MENOWAR’s Post

“Not feeling like myself” is an incredibly appropriate phrase in an article from The Washington Post. I just led a Menopause Cafe charity  event today for a group of women in different stages of menopause and this was a great summation of what they experience: ✅Complete overwhelm ✅Disconnectedness between one’s body and brain ✅Brain fog – can't think clearly and focus ✅Mood swings – rage, sobbing at trivial things, extremely irritable ✅Hot flashes and night sweats ✅Vaginal dryness and discomfort ✅Sleep deprivation so severe you can’t function   👭 While medical intervention and therapies can help, sisterhood does as well. Women feel so alone during this time. And many doctors aren’t menopause experts and so can dismiss patients, tell them to “suck it up,” send them off with an anti-depressant or give them bad guidance.   🦸♀️Knowing others are going through the same feelings and talking about it together can empower women with the understanding that what they are experiencing is normal, hormonal, a shared struggle, and can get better.   🌅Perimenopause can happen much earlier than many expect as well. So education in advance of this life stage is critical. One woman in my group today thought she was dying…but no, “just” menopause.   🤲Women out there – know you are NOT alone, advocate for yourself and insist on the proper care, and talk to each other! https://lnkd.in/gn_ihXhh #Menopause #MenopauseSymptoms #MenopauseHealth #Midlife #MenopauseAwareness #MenopauseMovement #EmpoweringWomen #MenopauseSupport #MenopauseRelief #Menowar Menopause Experts Group Limited

Menopause is the time that marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. It’s diagnosed after she has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause can happen in a woman’s 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. Symptoms In the months or years leading up to menopause (perimenopause), women might experience these signs and symptoms: Irregular periods Vaginal dryness Hot flashes Chills Night sweats Sleep problems Mood changes Weight gain and slowed metabolism Thinning hair and dry skin Loss of breast fullness Signs and symptoms, including changes in menstruation can vary among women. Most likely, women will experience some irregularity in their periods before they end. Skipping periods during perimenopause is common and expected. Often, menstrual periods will skip a month and return, or skip several months and then start monthly cycles again for a few months. Periods also tend to happen on shorter cycles, so they are closer together. ***Despite irregular periods, pregnancy is still possible and couples should use precautions. If a woman has skipped a period but isn’t sure she started the menopausal transition, she should consider a pregnancy test if she is sexually active. It is IMPORTANT to understand, and for the men in a woman’s life to understand, Menopause is a natural biological process. Full stop. We need to lose the stigma connected to it and not be ashamed about it or embarrassed talking about it especially with medical professionals. The physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, and emotional symptoms of menopause may disrupt a woman’s sleep, lower her energy or affect emotional health. There are many effective treatments available, from lifestyle adjustments to hormone therapy so we really encourage women to advocate for themselves and speak to their doctors. #HalleBerry #actress #mom #menopause #perimenopause #perimenopausehealth #womenshealth Mayo Clinic

Attention ladies. Menopause is the time that marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. It’s diagnosed after she has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. Menopause can happen in a woman’s 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. Symptoms In the months or years leading up to menopause (perimenopause), women might experience these signs and symptoms: Irregular periods Vaginal dryness Hot flashes Chills Night sweats Sleep problems Mood changes Weight gain and slowed metabolism Thinning hair and dry skin Loss of breast fullness Signs and symptoms, including changes in menstruation can vary among women. Most likely, women will experience some irregularity in their periods before they end. Skipping periods during perimenopause is common and expected. Often, menstrual periods will skip a month and return, or skip several months and then start monthly cycles again for a few months. Periods also tend to happen on shorter cycles, so they are closer together. ***Despite irregular periods, pregnancy is still possible and couples should use precautions. If a woman has skipped a period but isn’t sure she started the menopausal transition, she should consider a pregnancy test if she is sexually active. It is IMPORTANT to understand, and for the men in a woman’s life to understand, Menopause is a natural biological process. Full stop. We need to lose the stigma connected to it and not be ashamed about it or embarrassed talking about it especially with medical professionals. The physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, and emotional symptoms of menopause may disrupt a woman’s sleep, lower her energy or affect emotional health. There are many effective treatments available, from lifestyle adjustments to hormone therapy so we really encourage women to advocate for themselves and speak to their doctors. #HalleBerry #actress #mom #menopause #perimenopause #perimenopausehealth #womenshealth Mayo Clinic

The conversation around menopause is evolving, and it's about time! Influential figures like Drew Barrymore and Naomi Watts are shedding light on this important phase, but there's still much work to be done. A recent McKinsey report highlights menopause as an area with one of the highest unmet needs in female health, presenting a massive market potential ranging from $120 billion to $350 billion globally. With over 450 million women worldwide experiencing symptoms, the demand for effective treatments and support is undeniable. At Cofertility, we recognize the holistic journey of womanhood, from fertility challenges to menopausal transitions. Our commitment extends beyond helping you build your family; we're here to empower and support you at every stage of life. #MenopauseAwareness #WomensHealth #Innovation #Healthcare #McKinseyReport https://lnkd.in/eMwNrRmB

Simple & straightforward explanations for all that cut through all the misinformation swirling 'round. Kudos to you Ceri Cashell! 🥳👌

📖 Here’s our little dictionary for YOU! 👇 🔎 Menopause: The natural end of menstruation, typically occurring around the age of 50, marking the end of a woman's reproductive years. 🔎 Perimenopause: The transitional phase leading up to menopause, characterised by hormonal fluctuations and irregular menstrual cycles. 🔎 Hot flashes: Sudden feelings of intense heat and sweating, often accompanied by flushing of the face and neck, commonly experienced during menopause. 🔎 Night sweats: Episodes of excessive sweating during sleep, often associated with hot flashes and disrupting sleep patterns. 🔎 Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Medical treatment involving the administration of hormones (such as oestrogen and progesterone) to alleviate menopausal symptoms and reduce the risk of certain health conditions. 🔎 Oestrogen: A female sex hormone responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle and maintaining reproductive health, levels of which decline during menopause. 🔎 Progesterone: Another female sex hormone that works in conjunction with oestrogen to regulate the menstrual cycle and support pregnancy. 🔎 Bone density: The measure of bone strength and density, which may decrease during menopause due to hormonal changes, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. 🔎 Vasomotor symptoms: Symptoms related to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels, such as hot flashes and night sweats, commonly experienced during menopause. 🔎 Mood swings: Emotional fluctuations, including irritability, anxiety, and depression, often associated with hormonal changes during menopause. 🧠 Understanding terminology associated with menopause can help you navigate your research and help you ask the right questions. We have compiled some key terms to help you decode the language of menopause. 🔐 🔗 Head over to our website to learn about how we are breaking the stigma in the workplace https://lnkd.in/dHidK57R #menopauseawareness #menopauseterms #terminology #womenatwork #healthcare

Perimenopause and Menopause: What’s the Difference? 🤔 People often use the terms "menopause" and "perimenopause" interchangeably, but they are actually different phases of a woman’s life. Perimenopause and menopause are normal and natural stages that typically occur when a woman is in her forties and fifties, toward the end of what is considered her reproductive life. The word "peri" comes from the Greek word meaning "about." This is the stage around menopause but before you officially go through it. During perimenopause, which many women experience during their forties, menstrual cycles are irregular, fertility is declining, but conceiving a child may still be possible. The Two Stages or Phases of the Perimenopause Transition 👉 Scientists divide perimenopause into two stages. Early-stage perimenopause is when your menstrual cycle, which was regular before, starts to become erratic. (If you have always been erratic, it can be difficult to tell when you have entered this phase.) You are in early-stage perimenopause when, in the course of several months, your period comes a week or more later than usual. 👉 You enter late-stage perimenopause when there are at least 60 days between some periods. This can happen soon after the early stage begins or, more commonly, not for several years. The hormones in a woman’s system are in flux during this time, and the fluctuations may trigger symptoms such as hot flashes. When, Exactly, Are You in Menopause? 👉 Menopause is identified after the fact. When you look back at your calendar and see that you have gone one full year with absolutely no menstrual bleeding, then you are in menopause. You might go a long stretch of months without getting a period, but if one eventually comes before 12 months have passed, you are still perimenopausal. Have more questions? Contact us! 📞 +1 301-881-9464

I am part of a generation of women who will deal with the challenges of perimenopause at the same time they need to figure out the "baby question" for themselves. The first time I heard about the term 'perimenopause', something inside me freaked out. I thought: "oh great! One more thing I need to brace myself for." 😒 It's not just the looming menopause, marking the end of my reproductive years— something I pictured for a long time as a point of no return that supposedly sends everything downhill (your career, libido, and social "attractiveness") There's also the period leading up to that. Perimenopause can be a few years long or could last for 10 to 12 years before you can actually say you've hit #menopause (menopause = 12 months after your last period). A time window where you notice changes: in your cycle (length or heaviness), vaginal dryness, bladder changes, joint pain, mood changes… Perimenopause just sounds like a threat, something making my reproductive years window even narrower.  But Maisie Hill has this one sentence in her book that picks me up whenever I have one of these moments: "To be forewarned is to be forearmed and this is crucial information to have when it comes to seeking out appropriate treatment during perimenopause". I started this book a few months ago while working on a #perimenopause project. It has been a wealth of information! Some of the things I've learned or got reminded of: → #Reproductivehealth goes beyond reproduction: perimenopause impacts more than 'just' the ability to conceive/ get pregnant. It also influences mental health or bone health, for example → Not everyone knows about perimenopause, and that also includes medical professionals who aren't always fully aware of its wide range of symptoms and complexity → There are still a few myths going around: for example, the idea that hormone replacement therapy is bad for women and could increase breast cancer risks. There have been so many flawed studies making headlines in the past; they had a profound impact on doctors' prescriptions and public opinion. It has kept some people away from a sound and safe option (p77) → Those suffering from PMDD or had a history of depression episodes are more at risk for depression again during perimenopause because of the hormonal fluctuations (p133) "The premenstrual, or Autumn, phase of the cycle acts as a proving ground for self-awareness and self-development, and perimenopause is one epic continual Autumn - the kind that can break you or make you."(P126) So, I still feel like perimenopause isn't going to be a party. (Or maybe yes?! Some people report having more libido around menopause 😋) But now, I am also more aware of the possible challenges ahead. I tell myself what a chance to carry all this knowledge with me: all this vocabulary, these keys to understanding eventual changes in my body, and the possibility to be a more attentive and a better advocate for my own health

🌺 This overlooked corner of women’s health could be a $350 billion market opportunity: Menopause 🌺 🌟 For years, women transitioning through this natural phase of life have faced challenges without adequate solutions tailored to their needs. But now, the tides are turning as experts and entrepreneurs alike recognize the vast possibilities within this space. ⚛️ From innovative treatments to personalized wellness programs, the market for menopause-related products and services is ripe with potential. It's not just about addressing symptoms; it's about enhancing quality of life and empowering women during this important transition. #Menopause #WomenHealth #WellnessJourney 🌺💪✨

https://lnkd.in/eRxZqZch Menopause Is Finally Going Mainstream Kathryn Clancy wrote an entire book about menstrual cycles. But even she was surprised by some of the pre-menopausal symptoms she recently began to experience at age 44. “A lot of things that have to do with my uterus, ovaries, and breasts, I have been massively underprepared for as a Ph.D.-level expert in this field,” says Clancy, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “That should tell you how even more underprepared most people are.” Most people who menstruate will experience symptoms including hot flashes, brain fog, and changes to mood, sleep, and sexual function as they approach menopause, defined as the point in time a year after their last period. But that transition, which typically begins between the ages of 45 and 55, is so rarely discussed in society—and at the doctor’s office—that people often know nearly nothing about it in advance. One 2023 study of post-menopausal women found that almost none of them had learned about menopause in school, and about half of them “did not feel informed at all” about the life stage. But there are signs that menopause is finally going mainstream, as both the medical and business worlds get serious about the needs of the million-plus people in the U.S. who reach menopause every year. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023 approved Astellas Pharma’s drug to treat menopausal hot flashes, and pharmaceutical giant Bayer is currently developing a similar medication. Some companies are beginning to offer menopause benefits to their employees. Lawmakers have pushed for more research on menopause. And a flurry of menopause-focused startups have launched in recent years to supplement traditional care, since studies suggest a significant portion of people going through menopause are not treated. I have really noticed, thankfully, a new attention and interest in taking care of people during this transition,” says Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, a Texas-based ob-gyn who provides menopause care. She attributes that shift to growing numbers of women holding positions of power in business, tech, and medicine, and to social media’s ability to spread information among patients. For Dr. Sharon Malone, chief medical advisor to Alloy, the medical system’s problems with menopause go back to 2002. That’s when a major study was published, linking hormone therapy —which can ease menopause symptoms by boosting levels of hormones that have dropped off—to increased risks of breast cancer and other serious conditions. After that, hormone therapy use plummeted in the U.S. But, Malone says, there’s a crucial caveat to the data: the study participants' average age was 63, older than that of a typical patient receiving hormone therapy for menopause. Later analyses, and statements from researchers involved in the study, clarified that the risk of breast cancer may have been overstated, particularly for younger people.