Menopause is just another stage in life a woman goes through when her childbearing years are over. Your hormones estrogen and progesterone are decreasing during this period, causing health changes throughout your body during menopause. You are losing the ability to reproduce and the fertility cycle stops. You no longer have your menstrual cycles and your physical feminine qualities from estrogen may fade. Facial hair may begin to grow and your voice may drop. These effects are due to testosterone becoming stronger as it loses estrogen.

They are a sign that you are approaching the golden years; the “life changing” markers that you and thousands of women before you have endured. Some women deny them and try to cover up, but others welcome the next stage of life with open arms. The way you react can help you take it easy through menopause.

Some women experience depression around the time of perimenopause, partly due to hormonal changes and partly due to events that can happen in midlife, such as moving children, divorce, weight gain in menopause, difficulties with your sex life and stress from missing periods. at the beginning, and so on.

Estrogen withdrawal causes the physical and mental changes you are going through. There are hormone replacement therapies that you can take, creams that you can use, and nutritional supplements and herbs that have historically been taken during this time of life.

Having a trusted doctor or herbalist can make the path easier for you. It’s okay to ask friends for recommendations on who they see. Some days you will feel crazy and other days you will be yourself again, so don’t take this stage of life too seriously. Many jokes about menopause point out the absurdities you feel and make you want to laugh. In fact, laughing is just what you need to get through a bad day. Also, a good support group, having friends going through the same things as you will benefit you enormously.

During and after menopause, you are at increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease. You can break your bones more easily and risk blood clots. Be sure to check with your doctor and get tested. Start eating a healthy diet, take vitamin D3, and exercise every day. Walking is best, but you also need to lift some weights regularly to maintain muscle tone and strengthen bones. Again, a group will help you keep going and have fun while exercising. Menopause is not the end, it is just part of aging and you still have the rest of your life to wait.