Maya Minding Menopause

A 4-Part Series

We are finally talking about it out loud and less as a hush among friends or silently within. For those who menstruate, there isn’t enough discussion about our first or last period. In fact, many people still believe that periods are unsanitary, and many of us spend a lot of time trying to remove the dreaded monthly from our routine. These conversations are needed. It’s time to normalize discussions around menstruation.

Contrary to what many women believe, the menopause transition does not simply refer to the cessation of menstruation and the end of the reproductive years. Menopause is a transition that comprises the stages of perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Perimenopause occurs when menstrual periods vary by more than seven days at least twice within a twelve-month time span. Variations and alterations in menstrual flow can begin 7 to 10 years prior to the final menstrual period (FMP), when periods can become irregular (Harlow S. D., Gass M., Hall J. E., et al. 2012) . With climacteric shifts, many, but not all, women begin to report symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disruptions, mood changes, and vaginal dryness during this stage. Menopause is said to have occurred when a woman has experienced 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Postmenopause refers to the 24 to 36 months after the Final Menstrual Period , when any symptoms typically subside for most women.

While we are often presented with the effects of aging and menopause on potential adverse health outcomes, it is essential to emphasize that menopause is not a disease; it is a natural transition. Each woman experiences menopause differently influenced by genetics, diet, lifestyle, cultural expectations and attitudes, and duration and severity of symptoms. Many women report no physical changes during the perimenopausal years other than irregular menstrual periods. Some women experience some or all of the symptoms commonly associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances,body composition shifts, increased anxiety or mood changes, vaginal dryness or changes in memory. Many of these issues are unrelated to hormone changes and many, such as hot flashes and memory disturbances, usually go away after menopause. Heading into the menopausal years with information on how to make individualized intentional decisions about nourishment and lifestyle is essential and may have an impact on the perception and experience of the menopause transition.

In this multi-part blog series (you’ll have to check in weekly to stay tapped into the conversation with me), we will center the occurrence of the menopause transition as one that will be uniquely experienced by each woman that menstruates. Various factors such as culture, social determinants of health, lifestyle, and aging contribute to whether symptoms are minimal or eventful. The last blogs will focus on implementing recommendations. Use the comments below or send me a DM to @mayafellerRD on Instagram. I would love to hear from you!