By the time this article is published, I will be sharing the house with a 17-year-old daughter, who quite possibly may also be independently driving out on the road.
If I think too hard about how the last 17 years have seemingly flown by it really makes my head hurt.
There is just so much going on for them through these years – work, study, social life, forging their independence and considering the future.
With all of this to wrap their heads around there is often little thought about what is actually going on in their bodies, especially when it comes to the nitty gritty of hormones.
Looking back on it now, I really did not appreciate the importance of this, and how it may impact me as I became older.
For many of my daughter’s friends it is just the same. It is difficult to find the answers and the easy option is often to start on the oral contraceptive pill and worry about it later.
Sometimes, this means not finding out until you are well into your 20s that there may be underlying issues going on.
My daughter doesn’t have the luxury of that with a nagging and enquiring mother like me, when it comes to her health.
Oestrogen is the main player in the female reproductive hormone profile and the amount our body produces should follow the goldilocks rule somewhat – some is alright, too much is bad, but just right is where we are looking for to maintain optimum function in many systems of the body.
Oestrogen promotes growth – this is what kicks females into puberty but has also been found to create issues if the level is too high. Later in life this may lead to ongoing or increasing pain, infertility, mental health concerns, or even certain types of cancer.
Education is the key. All young women should be given the understanding of how their hormones can affect them physically and emotionally; know that this will be different in different times of their cycle; know what is in the realms of normal, and what begins to border on problematic.
Understanding that our growth and hormonal development is a continuum is imperative. If you have troubles as a teen, it is likely to continue into your 20s, possibility effect the maternal years and greatly effect the perimenopause and menopausal years.
A good place to start is by checking out the website: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au, or come and chat to one of the Women’s Health physiotherapists at Physique for more in depth concerns.
