As an Acupuncturist, specialising in women’s health I’m often asked by younger women how menopause starts.

I love Caitlin Moran’s description of how menopause starts -with the disappearance of the ‘natural highs’ of our younger years and the subsequent ‘payback for fertility’ that can be perimenopause.

It’s the time of your life as you drift (or arrive abruptly) into menopause and as Caitlin says ‘the main thing that’s happening is: you’re not on drugs any more’.

That ‘drug’ withdrawal – how menopause starts – describes the hormonal change that can lead to a whole host of physical and mental stuff (officially it’s 34 ‘symptoms*’). It’s quite a list - from hot flushes to vaginal dryness and migraines to anxiety.

Sometimes, it’s not great to think about ALL the possibilities of how menopause starts– it can be overwhelming, besides which we’re all individuals and what’s one woman’s menopausal experience may not be yours.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not advocating sticking your head in the sand or not educating yourself about menopause. What I am saying is we’re all unique with different genes and different lifestyles. There are so many potential outcomes when the physiology of our body changes, whether that’s happening because of medicine, food, herbs or menopause.

Not all are negative.

So, don’t panic, it’s not great for menopausal issues! Listen to your mind and body, not what other people tell you WILL happen. How menopause starts varies between women. Choose your own path.

If you’re looking for natural support or pearls of Chinese medical wisdom we can’t wait to help you. Where would you like to start?