‘Women should be educated about perimenopause in their 30s’ – Lorraine Keane

We go through five stages of hormones in our lives, so why are we so embarrassed about the last one, asks Lorraine Keane, who has been taking perimenopausal supplements for years now.

Lorraine Keane was delighted to have been asked to be the face of a women’s health supplement. But she was taken aback when she heard the word ‘menopause’.

Lorraine, a glamorous mum-of-two who has had a successful career as a TV reporter and presenter, likes to keep busy. “I want to work for another 40 years if I can, I never want to retire – LOVE working!”

But associating with the menopause wasn’t very on brand for Lorraine Keane. “Menopause? Are ya having a laugh? I’m not at menopausal stage yet,” was her initial reaction to being asked to front the Cleanmarine MenoMin campaign for hormone supplements.

“The word ‘menopause’ has this connotation of being past it, the last stage of life – a withered up old yoke. I feel far from that. And I feel I look pretty good for my age, and I’m very healthy, thank God,” says Lorraine.

As healthy as she was, Lorraine had, unbeknownst to herself, been experiencing perimenopausal symptoms.

“I wasn’t sleeping well, I had really low energy, my mood was up and down, I was just … irritable. I put it all down to the fact I was juggling a lot as women always do when we multitask. I thought maybe I’m just not as able to do all that stuff now that I’m in my 40s.”

When the symptoms matched that of what the Cleanmarine were targeting, Lorraine was all ears.

Lorraine felt a relief in symptoms after taking two capsules of Cleanmarine MenoMin a day for just two weeks. “After a couple of weeks I was sleeping better, I had much more energy and I just felt better in myself. I contacted Cleanmarine and said ‘this is unbelievable it’s actually working I just wanted to let you know’. Cleanmarine told Lorraine the supplements should start working after a month or two – not a matter of weeks, but that her boost of energy could have been as a result in a surge of positive mental thinking.

“I started sleeping better, I had more energy. My hair is thicker and shinier, my nails are stronger, my skin is better. My husband is happier because I’m happier. The sleeping was a huge thing for me because that has a knock-on effect. I just feel more like me.”

Lorraine said she wished she knew about perimenopause before she started having symptoms. “I get cross with myself because I felt low, and then I’d look around me and think ‘why the hell do you feel like this Lorraine? You’re so lucky, you’re blessed, you’ve healthy babies, a great husband, great job’. I wish I hadn’t had those kind of moments. I was annoyed with myself that I didn’t bother to find out [why I had symptoms].”

With Cleanmarine, Lorraine is encouraging other women not to be embarrassed about hormone health, and to start the conversation, with their friends, and their daughters.

“When women realise that they’re not alone and that there are other women – especially someone like me who’d be seen as busy and kept going and happy and healthy – that helps.

“We all have our ups and downs, and hormones are a massive part to play in that. When I had symptoms of perimenopause, I didn’t think of the word ‘menopause’ or it having anything to do with me for quite some time.

“It’s something that you should actually be looking at in your late 30s. I could have suffered less, because it is tough when your hormones are all over the place. Especially when you’re just trying to keep going and keep smiling and keep working,’ said Lorraine.

Lorraine has taken hormone health on the road, and fronted a series of live talks across the country to mark World Menopause Day on October 18. She also recruited her TV star pals Aisling O’Loughlin and Maia Dunphy for the launch of the ‘Let’s Talk Hormone Health’ podcast, available to listen to on cleanmarine.ie on October 18.

What is perimenopause?

So far, it’s all been plain sailing with regards to your hormones, each month you have come to expect and cope with the same warning signs that your period is on its way. However, things are about to switch gear as you enter into the perimenopause zone! You are likely to notice a ‘change’ in the way you feel each month and common traits for the perimenopause include changes in periods which could become more frequent, heavier and last longer or even become unpredictable and erratic or you could skip a few periods and they may become lighter and less frequent. This new phase reflects the shutting down of your monthly cycle and the ending of your fertility, a phase which can last anything from 4-12 years and begin between the ages of 45-55.

What is Cleanmarine for Women?

Cleanmarine® For Women is a unique all-in-one Omega 3, Phytonutrient and Vitamin blend (with no fishy repeat) designed specifically for women 15-40 years to give nutritional support especially around the time of your period. So, you feel and look your best all month long. Omega 3, Rosemary Oil and Soy Isoflavones are included in Cleanmarine® For Women along with a range of vitamins to provide extra nutritional support for menstruating women from 15 – 40 years. This synergistic formula importantly contains vitamin B6 which contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity while it also contributes to normal psychological function.

What is MenoMin?

Irish brand, Cleanmarine® MenoMin is a premium quality all-in-one Omega 3, Phytonutrient and Vitamin blend, formulated specifically to give extra nutritional support for peri-menopausal and menopausal women aged 40+. Cleanmarine® MenoMin is packed with Omega 3 Krill Oil, Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 and D3, as well as Rosemary Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Folate and Biotin. With Vitamin B6 to help regulate hormonal activity, biotin to help maintain normal mucous membranes, as well as Vitamin B2 to reduce tiredness and fatigue and Vitamin D to help maintain healthy normal bones. It is available in selected pharmacies and health stores nationwide.

For more information visit cleanmarine.ie.