My Journey with Hormone Therapy

Perimenopause hit me like a tidal wave. For months, I found myself waking every night at 2 am, unable to fall back asleep. Anxiety crept in and my emotions became unpredictable… I used to call it my “crazy lady syndrome” because I could go from calm to uncontrollable in seconds. Brain fog and difficulty concentrating made simple tasks feel daunting.

Like many women, I tried to manage these symptoms with lifestyle changes like nutrition, exercise, mindfulness. These helped, but they didn’t touch the intensity of what I was going through. Eventually, I made the personal decision to start hormone therapy.

A controversial topic

Hormone therapy has been debated for decades. Many of us grew up hearing warnings about risks, especially around breast cancer. It’s still a controversial choice, and I want to be clear: as a registered dietitian, this is not within my scope, but I feel it’s important to share and bring light to this important topic. For me, hormone therapy (specifically estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) has been life-changing to say the least. My sleep improved, my anxiety calmed and I felt like myself again. 

Looking at the bigger picture

What ultimately gave me confidence was the research. Studies show that estrogen therapy can support:

• Brain health: Lowering the risk of dementia and supporting cognitive function
• Heart health: Offering protection against heart disease, the leading cause of death for women
• Bone health: Reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures
• Diabetes & colon cancer: Decreasing the likelihood of developing certain chronic conditions

Of course, hormone therapy isn’t for everyone. Some risks exist and the decision is deeply personal. But for me, the benefits outweighed the concerns and the improvements in my quality of life have been undeniable.

Why I’m sharing this

Talking openly about menopause and perimenopause is important. Too often, women suffer in silence or dismiss their symptoms as “just getting older.” My hope in sharing my story is to reduce the stigma, to let other women know they’re not alone, and to encourage you to explore your options… whether that’s nutrition, lifestyle changes, therapy, medication or a combination.

Note: This article shares my personal experience with hormone therapy. It is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or changing any treatment.

 

Jenn Giurgevich is the founder of Spark Nutrition & Health, a virtual nutrition consulting business.
Visit www.sparknutritionandhealth.ca for more information.