Menopause, more like Meno-stop!

Menopause? It's more like meno-stop.

Stop having energy.

Stop having a clear mind.

Stop having consistent periods (unless you didn't have them to start with, then you might be prepared).

Stop having a working metabolism.

Stop sleeping through the night.

Stop being interested in sex.

Stop having control over your mood swings.

The list goes on and on. Or maybe it doesn't because no one can seem to tell me what's really going on.

At least half of the world's human population will go through menopause at some point, and it all starts with the super fun season of perimenopause. This is the time in your life where pretty much all health-related things that are happening to you will be attributed to this stage.

I figured I'd just talk with my doctors when it became my turn, and they could help me navigate this confusing time. But it's all a guessing game. Every time I hear, "well, it could be this," or "it could be that," I want to scream! No one has any definitive answers.

We are in the year two thousand twenty two. How is this still so misunderstood?

Just try this or maybe try this other thing and basically see what happens. That's the advice I receive. I've tried I don't know how many types of OTC meds like Estroven and Amberen. Some worked for awhile, but then I started having unhealthy side effects. So I stopped and the side effects have eased but now all the night time discomforts, mind fog and irritation have cropped back up.

If you look at the reviews for these supplements, you may be shocked at the things that have gone wrong for women trying them out. No thank you! I do take into account that everyone is different and can see how it's said to be successful treatment for some women, but the unsuccessful ones have been really awful experiences. And I'm now one of those people!

I really enjoy researching things, ask anyone that knows me, but I've almost given up on trying to find more information about this common, every-day situation.

The research and advice have one thing in common though, they're exactly like drug commercials–this medication can cause diarrhea and constipation. It's all contradictory!!

According to the NIH, this process can last up to seven years. That's a very long time to have your health and quality of life in limbo for an unavoidable, natural process.

Just look at the description from womenshealth.gov and see how many times 'might' and 'may' show up.

Perimenopause (PER-ee-MEN-oh-pawz), or the menopausal transition, is the time leading up to your last period. Perimenopause means “around menopause.”

Perimenopause is a long transition to menopause, or the time when your periods stop permanently and you can no longer get pregnant. As your body transitions to menopause, your hormone levels may change randomly, causing menopause symptoms unexpectedly.  During this transition, your ovaries make different amounts of the hormones estrogen (ES-truh-jin) and progesterone (proh-JES-tuh-RONE) than usual.

Irregular periods happen during this time because you may not ovulate every month. Your periods may be longer or shorter than usual. You might skip a few months or have unusually long or short menstrual cycles. Your period may be heavier or lighter than before. Many women also have hot flashes and other menopause symptoms during this transition.

(quote from: https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-basics)

In fact, if you continue to look through the information they have compiled here, you'll be even more confused then when you started. I know I was.

So, where does that leave those of us that are or will be facing this situation? Why are more safe, effective treatments not readily available? Because I would like my quality of life to not suck for the next handful of years.

Oh that's right, because women are made to believe that talking about their periods is a hush-hush topic. And women aging? That's not supposed to happen either. We're supposed to fight it with every kind of aging product or procedure out there. So talking about menopause, a combo of the menstrual cycle + aging, is taboo. But it shouldn't be.

Anyone want to weigh in on this? Share your experiences and wisdom?

It's time to talk about it.