Lottie Ryan said she was 'floored' when she was diagnosed with perimenopause

More and more women are speaking out about their health struggles, despite being ignored by medical professionals and dismissed by doctors who fail to treat them fairly.

One woman speaking out about her struggle with perimenopause is Lottie Ryan.

The presenter opened up about how we need more awareness about perimenopause, especially in Ireland.

Speaking on The Six O'Clock Show, Lottie said she was floored when her doctor told her she was going through perimenopause.

"It floored me because I didn’t know anything about it. I was completely uneducated about perimenopause, menopause, and just female hormone health in general."

"I feel like if people had been speaking a little more openly and honestly about it, maybe A) it wouldn’t have taken me as long to figure out what was going on with me, and B) I wouldn’t have been so, not ashamed, but confused and embarrassed."

The mum continued, "I think when we hear those words, perimenopause, menopause, I used to think of like, the cat lady in The Simpsons. Cobwebs."

Ryan echoed something many of us are feeling in Ireland: that women's health issues need to be taken more seriously.

"We should be like that about perimenopause and menopause, it’s not a big deal. It’s going to come knocking on all our doors, and I just wanted to kind of try and get the conversation going."

"Now I have started that conversation with the women in my life. Even just the girls in the office or my mates, and suddenly people are going, “That’s happening to you? Oh, I thought it was just me,” Lottie added.

Hearing someone with Lottie's profile be so open and honest will undoubtedly help shed stigma, but also encourage other women to seek support and share their own stories.

It's exactly what women in Ireland need: to feel less alone in a country that minimises their healthcare issues.

What are the signs of perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transition between your period and menopause. Your estrogen levels start to decrease during this time, and you may experience symptoms including irregular periods, hot flashes, and night sweats.

The main symptoms include:

• Sleep problems
• Irregular periods or skipping periods
• Periods that are heavier or lighter than usual
• Changes in mood, like irritability, depression, or mood swings
• Low libido
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness that causes discomfort during sex
• Urinary urgency (needing to pee more frequently)

Perimenopause typically lasts for about four years, but it can last as long as eight years.

Read more: The signs of early menopause that every woman should be aware of