After experiencing close to a year of “typical” menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, loss of libido, and a total absence of menstruation, I was convinced I was well into menopause, despite being only 41 years old.  In addition to the usual symptoms, I also noted severe dry eye, foggy thinking, fatigue and an increase in anxiety, migraines, and insomnia. My doctor was unconvinced, however, and ordered blood tests and an ultrasound, believing that my taking the birth control pill was suppressing menstruation and the other symptoms were “in my head.” To my surprise – and my doctor’s – the results were surprising – indicating that my estrogen levels were lower than those of a post-menopausal woman, and low enough to trigger all of the above symptoms of menopause.

Having taking birth control continuously (no “off” week) for five years to control migraines, theoretically my body was producing only minimal estrogen because the constant supply of “outside” hormone made its own production unnecessary. My doctor gave me two options – another form of BCP with a higher dose of estrogen, or going off the Pill entirely. I chose the later, theorizing that the only way to get my body to self-regulate its hormone levels would be to suspend the outside supply. I was afraid that my susceptibility to migraines, relatively well controlled through hormones, via the BCP would escalate when my body went into withdrawal, and so began to investigate ways to boost my body’s own hormone generating ability.

Initially, I was interested in phytoestrogens, such as wild yam, black cohosh, red clover, and of course, high concentrations of soy, but was concerned that these, despite being plant based, might in fact mimic the effects of synthetic hormones and continue to allow my body to suppress its production of estrogen. I decided instead to supplement my food-based multivitamin/calcium/glucosamine regime with maca root (lepidium meyenii.) Maca root is purported to have hormone normalizing effects and to be helpful in the treatment of menopause. While I am only taking the smallest dose (1 capsule daily) I do notice an increase in energy and a reduction in daytime hot flashes – notable during a very hot Texas summer!

I also examined foods which are considered to be beneficial in boosting estrogen levels. The following are those I decided to incorporate/increase in my diet:

Fruits: especially apples, papayas, cherries, pomegranates, plums, and dates.

Vegetables: especially beets, cucumber, carrots, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, potatoes, yams, olives, parsley and garlic

Whole grains: including barley, rice, wheat, flax, and oats

Legumes: chickpeas, red beans, soy bean and sprouts

Finally, because low estrogen levels can contribute to bone loss, I also decided to increase the amount of weight bearing exercise I presently do, and to increase the amount of calcium I take.

I’ve now been free of the birth control pill for three weeks and while I haven’t experienced a miraculous reversal of the symptoms that first brought me to the doctor, I’ve had only the usual number of migraines (three) that I typically experience and have been able to carry on my daily routines – including making it to the second phase of P90x!

I strongly suggest that anyone experiencing a lack of menstruation, or severe disruption in their cycle (who knows they aren’t pregnant) to investigate, through their doctor, possible explanations. Knowledge is power and understanding what’s going on in our bodies helps us make the best possible choices to stay in the best possible health.