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A New Life for Women 40+

Menopause as a Taboo Topic

When a woman reaches the 40+ age group, various new symptoms begin to appear, often causing confusion and fear. I can’t remember anything anymore—does that mean I’m becoming demented? I don’t have the energy to do anything. I eat and train as usual, but I keep gaining weight. I often feel anxious and can’t sleep at night. When we think back to our mothers, this wasn’t really something people spoke about, and until recently, this subject hasn’t received much attention. Yet it’s clear that perimenopause already begins in the 40s, and menopause affects millions of women worldwide. It is certainly not a shameful topic but one that needs open discussion and understanding.

The Science Behind Peri- and Postmenopause

Here we outline the most important aspects related to the transition period.

Did you know that

  1. At any given time, about 30% of the world’s women are either peri- or postmenopausal.
  2. On average, women spend 40% of their lifespan in postmenopause.
  3. Hot flashes are thought to be the main symptom, but in surveys, they only appear as the fifth most common symptom—after sleep disturbances, anxiety, brain fog, and weight gain.  
  4. Even “frozen shoulder syndrome” can be a symptom of perimenopause.
  5. Perimenopause is difficult to diagnose because hormone levels fluctuate daily, and there is no single definitive test.

Today, starting Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) early—specifically for preventive purposes—is recommended. Within 10 years of the onset of menopause transition and before the age of 60, HRT reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality by 50%.

Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Reduction of All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease: It’s About Time and Timing

Howard N. Hodis, MD and Wendy J Mack, PhD

This study shows that HRT users have significantly lower blood pressure, visceral fat, inflammation markers, and harmful cholesterol levels, as well as significantly better insulin tolerance.  

Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing of Early Prevention

A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

In a study involving pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women, results showed that all health indicators worsen drastically for peri- and postmenopausal women—higher blood pressure, reduced insulin sensitivity, higher cholesterol, increased risk of inflammation (which, if chronic, can lead to multiple chronic diseases and cancer), and higher visceral fat, among others. For men of the same age group, the indicators also worsened but at a slower and steadier pace.

Menopause is associated with postprandial metabolism, metabolic health and lifestyle: The ZOE PREDICT study

Kate M. Bermingham, Inbar Linenberg, Wendy L. Hall, Kirstin Kadé, Paul W. Franks, Richard Davies, et al.