Menopause - When Estrogen Retires, What Should Women Do?

Fighting menopause and hoping all women understand how it works and what it does to their bodies.

This is what our lives were like before menopause.

Now image this is your real life without Menopause.

A female demands, as she is losing her fight with the changes and damage Menopause physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically is doing to her body and life.

Is this your life with menopause?

“How does life expect us to live with and survive these drastic life changes?”

According to science, “Estrogen protects multiple organ systems. Without it, long-term risks increase significantly [1].”

“At what age does menopause begin?” I asked.

Google gave her the answer.

Natural menopause typically begins between 45 and 55, with the average age in the United States and similar Western regions being 51 to 52. [1, 2, 3]

“So, for the first 45 to 55 years of your lives, someone or something was helping you to live and survive how you want to. Estrogen was like your security blanket. It was water that nourished your body, letting you live how you wanted without much effort. What do humans do when their security is gone? When water is gone?” I asked, staring her directly in the eyes.

“You’re making this up as if it’s something true or real,” she said, frustration rising as she turned away from my stare.

Long-Term Health Risks

• Bone Health (Osteoporosis): Estrogen helps maintain bone density. Without it, bones lose strength quickly and become brittle, increasing fracture risk. [1, 2, 3]

• Cardiovascular System: Estrogen helps protect blood vessels and regulate cholesterol. A lack of estrogen raises the risk of heart disease, blood vessel stiffening, and stroke. [1, 2]

• Metabolism and Weight: Changes in how the body processes fats and sugars can lead to stubborn weight gain (particularly around the abdomen) and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. [1, 2]

• Cognitive Decline: Long-term hormone deficiency is linked to a higher risk of memory loss and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia. [1, 2]

“Your life is real!” I threw at her. “What you said menopause is doing to you, your body, and life is real. Is it?”

She massaged her forehead with two of her fingers, then, with sadness and pain shared, “So my life sat on estrogen? Estrogen was doing all of the work for me, my body and life?”

“Glad I got you thinking sensibly,” I congratulated her. “Yes, estrogen regulates our bodies and life. Now it retires, as all of us do, at a certain age.”

“Why didn’t it retire at eighty or ninety?” she continued, frustrated.

My silence forced her to meet my eyes again. Then I shared, “Many humans take life for granted and live how they want. Now, with estrogen retiring, your health, living, body, and life- all of it depends on you now!”

“You mean I would have to pay 100% attention to my health now?” she asked.

“Damn, girl,” my happiness flowed over. “You are understanding quicker than I thought you would.”

I had to hug her as she burst into tears.

“How am I going to do that while still fighting life, my health, bills, job, raising children, boyfriend, and everything else?” she demanded as she eased from my embrace, tears flowing.

I don’t know, as she isn’t alone.

Billions of women worldwide are sitting and standing exactly where she is. Being aware and reading about life pain, disappointment, and regrets in life manuals, #Iintend2Survive, so I ensure I don’t enter menopause unhealthy. I know my body will stop producing estrogen, and I will be on my own.

I live in a country where water and light lock-offs are frequent, so it becomes normal. We plan and improvise. That action quietly spills over into other areas of our lives. So when hell comes, we deal with it, then move on to the next issue.

#WeIntend2Survive!

I ensure I am mentally, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and, to some level, financially healthy. I never take life for granted, so when hell comes, I find its source and causes and fix it.

Being aware, I know nothing is forever. Reading life manuals around me, I see life played out in many ways I like and don’t like. Then learn from them to be and do better.

Menopause isn’t only physical. It’s emotional, mental, and psychological, and sensible females take the time to know it. Then prepare for all of its changes. Then find ways to adapt, live, and survive. They know life. They don’t know death, so they intend to live a good life that heals and helps others.

Estrogen is retiring, and none of us can stop it.

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.