Confused about menopause? You are not alone!
Welcome to The Morning Pause! My goal is to share resources and expert advice that will help you become a stronger advocate for your health, clear up the confusion around menopause and create a community of empowered women to share in their experiences. There is so much confusion around perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause because, well…it is confusing. With myths, misconceptions, and contradictory advice at every turn, it's easy to feel lost and overwhelmed. On top of that, every woman experiences the changes in her body a bit differently so there isn’t a one size fits all solution. Compound that with your healthcare provider’s limited knowledge and it can become a labyrinth very quickly. Have you ever sat in front of your doctor with a list of symptoms that are derailing your life like anxiety, heart palpitations, hot flashes, vertigo, migraines, weight gain, just to name a few, and been told that it’s just what happens during menopause? Maybe you need an antidepressant? Perhaps you were referred to a specialist for every symptom? Or, like me, you were dismissed. Blank stare. Left the doctor feeling frustrated and overwhelmed? If you can relate, you are not alone and it’s not at all uncommon. Women’s healthcare has taken a backseat for years partially due to lack of funding for research studies, lack of representation in clinical trials and lack of interest but that is finally changing (yay for us!) and for that, we need to scream from the rooftops…keep the progress going!
Ok. So let’s get into it.
For this first blog, I thought it would be helpful to give a very macro basic overview. To break it down and simplify, there are 3 stages of menopause. Perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause when a woman's body naturally begins to produce less estrogen. This period can begin up to 10 years before menopause. Yes, you heard that correctly! The fun is just beginning. This is where it’s really important to know your body and listen to your body. Ladies…if you take away one piece of advice today, listen to your body. You are not crazy. Perimenopause is characterized by irregular periods or change in flow, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, joint pain, migraines and many, many other symptoms as hormone levels fluctuate. It marks the end of reproductive years and you may experience some, none or all of these symptoms. Remember when I mentioned that every woman’s experience is unique to them? It's a natural process, but some symptoms can be managed through lifestyle modifications, proper sleep hygiene, nutrition, hormone therapy, and other treatments to improve your quality of life.
Menopause signifies the end of a woman's menstrual cycles. Technically, you arrive in menopause when you have gone 12 months without a period, so it’s a good idea to track your periods. During menopause, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and produce lower levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. The average age of menopause is 51 but the normal range falls between 45-55. Symptoms of menopause may include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, changes in libido, hair loss, visceral fat weight gain, brain fog insomnia and the list goes on. While menopause is a normal part of aging, some symptoms can be managed through various lifestyle changes, hormone therapy, and other treatments. If you're experiencing symptoms that are impacting your quality of life, run don’t walk to your healthcare provider (preferably one found on www.menopause.org) or a women's health coach…(I may just know one!) for guidance and support.
Post-menopause is the stage in a woman's life that begins after she has not had her period for 12 consecutive months. This marks the end of the menopausal transition. I wish I could tell you that you will wake up symptom free since you’ve been carrying the heavy load for years, but post-menopause can present the highest number of vasomotor symptoms like heart palpitations and hot flashes. It can also bring about its own set of challenges, such as an increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. This is another reason why it’s so important to track the date of your last period so that you some idea of where you are in your stage of menopause. It’s crucial for women post-menopause to continue prioritizing their health through regular exercise., proper nutrition and for the love of all things…regular visits with a physician that you hopefully found on The North American Menopause Society’s website so that you can discuss your options. I will write future blogs including the types of exercise and lifestyle changes that are beneficial and recipes that will improve your symptoms.
Here’s what I want you to hear. You are not in this alone. In fact, there are 75 million women in the United States in perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause right now. That’s a mighty village! Let’s talk about it and celebrate or commiserate…might shift depending on the day or hour! Let’s share our knowledge with each other and collectively elevate the focus around menopause and women’s health.
I’ll be putting a blog out weekly for now. I’d love for you to connect with me on social media and let me know about menopause topics you’d like to know more about, your current hurdles with accessing proper care or just say hello.
Thanks for joining The Morning Pause community! I’m beyond excited that you’re here. Together we’ve got this.
Courtney
