I have written a poem that reveals the many symptoms – some obvious and some not so – of the menopause. As many women hit their late 40s and early 50s, a fluctuation and slow reduction in hormones, including oestrogen and progesterone cause all kinds of frustrations and annoyances.
If you are keen on sport and exercise this can be a pain, in the least, and, at the worst, a barrier to fitness. I have been taking HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) tablets for about a year and found it to be greatly beneficial. Other people turn to HGH injections.
The HRT has helped with:
Poor sleep patterns: Which make me tired during the day and less likely to be motivated to exercise.
Sore joints: This has affected my desire and ability to enjoy sports, such as running and circuits classes.
Muscle cramps: At one point the cramps in my feet and calves were so bad that if I subconsciously stretched out at night in my sleep I would be woken by a terrible pain. Sometimes this caused torn muscles.
Hot sweats: The sweats can be annoying and uncomfortable but when you are trying to enjoy sports, especially in a warm country, they can be unbearable.
Blinding migraines: I would be so badly affected by migraines I would have to go to bed for hours. This caused lost work – I am a freelancer – and this would then affect my ability to exercise because I would need to catch up my work when I might normally attend a spots session.
General fatigue: This is a fatigue that comes on suddenly and last for days. It left me lacking in energy and without any will to go out and enjoy exercise.
Depression: Without exercise and feeling like I was becoming very unfit I ended up feeling low and depressed. A reduction confidence can really affect how you perform, even when training.
Weak bladder: Trying to run, jump or even just going for a walk can be difficult if you suffer with incontinence, which is another side effect of the menopause.
While there are side effects to taking HRT I looked at what I might gain from taking the hormone therapy compared to what I might lose in terms of the hobbies that I most enjoy. I am convinced it has been the right choice for me.