If you’re wondering if you’re in peri-menopause or menopause, you might be interested in testing to find out. But what kind of test is best? There are debates on that subject, even in the medical community, but most recommend a blood serum test. Those are available only through a doctor and we highly recommend that you request a full hormone panel at each annual physical exam. Most doctors won’t willingly suggest one. You can also use a home test kit to get an idea of what might be going on. We like Everlywell’s Women’s Health Test and Let’sGetChecked’s Female Hormone Test. Everlywell’s is a little more expensive but is a more comprehensive test.

If you're wondering if menopause supplements are any good, the answer is: they might be. As with any supplements you're considering, whether or not they're "good" – i.e. effective or, most importantly, safe – depends on a few things. First, do you need them? If your body doesn't require supplementation then there isn’t any point in taking them and they could potentially be harmful. You might also have certain conditions, such as a leaky gut, that mean you aren't able to absorb a supplement properly. When and how you take supplements also makes a difference. Some supplements are best taken on an empty stomach, some are more absorbable in liquid form and others need to be taken at a certain time of day (think energizing Maca!). Most important is to know and trust the manufacturer to be sure you're getting a high quality and contaminant-free product. Amazon is rife with thousands of supplements from manufacturers that aren't necessarily "clean." As always, it's best to test for deficiencies! As your doctor to do so at your annual physical and consider at-home tests in between if you’re low in something like iron, B and D vitamins.

Whether your menopause symptoms will be worse in the morning or not depends on many different factors -- your sleep, your symptoms, your stress levels. The best thing to do is to track your specific symptoms and the time of day you experience them. Note any potential triggers such as dehydration, poor sleep or too much caffeine. You can learn a surprising amount about what to do and what to avoid if you track consistently and pay attention for a couple of weeks. Then, try some "experiments" on yourself. Brain fog? How was your sleep in those two weeks? If poor, perhaps you're getting more sensitive to caffeine in this stage of life. Maybe you ate a rich dinner or snack late at night and it kept you up. Result? Brain fog the next morning. You are your best symptom sleuth and the only tools you need are a notebook and some honest monitoring of your habits and symptoms.

It’s always best to work with your doctor to answer whether or not menopause patches are safe for you. There are many different types of Hormone Replacement (HR) patches on the market and, as with any prescription, it depends on the individual, physical symptoms and hormone levels and medical history. Many women have successfully navigated their menopausal symptoms with HR therapy –whether patches, compounded topical creams and gels or oral hormones. Find a knowledgeable doctor who can help guide you to the best solution for you. HR has come a long way since the unsafe options popularized in the 1960’s. Today, there are safe solutions that can be provide a lot of relief for many women and protection from other health conditions that can arise in the menopausal years like cancer and cardiovascular risks. But they need to be managed by an expert medical doctor.

There is really no clear answer to when someone's menopause symptoms will be worse at night. It depends on so many different factors – your sleep, your symptoms, your stress levels. The best thing to do if you think you're entering or in menopause is to track your specific symptoms and when they are worse or better. You can learn a surprising amount about what to do and what to avoid if you track consistently and pay attention for a couple of week. Then, you can try some "experiments" on yourself. Hot flashes? Did you have a stressful day? Drink alcohol or consume sugar before bed? You are your best symptom sleuth and the tools you need are a notebook and some honest monitoring of your habits and symptoms.

If you're wondering if menopause supplements are safe, the answer is: It depends. As with any supplements you're considering, whether or not they're "good" – i.e. effective or, most importantly, safe – depends on a few things. First, do you need them? If your body doesn't require supplementation then they could be unsafe, for you. Maybe you would benefit from a supplement however there are certain conditions unique to you, such as the condition of your gut biome, that mean you aren't able to process it correctly. Most important is to know and trust the manufacturer to be sure you're getting a quality and contaminant-free product. Amazon is rife with thousands of supplements from manufacturers that aren't necessarily safe. As always, it's best to test [link] and talk with your doctor or naturopath before taking something new.

Are menopause symptoms constant? Luckily, most women won't experience constant symptoms when in the peri-menopause and menopause years. There may be particularly troubling symptoms that one could deem "constant," such as weight gain or irritability, but there are tools, tips and great resources to support people through this transition. Perhaps the only "constant" once you've entered full menopause is that you'll no longer be fertile or have periods.

Menopause can cause dizziness in some women due to the effects of hormones on the blood sugar. If your blood sugar dips too low, it can cause dizziness. In addition, if you're more stressed or sleeping poorly, you may feel dizzy. Dehydration can also cause dizziness. Be sure to drink at least 10 8 oz. cups of water or non-caffeinated beverages (not sodas, diet or otherwise!) if you’re struggling with this symptom.

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. As with all things menopause related, this won't be true for every person or something that occurs throughout peri menopause or menopause. The fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone can trigger them and it’s most often the drop in estrogen. If your headaches start to impact your life or work – or veer into migraine territory, talk to your doctor. While careful attention to sleep and hydration and incorporating stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing exercises or meditation can help, sometimes other solutions are required, even if for short periods of time.

Yes, menopause can cause high blood pressure in some women, linked to a decline in estrogen. Estrogen is a vasodilator, a component that keeps blood vessels open and blood flowing, making less work for the heart. When the heart works less, it keeps blood pressure down. Some doctors link higher blood pressure in menopause to the increase in body mass index (BMI) some women experience during menopause.

Anxiety is a symptom that many women notice starts – or increases – during peri-menopause and menopause. It’s most often linked to a decline in the sex hormone progesterone, the "mood stabilizing" hormone. Talk to your doctor about testing your hormone levels if you’re experiencing anxiety. If your progesterone is low, you can consider a prescription for a bio-identical version of progesterone to see if it helps.

Unfortunately, yes. The complex balance of hormones that have taken you through many physical and emotional stages and changes throughout your life decline -- sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly -- forcing your body to adjust to a new "normal." For those going through menopause, this can result in weight gain, especially in the mid-section. This can be tied to hormonal changes but there is also a natural slowing of the metabolism, tied for some to reduced physical activity or physical restrictions and declining muscle mass. It is not a lost cause if you've gained some weight during this time but you will likely want to look at all of your lifestyle factors, with a good community or medical doctor or naturopath who has studied these issues.

Nausea isn’t one of the more common symptoms of menopause. If you’re experiencing nausea, carefully note what circumstances could be triggering it: time of day, what you’ve had to eat or drink, stress levels. Also note whether your nausea is tied to hot flashes or dizziness. If you carefully track the symptom, you should be able to uncover a link and then talk to your doctor or medical professional for solutions.

Some of the most common symptoms women experience in menopause are sleep disruption, mood changes, brain fog or memory issues, fatigue, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, weight gain, breast tenderness. Symptoms can come and go and not all women experience all symptoms.

There have been numerous studies researching the effects of the decline in estradiol to women's brains. As women move through peri-menopause and menopause there is a natural decline in estrogen. These studies seem to show that this decline can, in some women, be associated with reduced memory and cognitive function and "brain fog."

Menopause is different for every person. What's clear is that the healthier you are going into it, the better. Start early with good habits and focus even more diligently on them during this time: don’t smoke, exercise, get good sleep and hydration, practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation and breathing exercises. The more of these good habits you have the better you'll handle the changes. You'll still be challenged with the change in hormone levels – each one impacting your body and mind in a different way, but your body and mind will be better able to handle the ebb and flow.

There is name for the time period leading up to “official” menopause (which is a year after your last period). It’s "peri-menopause". Women usually experience peri-menopausal symptoms in their 40's but symptoms can crop up earlier with certain genetic or medical conditions.

Hot flashes – sometimes called hot flushes – are one of the most common menopause symptoms. Caused by the drop in estrogen levels, hot flashes come on suddenly and manifest as an intense feeling of warmth throughout the body, sweating, sometimes a sense of anxiety. Some women may have experienced nighttime hot flashes like these after childbirth, another time when hormone levels are in transition. Some people experience hot flashes throughout the day, others at night.