I love working with women in their 40s. This decade is an interesting transition period because while it’s the time when Mother Nature starts to wreak some havoc on our bodies, our confidence is typically at its peak. This decade is a time when we finally — honestly, truly — don’t give a damn about what other people think about us. Our 40s rock!
What doesn’t rock is what’s happening to our bodies. Even though the average age of menopause is 52, the early forties is when ovaries begin their final preparation for shutting up shop completely, and menopause. The ovaries actually start to slow down 10-15 years before menopause so our early 40’s is when most of us officially start what is called perimenopause.
The bad news is that this decline can not only lead to testosterone deficiency symptoms like low libido, weight gain, mental instability and mood swings, but also symptoms of estrogen deficiency, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, heart palpitations, and skin changes. Ouch!
Don’t despair, and don’t wait any longer. All of these changes are hormone-related and can be alleviated with proper hormone therapy. Don’t stand by idly when your body is screaming for some expert attention. The 40s can and should be an impressive sexual peak for us. We just have to get these hormones in check.