can experience an earlier onset of menopause. Toxins are all around us! They are in your household chemicals, drinking water, favorite perfumes, plastic containers, and scented candles. The generations before us were not exposed to all the chemicals and toxins that are a part of our daily routines and self-care regimens. Take a moment to complete an assessment of all the toxins around you. Make a conscious effort to eliminate them one by one.

4.     Diet: Unfortunately, many individuals do not have access to fresh and affordable organic Whole Foods. Much of the food we consume is covered with pesticides and injected with hormones. In addition to hormone-injected foods many Americans consume high amounts of sugar, caffeine, and processed foods. The overconsumption of sugar and processed foods can lead to obesity and insulin resistance and overconsumption of caffeine can influence our stress hormones all leading to hormonal imbalance and early menopause. Take a moment to consider your usual diet. Do you consume mostly Whole Foods, or do you consume the standard American diet that consists of sugar, processed foods, and endless caffeinated drinks?

5.     Inadequate sleep: I’ll admit, for many years I did not have adequate sleep. After I had my first child eight years ago my sleep has been interrupted throughout the night. It seems like two girls play tag. If one sleeps the other one says game on and wakes me up throughout the night.  Over time this has taken a toll on my body. Occasionally when the stars align, and they both fall asleep early and stay asleep, I am my own worst enemy by staying up to work on my computer to meet deadlines. Other times, I look up, and it's midnight, and I have been laughing and sending reels to my friends all night. I’m sure you have done the same thing. Sleep disturbances negatively impact hormone and metabolic balance, and most women need seven to nine hours of sleep to support hormone balance and reduce stress. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get a night? Do you have a sleep routine that promotes healthy hormone balance?

Challenge:

If you can identify with one or more areas that make you at high risk for hormonal imbalance and early menopause, the time is now to create a new wellness routine. Understanding your risks can help you take proactive steps to maintain hormonal balance and potentially delay the onset of early menopause. Incorporating healthy lifestyle changes, managing stress, and seeking medical advice, when necessary, can make a significant difference in your overall health and well-being and allow you to make wellness your best accessory!

Your sister in wellness,

Lauren