Q I am 43, and have started suffering from night sweats and insomnia before my period. Can you suggest any natural treatments?
A 'The first step is to get a diagnosis,’ says consultant gynaecologist Michael Dooley . ‘Your symptoms could be due to several causes or a mixture.’ Book in with your GP for tests (see below) and meanwhile try these simple shifts. Keep a diary or follow a (free) period tracker app (eg, Period Tracker Lite). This gives invaluable information for your doctor and helps you feel in control.
Changes in your periods and night sweats indicate hormonal imbalance. This could be an early symptom of menopause (perimenopause). Your GP can do blood tests to check hormone levels which signpost the stage of menopause and any significant hormonal deficiency.
Symptoms in the latter half of your cycle suggest premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This is common in perimenopause and is likely to be connected to falling oestrogen levels, so adding oestrogen (as a patch or gel) may help. This is HRT (hormone replacement therapy) rather than a natural remedy, but it’s often useful to see how a patient responds over two or three months to confirm the diagnosis. You can always review after this.
Your symptoms might also suggest thyroid problems. Difficulty sleeping, mood swings and sensitivity to heat may be linked to an overactive (hyper-) thyroid. Discuss this with your doctor. Supplements may be useful. Try the multivitamin/mineral Femforte 1 by Biocare, £22.05 for 90 tablets; Lamberts Vitamin B6, £4.60 for 100 tablets; Dyno-Mins Magnesium, £14.60 for 90 tablets, or Ideal Omega 3, £23.70 for 60 capsules. Sage Complex, a herbal blend, £23.95 for 90 capsules, has helped many women around menopause.
Yoga has been shown to help: try slower forms of yoga, eg, iyengar.
Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Sip still water during the day and keep a glass by your bed.
Keep blood sugar levels steady by eating every two to three hours (wholesome snacks between meals, not confectionery).