Key takeaways
Perimenopause is the transition before periods stop, and menopause is reached after 12 months without a period.
Naturopathic support looks at the whole picture: lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, stress and, where useful, hormone and nutrient testing.
Regular exercise, a cool bedroom, relaxation techniques and healthy habits are everyday foundations.
A first visit is a conversation, and a personalized plan starts with what is realistic for you.
If you are in your 40s or 50s and noticing changes you cannot quite name, you are not alone. This post explains what perimenopause and menopause are and what a naturopathic assessment at Nature Doctors looks at.
Ready to talk it through? Book a naturopathic assessment at Nature Doctors or call 204-943-6079.
What are perimenopause and menopause?
Perimenopause is the lead-up to menopause, often lasting several years, and menopause is the point when you have gone 12 months without a period. The average age of menopause in Canada is around 51, though it can happen earlier or later.
During this time, hormone levels such as estrogen and progesterone shift up and down. Changes people commonly notice include irregular periods, sleep changes and shifts in mood, and every person's experience differs. Some people have few changes at all.
How does a naturopathic assessment approach this stage?
Women's health, including menopause, is one of the areas we focus on in naturopathic medicine, with a root-cause approach. Dr. Lori Mae Janzen, ND lists hormonal health among her areas of focus, and Dr. Miranda Ball, ND lists women's health among hers. A first visit is a conversation about:
Your cycle history and what has changed
Sleep, energy, mood and stress
Food, caffeine and alcohol patterns
Anything else going on that your naturopathic doctor should know about, including what you take
Laboratory testing can add information. It can include thyroid function, iron-related markers, vitamin B12 and vitamin D where relevant, and blood sugar measures. The clinic also offers hormone testing, including cycle mapping with targeted estrogen and progesterone measurements, along with metabolic and nutritional testing. Your naturopathic doctor will talk through which tests, if any, make sense for you, and results are reviewed together at a follow-up visit.
What happens after the first visit?
A follow-up visit is where results and next steps come together. Your naturopathic doctor reviews any laboratory results with you in plain terms, talks through nutrition, sleep and stress habits that fit your life, and agrees with you on what to focus on first. Plans are personalized and reviewed as you go, so they can change as your needs change.
What should I bring to a first visit?
A rough timeline of your cycles and what has changed
A simple written list of what you take, including anything prescribed
Any recent laboratory results you already have
A few notes on sleep and energy over a typical week
Your questions, written down so they do not slip away
Nature Doctors offers virtual appointments across Manitoba for most patients.
What does the research say about everyday habits?
Lifestyle changes are a widely recommended foundation for this stage. Regular exercise can help you sleep better and lift your mood, a dark, quiet and cool bedroom helps, and relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and muscle relaxation can lower stress. Cognitive behavioural therapy, a type of talk therapy, is also used for trouble sleeping.
Those are general habits, and your naturopathic doctor can help you plan which of them suit your life. Nature Doctors' counsellor, Jocelyn MacLeod, CCC, is also available for people who would like a place to talk through change through counselling.
What other services are available at the clinic?
The clinic also offers acupuncture with Juyin Lu, R.Ac and massage therapy with Jennifer Weidemann, RMT. The professional dispensary carries professional-grade supplements and botanical tinctures registered with Health Canada, and your naturopathic doctor chooses products as part of your plan, since some require an existing treatment plan at the clinic. Supplements can interact with medications, so a written list of everything you take is important.
Frequently asked questions
At what age does perimenopause start?
Often in the 40s, though timing varies.
Does Nature Doctors offer hormone testing?
Yes. Hormone testing, including cycle mapping, is available.
Can I do this by virtual appointment?
Nature Doctors offers virtual appointments across Manitoba for most patients.
Can I take supplements with my other medications?
Share your written list with your naturopathic doctor so possible interactions can be reviewed.
Ready to feel more informed about this stage?
Start with a naturopathic assessment with Dr. Lori Mae Janzen, ND or Dr. Miranda Ball, ND. Book online with Nature Doctors, call 204-943-6079, or visit us at 7-1200 Waverley Street, Winnipeg.
Sources
Menopause & U, Menopause Society of Canada: https://menopauseandu.ca
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, menopause resources: https://sogc.org