What is Menopause?

Menopause is defined as 12 consecutive months without a period. Estrogen and progesterone levels decrease significantly. After your period has stopped for 12 consecutive months, you are post-menopausal. Because of the decline of estrogen and other hormones, many health symptoms, conditions, and diseases become more prevalent for women in their post-menopausal years. While menopause is a normal part of aging for women, it doesn’t have to translate to poor health automatically.

The real key is your health in your midlife years (ages 40-60) is what you do to take care of yourself during this time. Your health pre-menopause (20s-30s) can help determine your health status as you go into perimenopause (40s) and after menopause (50s). How you feel not just during the menopausal transition in your 40s can be changed, but being healthier in your 40s/50s can also help improve your health outcomes for your post-menopausal years 60+ can determine how you feel, what diseases you are at risk for and how you age. 

What if I had a hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or other medical treatment that led to early menopause? 

You are not alone. Almost 15% of American women go into menopause surgically or as a side effect of other treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy, or hormonal treatment. More women are going through menopause earlier. For example, many breast cancer patients are put on drugs that block estrogen. Just because your menopausal transition was or is planning to be induced still means you need to take charge of your health - your diet, exercise, and lifestyle - to support the best outcome with the loss of hormones. A rapid transition to menopause makes it all the more important to address many of the sudden health symptoms and changes women who go into surgical or medical menopause experience. Women in this category should seek care as soon as possible. 

How do I get ready for or take action during perimenopause and before menopause? 

Get ahead of the game and take action on your health during perimenopause and post menopause. No matter where you are in our life - we help women take the first step in helping you understand what you need to know on how to have your best health. There is science to support how nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle can change your menopause experience for the better. We also use screening tools in our coaching programs to help women identify their symptoms and what next steps may be needed beyond lifestyle changes. 

The next steps may include lab tests, a review of symptoms and identifying what other providers may be needed. Having healthcare providers with experience with menopause is key. There are not enough providers with experience, but they do exist! These can be ob-gyns, gynecologists, urogynecologists, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, nurses, nutritionists/registered dietitians, psychologists, and psychiatrists. A physician or healthcare provider with training and experience in menopause is an important part of your care plan. 

With a personalized plan tailored to your health needs and a coaching program that holds you accountable with regular check-ins, we want you to succeed. Nothing is worse than getting a lot of information and feeling so overwhelmed that you never return for a second appointment or don’t make any of the changes you need to be healthier. We aim to make it easier to be healthy for perimenopause and menopause so you feel your best self. We help you figure out what you need to do and, with regular personalized check-ins, ensure you can take the steps needed to improve your health status.