A strong musculoskeletal system is one of the most important elements to function and health span in women over 40 and beyond. Perimenopause begins around age 45 with symptoms lasting up to 10 years…. this is a really long time! Estrogen levels are up and down for years until they drop to an all time low at the onset of menopause (exactly one year after your last menstrual cycle). When estrogen levels decline, it affects the WHOLE body including the bones, muscles, and connective tissue.
This shows up in the body as all-over joint and muscle pain, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), pelvic organ prolapse, osteoporosis/osteopenia (bone loss), muscle loss or sarcopenia (including vaginal atrophy), hip bursitis/tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and other chronic and constant pain syndromes.
The pelvic floor muscles are significantly affected by lowering estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause. This causes decreased tissue integrity which feels like burning and irritation (often misdiagnosed as chronic UTI), decreased pelvic floor muscle strength (shows up as urinary / fecal leakage when you cough, sneeze, jump, laugh, etc), pain with intercourse, and vaginal dryness.
Many of these symptoms start slowly over time then ramp up quickly when estrogen drops to its lowest at menopause. You may not even realize this is happening until you start having difficulty squatting, going up and down stairs, walking for exercise, gardening, or getting up off the floor.
What can be done to help??
It is important to realize that what you eat and think, how you move (getting the right kind of exercise for YOU), sleep quality, and proper supplementation can make a HUGE impact on your health. Filling in micronutrient gaps, improving adrenal health, optimizing digestion, enhancing detoxification, and reducing overall toxic load are the keys to mitigating musculoskeletal issues during the perimenopause/menopause transition. Taking more and more prescription medications will not lead to better health…improving longevity by optimizing health span is the key to living a longer, healthier life!!
Let’s resolve your symptoms and create a long term plan to help you feel great in your own body again…
