Fatigue is one of the most common and one of the most disruptive symptoms of menopause. It can be defined as an ongoing and persistent feeling of weakness, tiredness and lowered energy levels. This dip in energy can affect your ability to cope with stress, menopause, relationships and your livelihood. Fatigue in general, or as a result of poor sleep, that starts in your mid-late 40s is primarily caused by hormonal changes.
Throughout peri-menopause your oestrogen and progesterone levels become unpredictable. These levels change on a daily and monthly basis affecting not only your energy, but your mental clarity, moods and other symptoms. It is often caused by a decrease in one hormone, resulting in a change of the oestrogen/progesterone ratio. During this stage, the bio-identical hormones are used to supplement your body’s hormone production, increasing the hormones when they are low in order to balance the delicate ratio.
During menopause, your hormones are generally decreasing at a rate that is causing ‘menopausal symptoms’. The bio-identical hormones are used during this time to temporarily provide you with a sufficient amount to reduce any symptoms.
Oestrogen and progesterone are the main sex hormones that are influenced by menopause. Oestrogen can help to increase the depth of sleep, allowing the body to recover and refresh the mind. Progesterone can help produce the feeling of sleepiness and thus help to initiate sleep. A reduction of either of these hormones can easily interfere with your sleep quality, and thus your energy levels. Whilst these are the main pathways for menopausal fatigue, there are numerous other ways that oestrogen and progesterone interfere with energy.
Whilst oestrogen and progesterone are the main suspects for fatigue during menopause, your testosterone levels, along with your thyroid and adrenal health are all close seconds. The ovaries, thyroid and adrenals are each important hormone organs. While they have significantly different roles within the body, they are each linked. Menopausal women are more likely to suffer from adrenal fatigue or thyroid fatigue than at any other stage. If fatigue is still present after the menopausal hormones have been assessed, it would be worth considering the health of your adrenals and thyroid.
Other important causes of fatigue include, sleep disorders, depression, iron deficiency, anxiety, heart disease, insulin resistance and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Whatever the cause, fatigue is a frustrating symptom of menopause that is better to treat rather than ignore. In addition to upsetting your lifestyle, this fatigue can exacerbate all other menopausal symptoms. The main suspect of fatigue that starts in your mid-late 40s, is hormones. The most effective way to beat this fatigue is to contact us so that we can adjust your hormones accordingly, start you on hormones, or consider supplementation. If you have any questions, please contact us at the centre on 1300 883 405.
About The Author - Samantha Mainland
Samantha is a highly educated Naturopath having graduated from both Southern Cross University with a Bachelor of Naturopathy, and University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Medicine Management with Professional Honours in Complementary Medicine.