WomenWise is a health service that assesses the impact of hormones and lifestyle choices on midlife wellbeing. Lifestyle Editor Camilla Cary-Elwes finds out more.
Insomnia, aches and pains, a heavy 20-day menstrual cycle, mood swings and loss of libido… At 47, I’ve been ticking the symptoms off my midlife bingo card for the past few years. Some ailments come and go, such as irrational rage, creeping dread and sore boobs, but others, like sleepless nights, have become a constant presence.
When symptoms came to a head last year (hello, heart flutters), I finally went to the doctor. Though I wasn’t sure I ticked all the boxes, I was hopeful a prescription for HRT would set me on the right path.
Sadly, that wasn’t the case. Within a fortnight, my brain was so foggy it became almost impossible to function. I went up a bra size and felt constantly ravenous. My waistbands became tighter and my regular runs like wading through treacle.
After persevering for five months, hoping things would settle down, I eventually decided to stop. Within days, my thinking became clearer, my hunger subsided and I soon fit back into my old bras (getting back into my favourite jeans was, maddeningly, a completely different matter). I felt more like myself again. It was a positive change, but my previous symptoms were still lingering, leaving me unsure of what steps to take next.
Coming across WomenWise, therefore, seemed serendipitous – a comprehensive midlife hormonal health check that could locate where I was in my perimenopausal journey, something my overworked GP simply didn’t have the time or resources to do. By looking at biochemistry, genetics, symptoms and lifestyle, WomenWise can identify what’s contributing to how you are feeling. Sex hormones are a key part, but other pieces of the puzzle include insulin sensitivity, thyroid hormones, iron levels, adrenal function, histamine tolerance and diet.
Sarah Williamson, founder of WomenWise, explains: ‘The latest figures are that only 26% of perimenopausal/menopausal women take HRT. According to a survey conducted by the Balance menopause app, 88% of these women benefit from HRT, but just 46% experience a significant improvement in symptoms. So that leaves many women needing to pull other levers to feel good. That’s really who we’re speaking to at WomenWise. HRT is a tool and an option for many women, but there are two amazing mimics of menopause, which are thyroid problems and low iron. These lead to brain fog, deep fatigue, hair loss, not sleeping properly and restless legs – all the things that people can mistake for menopause symp
