Last year, I was chatting with friends as they bemoaned peri-menopause. I sat in silent horror, unable to believe that my friends, people who are in my general age group, could be thinking about menopause let alone experiencing its effects.
It turned out that they were older than I thought they were, but still, menopause is not as far in my future as I imagined it would be.
Seriously. I thought menopause was something that happened in your sixties or maybe your seventies. Old Grandma, my mom, and my older sister all had hysterectomies (I hope that's okay to share.), so they didn't experience traditional menopause. I guess I've never really given it that much thought.
At any rate, menopause is not something I want to think about (or write about!), but it is a certainty in the future of each and every one of us, so we might as well get informed together.
I had the opportunity to interview several menopause experts during a campaign for Menopause Awareness Month in September. I asked them the questions that I thought you might be wondering.
This is all for you, Dear Reader. {cough, cough}
The first expert is Dr. Shari Brasner. She is a member of the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai and has been a board-certified, practicing obstetrician/gynecologist in New York City for more than 18 years. She has spoken about women's health, menopause, and practical solutions on tv programs including The View, Martha Stewart Live, and the Today Show.
Me: At what age do the changes of menopause begin?
Dr. Brasner: Menopause is the absence of the period for 1 year. The average age of menopause is around 51. I see women start to notice cycle irregularity and occasional night sweats or hot flashes as much as 5 years before their last period, or as early as their early forties.
Okay, so as much as I was looking forward to turning 30, I am no longer looking forward to 40. Let's just halt the clock at 34, okay?
Since that's not possible, I asked another question.
Me: So what are the signs that menopause may be around the corner?
Dr. Brasner: The more time that goes by between periods, the more likely it is that menopause is right around the corner. There's no other reliable symptom since each menopause transition can vary greatly, and all women experience symptoms differently.
Hmm.
Me: What are some of the practical solutions you recommend to women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause?
Dr. Brasner: I would offer advice on diet and nutrition, sleep, and exercise rather than relying on a prescription medication. I talk to patients as individuals, without a single cookie-cutter approach for all. For some, natural supplements like Estroven make the most sense. For others, it is a focus on reducing the stress at home or work that helps them feel more balanced.
It just so happens that I also had access to a registered dietitian nutritionist and a certified personal trainer, both of whom work with women who are dealing with symptoms of menopause. Given Dr. Brasner's recommendation that diet and exercise can help, I thought they might offer some advice.
Deb Horn is a 46-year-old certified personal trainer who prides herself on designing fitness programs that are time efficient, goal-oriented and fun. By using functional training, real life expectations and motivation, her experience gives clients (many of whom are menopause-aged) tangible results.
Me: What are your fitness tips for minimizing menopause symptoms?
Deb Horn: For my perimenopausal and menopausal clients, I recommend keeping workout routines simple and fun. Basic but effective routines will keep you motivated to exercise.
The Estroven Fitness Plan for menopausal women that I created is sensitive to the symptoms and issues we face during menopause. The plan focuses on one specific area each week—which keeps it simple. For example, one week focuses on managing weight by trying some modified abdominal routines. Another week addresses muscle mass by doing a series of strength training exercises that can be done in the comfort of your own home. I've also added soothing yoga and pilates routines to help to balance your emotions and ease anxiety.
Give it a try! You might just look forward to working out. It may seem hard at first, but once you start, you will feel better, look better and maybe even sleep better.
Exercise makes you better at everything you do!
Deb made me kind of excited because I can do fun, simple exercise now. I've lost a few pounds recently, so I have been thinking about getting back on an exercise plan.
Lastly, LeAnne C. Skinner, RD, LD is nationally recognized as a leader in the entrepreneurial field of dietetics, works with OB-GYNs and their many patients, and often recommends natural supplements, including Estroven. She cites menopause and its associated weight change as a common complaint on which she routinely counsels her patients.
Me: How can dietary changes minimize menopause symptoms? I had no idea they could be related.
LeAnne Skinner: Managing your weight can help to diminish menopause symptoms such as hot flashes.
To do this, I recommend eating six to nine servings of vegetables and fruit a day. And yes, you can do it!
That's really only 4 ½ cups of fruit and vegetables a day.
Try more whole grains and legumes and skip the processed foods. Eat more lean meat, fish and poultry. Lower the fat in your diet.
When you go out to eat, ask them not to put the extra oil and butter on your food. It's amazing how real food tastes!
Seems like the normal stuff, really. Eat better, more real, more whole foods, and you won't have as many hot flashes.
I'm skeptical, but I do eat pretty well, so we'll see some day.
I mean, I eat pretty well except when I don't.
Back to Estroven.
I didn't really have much luck getting a list of symptoms out of the experts, but I consulted Dr. Google, WebMD, and the Estroven website, and found out that some women (supposedly less than 50%) experience some combination of irregular and/or heavy periods, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, and having to pee more often in the years leading up to menopause as the ovaries gradually stop producing estrogen. Some women's bodies react better to this decreasing level of hormones than others, and everyone experiences the changes differently.
Going by those symptoms, I may already be experiencing peri-menopause.
ha.
Estroven offers a full line of products that safely and effectively provide multi-symptom menopause relief so you can feel like you again. Each product contains naturally-sourced ingredients that go beyond reducing hot flashes and night sweats to relieve your most bothersome menopause symptoms.Fortunately, Estroven sent me some samples. I think I'm going to try them out.
It's worth mentioning that synthetic estrogen, the primary ingredient in traditional hormone replacement therapy that has been linked to significant side effects, is not used in Estroven.
The different variations of Estroven include Weight Management, Maximum Strength, Nighttime, Energy, and Mood & Memory. Each one uses specially chosen natural ingredients to target your most bothersome symptoms.
I wasn't kidding about trying them out to see if they'll alleviate some of my anxiety and sleep issues, but I am going to talk to my doctor first. I'm not sure if that's well-advised or not. I should have asked Dr. Brasner when I had the chance.
September is Menopause Awareness Month. To learn more about menopause, check out Estroven's website and browse their product suite as well as tips and tricks for managing the good, the bad, and the sweaty!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Estroven. The opinions and text are all mine.