Author: Amy Cottrell (DipCNM, mBANT, rCNHC, mANP)

Fortunately, menopause has been getting the attention it deserves in recent years. Menopause is no longer something women feel they need to keep under wraps or battle with in silence because it is a bit of a taboo subject. It is, of course, a natural stage of life and the focus needs to be on finding practical, personalised ways to move through this transition and ensure that women have access to the support and understanding they need during this time in their lives.

We spend a significant amount of time at work; therefore, it’s inevitable that women will experience perimenopause (a transitional stage before menopause) and menopause whilst in employment.

Supporting someone affected by menopause might help prevent them from taking time off work and hiding their struggles; it can also reduce susceptibility to anxiety, stress and depression and even prevent them from leaving their job [a].

The first step is to ensure that we raise awareness around menopause among women so that they can learn more about this stage of their lives. They can then know what to expect, what signs to be aware of, when it might start and how they can manage the various associated symptoms. Symptoms can be debilitating and include being hot, cold, moody, tired, sleep-deprived, irritable or sad, and experiencing memory loss and fat accumulation around the middle [b].

No two people experience menopause in the same way because everyone is unique. We all have our genetic code, which is essentially like a recipe book containing instructions for the specific combination of ingredients that mix together to make the ‘pièce de resistance’ – each one of us!

The time before menopause is linked to changes in the levels of certain hormones. Hormone balance can be affected by factors such as diet and stress, but did you know that our genes can impact our hormones, too? [c] Our genes influence hormones’ production, metabolism and excretion, all of which can contribute to symptoms experienced during menopause.

Before menopause, the primary source of oestrogen in women is the ovaries, and the predominant type of oestrogen is called oestradiol (E2), a potent form of oestrogen. After menopause, the primary sources of oestrogen are the adrenal glands and fat tissue, and the predominant type of oestrogen is oestrone (E1) which is weaker than E2 [d]. The rate at which you produce oestrogen is controlled by genes called CYP17A1 and CYP19A1, and the activity of these genes, along with diet and lifestyle factors, can lead to low or high oestrogen levels, both of which are undesirable.

For oestrogen to work in our bodies, it needs to attach to specific oestrogen receptors in specific cells where it is required [e]. That oestrogen is converted into other forms in the body, some healthy and less so. The not-so-healthy kind is a risk factor for developing oestrogen-dependent conditions. This conversion is also dependent on specific gene activity and lifestyle impact.

Finally, your body must clear out hormones that have done their job, mainly via the liver. These processes are under the control of specific genes but also depend on gut health, the proper nutrients from the diet and healthy functioning organs, particularly the liver and kidneys.

Other factors that play a role in hormone health that also fall under the control of our genes are stress, sleep and diet. Also included is our ability to deal with the following:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Toxins and chemicals from the environment, food and cosmetics

The good news is that the above can be examined in DNApal’s test.

The great thing about a DNA test is that it can provide a strategic roadmap to understand how best to support women’s bodies and minds to ensure a smoother transition through menopause. Since our genes never change (only the way they act does), we only ever need to do the test once. So order our DNApal test today.

Please contact us at: hello@dnapal.me if you want to learn more about our corporate packages.

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