I am 35 with regular periods- my doctor said that my symptoms of anxiety and insomnia can’t be due to perimenopause, that I am too young, is this true?
No, this is not true!
To explain this I need to give some detail about how ovulation works.
The brain is the master regulator!
The hypothalamus gland in the brain is the master regulator of our sex hormones. Ovulation is controlled in the brain. The other important gland in the brain is the pituitary gland.
The hypothalamus checks for oestrogen levels and when they get lower at the end of each cycle, the brain sends signals (GnRH) to the ovary to trigger ovulation and correct this situation.
The other important gland in the brain is the pituitary gland and this is triggered by the GnRH to send signals to the ovary through LH and FSH hormones which then stimulate ovulation.
Ovulation leads to oestrogen and progesterone production from the ovaries.
Therefore, there is a fluctuation of hormones throughout the month, overseen and managed by the brain.
Why is this important?
We are born with all of our eggs (1-2 million) and lose them at a steady state. By the age of 30 we are down to 10% of the original egg supply, at 40 its 3%.
The average age of menopause is 51, when we basically run out of eggs.
Perimenopause is when we reach a critical threshold of egg supply- the signals from the brain don’t work, the ovaries are resistant. There aren’t enough eggs to respond in the same manner as before.
So, the pituitary starts sending higher levels of the stimulating hormones to force ovulation ,causing chaos in the brain.
By the age of 35, there are less than 10% of eggs remaining.
Therefore it is completely reasonable and predicted for a woman as young as 35 to begin having any or all of these symptoms.
The first sign we often see isn’t a change in periods, its symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, sleep disruption and just not feeling yourself because the brain is sensing the dysregulation and it doesn’t like it.
So Menopause, the day after your last ever period, is our entire life after this day- 30-40 + years if we are lucky.
The perimenopause should not be seen as an afterthought to menopause.
Perimenopause affects quality of life for many years before the actual menopause occurs as egg supply diminishes and the brain senses the chaos that this creates.
Being told that you are too young for the perimenopause at 35 of age just doesn’t make physiological sense.
