Taking the Turn:

Thriving through Perimenopause, Menopause, & BEYOND!!

Optimize nutrition, sleep, movement, and mindset to reclaim your health and re energize your life!

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman's reproductive years. This transition has also been described as “puberty in reverse” and is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation and fertility. Menopause occurs when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, indicating that her ovaries are no longer producing eggs.

Typically, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age being around 51. However, the timing can vary for each individual. Menopause affects all of the major organ systems in the body: digestion, cardiac, reproductive, brain/gut, and musculoskeletal system. Physical , mental, emotional, and psychosocial changes will occur, affecting the whole body. For this reason, if you are a SIS born female, then you are destine to go through menopause even if you have had your uterus and ovaries removed. Menopause can be categorized into three stages:

1. Perimenopause: This is the transitional phase leading up to menopause. During perimenopause, which can last several years, a woman's hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone, begin to fluctuate. This hormonal imbalance can cause irregular menstrual cycles, as well as symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and sleep disturbances.

2. Menopause: Menopause is officially reached when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. At this stage, the ovaries cease to release eggs, and hormone production decreases significantly. Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings, may persist during this time.

3. Postmenopause: Postmenopause refers to the period after menopause has been reached. During this phase, menopausal symptoms generally decrease, although some women may continue to experience symptoms for a few more years. The risk of certain health conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease, may increase during postmenopause due to the decline in estrogen levels.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM GOING THROUGH MENOPAUSE?

Menopause can bring about a range of symptoms that vary in intensity and duration for each individual. While some women may experience mild symptoms, others may have more pronounced effects. Common symptoms of menopause include:

1. Irregular periods: One of the early signs of approaching menopause is changes in menstrual cycles. Periods may become irregular, with variations in frequency, duration, and flow.

2. Hot flashes and night sweats: Hot flashes are sudden feelings of heat that can cause flushing, sweating, and a rapid heartbeat. Night sweats are hot flashes that occur during sleep, often leading to disrupted sleep patterns.

3. Vaginal dryness: Decreased estrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness, causing discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse. It may also result in itching or irritation in the genital area.

4. Mood changes: Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can contribute to mood swings, irritability, increased anxiety, and even depression in some women.

5. Sleep disturbances: Menopause can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep. Night sweats can also contribute to sleep disturbances.

6. Fatigue: Many women experience increased fatigue or a lack of energy during menopause, which can be related to hormonal changes, sleep disturbances, or other factors.

7. Changes in libido: Some women may experience a decrease in sexual desire or changes in sexual function due to hormonal changes and vaginal dryness.

8. Weight gain: Hormonal changes during menopause can contribute to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. Slower metabolism and changes in body composition may also play a role.

9. Changes in skin and hair: Menopause can lead to changes in skin texture, such as dryness or increased wrinkling. Hair may also become thinner or drier.

10. Bone density changes: The decline in estrogen levels during menopause can increase the risk of osteoporosis and bone loss, potentially leading to an increased risk of fractures.

11. Diffuse joint pain and swelling (Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome): Many women experience joint pain, muscle stiffness, and connective tissue tightness that makes it painful to move and exercise as they did before. Frozen shoulder and fibromyalgia are common diagnoses for women going through menopause.

It is important to remember that not all women will experience every symptom, and the severity and duration of symptoms can vary. If menopausal symptoms significantly impact daily life or well-being, consulting with healthcare professionals or menopause specialists can provide personalized guidance and treatment options.

What are my options for treatment?

Optimizing your health is rarely ever the result of taking this pill or that pill….. it is a synergistic combination of everything we put in and on our body. Whether you are trying to lose or gain weight, fight an infection, deal with an autoimmune disease (arthritis, lupus, thryoid dysfunction), recover from an injury or surgery, or lower your cholesterol… it all starts with the things you are putting in and on your body every day. It has been well documented in research that chronic inflammation is the root cause of most disease processes in the body. What causes inflammation?? The foods you eat, toxins in self care products, lack of movement, and poor sleep. These changes will help you regain your quality of life while you navigate this transition:

1. Improve your sleep

2. Reduce your toxic load

3. Educate yourself on the pros and cons of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) and discuss this with your doctor

4. Clean up your diet

5. Move your body

LIFESTYLE BASED TREATMENTS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY UNDERVALUED TO MOST MAINSTREAM HEALTH PRACTITIONERS.

HOw can Health Coaching help me optimize my health?

Change can be hard. You need someone to help you make these lifestyle changes and to be an advocate for your personalized care. This is the primary focus of a women’s health coach…like ME!

The best part : I have done all the research for you! No guess work needed! This alone saves you hours and hours of time and energy!

Let’s work together to customize your specific lifestyle protocol, optimize your health, and reduce those nagging symptoms that are keeping you from enjoying your best life! Together we will develop a plan to get you sleeping better, nourish your body, and improve your strength!

Have questions or want more information about your own personal “Menopause Makeover”?

Contact me here… I will get back with you within 24 hours