Menopause, The Stages, and What Tools To Use
When one thinks of menopause, it can conjure thoughts and feelings of:
Getting old
Life is half over
Dealing with all the unpleasant symptoms going through menopause
Fear of the unknown with your health and wellness
These are all valid reasons to feel a little uneasy.
How many of us were taught about what to expect when going through menopause?
Personally, I was never really informed about what to expect from it. When my aunts and mother would get together, and this subject came up, they would describe what they went through. Some had hot flashes, and others had gained weight or had no symptoms at all.
This was the extent I knew about menopause until I saw my sister go through a year with insomnia, and I had my allergies ramp up right at the same time I started going through my menopause.
For those of you who have not experienced or are in the middle of menopause, let me give you some insight into it.
Women usually experience menopause in their late 40s to early ’50s. Hormones of estrogen and progesterone in the ovaries are decreased. When this happens, you will begin to notice symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness.
THE 3 STAGES OF MENOPAUSE:
Your experience with menopause will be unique to you, from when it starts to the types of symptoms you feel.
Knowing what stage of menopause you are in can help you know what to expect and how to manage your symptoms.
Let’s break down the stages
1.First stage: Perimenopause
This is the earliest stage, usually lasting 3-5 years before menopause. Symptoms of this stage are:
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Mood changes
Vaginal dryness
Urinary issues
During this time, your periods are irregular. They may even stop for a few months and resume. Your doctor can test your hormones and determine how close you are to menopause.
Some women may experience perimenopause in their 30’s and 40’s. Also, know you can still get pregnant at this stage.
2. Second Stage: Menopause
This is when you don’t have a period for 1 full year without health issues such as surgeries, illness, or pregnancy. Typically this is between the ages of 45-55 (average age, 51).
At this time this when your ovaries stop making estrogen and progesterone.
Symptoms you will start experiencing.
Hot flashes
Body temperature fluctuates
Some women experience joint and muscle pain
Mood swings
Mental fogginess
Night sweats may make you feel uncomfortable
3. Third Stage: Postmenopause
Typically postmenopause begins in your early to mid-fifties. Though there are many challenges during menopause, many women who move into postmenopause feel a sense of freedom and uplift. Not worrying about getting pregnant and getting a fresh perspective on their lives.
Over the years, your hormones will shift and settle into a more stable balance level.
You may begin to notice your hot flashes and other symptoms lessening.
As you enter postmenopause, this is a good time to evaluate your health and talk to your doctor about your long-term health goals. The reason is when estrogen has ceased; there is an increase in heart disease, osteoporosis, and other heart and bone conditions.
Here are the top 8 conditions for women that are increased during postmenopause:
Diabetes
Autoimmune disorders
Joint pain
Hepatitis C
Gout
Urinary tract infections
Vaginal atrophy is the thinning of the walls of the vagina caused by decreased estrogen levels.
Gum disease
TOOLS TO USE:
Having tools to help you while going through the stages of menopause will be a big help emotionally and physically. Here are 5 things that really spoke to me while researching that may help you.
1.Develop a sense of your own belief with menopause. As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I only knew about menopause which my aunts and mom discussed. Your menopause is unique to you; design your menopause toolbox that fits your symptoms.
2. Be the detective for you. You know you, and if symptoms pop up while you are going through menopause, research those symptoms. Look for doctors who can help you with those symptoms, or is your GP an expert in women’s health?
3. Take a hard look at your nutrition. Back in our younger years, our body was more forgiving of eating unhealthy. However, moving into the second part of our lives while going through menopause, we need to make sure our nutrition is a major priority. Sit down with yourself and evaluate your nutrition and what you would like to change to fit into your lifestyle. Could it be a more plant-based diet, keto, or low-carb? Your body needs more nutrients and vitamins as you get older.
4. Change up your skincare. Less estrogen leads to thinning of the skin, which may result in sagging or wrinkles than you normally would have. Our skin needs to be hydrated, so try to drink as much water for your body weight. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, get at least 70 ounces of water daily. Look into what moisturizer would benefit your skin and ensure it has at least SPF 30.
5. Practice mindfulness. This is a very valuable tool for any age. Mindfulness is about being in the here and now. What is happening around you at that moment? For example, when you go for a walk, what do you hear, see or smell? You are bringing awareness to your surroundings and not thinking about the future or the past but at that moment.
There are many more tips and tools you can acquire for you, but this is a great start to have. Celebrate the second half of your life by trying new things and embracing a mindset that even though you are not 20 anymore, you still have much to experience, provide value, and create your own self-worth since this is your time.
If you are looking for some more support with your menopause then take advantage of my FREE 20-Minute Transformation Call. This chat between us can be applied to any part of your life.
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