YOUR STARTING GUIDE TO MENOPAUSE 

Some would say that women have been dealt a bad hand when it comes to all thing’s periods and menopause. And I’m not here to disagree. But this isn’t about debating the pros and cons of menopause or making your peace with it. This is about grabbing menopause by the horns and owning it. 

When you read through the article, I want you to remember that you will never be alone during menopause. Approximately 13 million women in the U.K are either peri- or post-menopausal. (2021)

Does it really have to be mayhem?  

Let’s get started by shining some light on the term.

Menopause is the natural stage of life. When a woman has 12 consecutive months since she last had her period. Like most things in life, menopause can affect women differently. You could be 40 and enter menopause or even 60. Most women on average, though, experience menopause at 51.

Just like the trailers before a movie, menopause is the big show that is preceded by a transitional phase called perimenopause. What’s that?

Welcome to the first stage of menopause – Perimenopause 

Perimenopause can start up to 10 years before menopause, sometimes striking women in their 30s. During this stage, you’ll experience menopause symptoms and fluctuations in oestrogen.  Some women say that this stage is where the symptoms were at their worst.

Just a side note on perimenopause. If you’re trying for a baby, you don’t need to hit the brakes during perimenopause. Women who are menstruating during this period can still get pregnant.

Feeling these symptoms? Sounds like a case of perimenopause

– Irregular periods

– Mood swings, hot flushes, and difficulty sleeping

– Issues in the bedroom, vaginal discomfort, and incontinence

Welcome to the second stage – Menopause

Menopause is the stage when a woman no longer menstruates. No longer having periods for a full 12 months puts you into post-menopause. 

What’s happening inside is that your ovaries no longer produce an egg every month and stops, producing oestrogen like they once did. While the two effects of menopause can be fit into a sentence, the internal process is much more complex. 

During menopause, your body is entering its third stage of life. There is so much more going on and menopause is not just about our reproductive hormones. 

Hormones that have been functioning throughout your adulthood are now trying to retire. And with this comes internal mayhem with some of your other hormones. Your appetite changes, your mood changes, your sleep pattern changes, and your body temperature changes.

Feeling these symptoms?  (There are over 50 different symptoms)

Menstrual changes:

• Late reproductive years: Menstrual cycles shorten (cycles get closer).
• Menopausal transition: shorter cycles → longer cycles → very irregular/sporadic cycles and final menstrual period 

Vasomotor symptoms:

• Hot flushes occur in 50%–90% of women
• Usually, lasts 1–5 minutes, but may last up to 45 minutes
• Night sweats can significantly disrupt sleep and cause chronic fatigue

Emotional symptoms:

• Mood swings and irritability
• Stress and anxiety
• Lack of confidence

Symptoms related to sexual function 

• Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM): vulvovaginal atrophy (the physical changes of vulva, vagina and lower urinary tract due to estrogen deficiency)
• Vaginal dryness and itching
• Dyspareunia

Why do we have so many symptoms?

In short,we have oestrogen receptors all over our body, and skin. liver, heart, lungs, brain, uterus, and bones the decline of this hormone can produce other symptoms like hot flashes, bloating, weight gain, mood swings, dry skin and vagina, UTIs, and more. Other hormones and chemicals like testosterone and progesterone, insulin, cortisol, and DHEA plus a few others also contribute to this – and can affect us physically and mentally once out of balance.  

Welcome to the Third Stage – Post Menopause 

Some things to be mindful of as women due to our hormones changing is that we are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and insulin resistance, especially in post menopause 

In summary, hormonal changes in our 40s and 50s – while not responsible for everything – can cause physiological and psychological changes that make us more susceptible to health issues and, more importantly, have an impact on how we feel and take care of ourselves.

These symptoms can be a result of long-term estrogen deficiency and unhealthy lifestyle choice 

Bone loss: Osteoporosis – Fragility fractures

Cardiovascular disease: Lipid profiles worsen (↑ cholesterol) – Weight gain – Risk for myocardial infarction & thromboembolic events

Hair, muscle, and skin changes: Hair thins – Skin becomes drier and rougher – Lean mass and muscle tone – Fat mass

Symptoms of GSM: Dryness/dyspareunia – Risk of pelvic organ prolapse – Incontinence issues. – Urinary tract infections – Urinary tract infections Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Top tips on owning your menopause

So now you understand what menopause is, Here are a few tips to start owning your menopause, One word of wisdom from someone who is going through it and specializes in Menopause wellness. 

I would like to share with you. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that this is not for you, or you are too young to think about it. The earlier you can get yourself into good healthy lifestyle habits, the easier it is to change as you enter perimenopause.

– Sharon James