Are You Prepared for Menopause?

As a pelvic floor physical therapist and perimenopause/menopause health coach, I often meet women who are either dreading or uncertain about menopause. It’s a phase of life that can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to catch you off guard. My personal memories of watching my mom go through menopause when I was in my teens are a mix of slammed doors, emotional swings, and the comfort of bonding over TV shows like *90210* and *Party of Five*. We were navigating hormonal chaos together, even if our experiences were quite different. If you’re entering this stage or approaching it, let me reassure you: you don’t have to go through it alone, and you can prepare for it.

What Is Perimenopause and Menopause?

Menopause is defined as the permanent end of menstruation and fertility, which occurs 12 months after your last period. But what many women experience first is **perimenopause**, a transitional phase that can start as early as age 35 and last 6-10 years. Perimenopause is often called the "mirror image of puberty" because of the hormonal shifts that occur during this time. While puberty ramps up your hormones, perimenopause involves a slow decline in estrogen and progesterone.

During this time, you may experience:

- Weepiness

-Hot Flashes/Night Sweats

-Irregular Periods

-Mood Swings

-Difficulty Sleeping

-Weight gain, especially around the middle

-Low Libido

These changes can feel unsettling, especially if you’re also navigating postpartum hormonal shifts or the daily stresses of midlife. It’s important to recognize that these fluctuations are normal, but they can be managed with the right approach.

The Vicious Cycle

The challenges of perimenopause are often made worse by poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress. If you’re managing your fatigue, mood swings, and stress with caffeine, wine, or comfort foods, you may unintentionally be making your symptoms worse. It’s a vicious cycle: feeling tired and stressed leads to poor choices, which then worsen your symptoms, leaving you even more exhausted.

Why Preparing for Menopause Matters

You might be thinking, “I’m too young to worry about menopause” or “I don’t have health issues now, so why stress about it?” But the reality is that preparing for menopause now can greatly affect your long-term health and quality of life. Estrogen plays a role in over 400 bodily functions, including protecting your heart, bones, and pelvic health. 

When estrogen levels drop, your risk for:

• Bone Loss

• Heart Disease

• Dementia

• Vaginal Atrophy

...all increase. These aren’t just issues that affect how you feel now—they have a significant impact on your future health and well-being. Being proactive now can help you manage not only the hot flashes and mood swings but also these more serious health risks, ensuring that your golden years are truly golden.

How to Take Control and Prepare for Menopause

Navigating the vast amount of information out there about menopause can feel like one more overwhelming thing on your to-do list. How do you know what’s reliable? How do you integrate it into your life? That’s where I come in.

As a pelvic floor physical therapist and health coach, I can help you understand what’s happening in your body and create a personalized plan to manage your symptoms. Together, we’ll look at:

- Lifestyle shifts -that support hormone balance

- Dietary changes -that reduce symptoms and support long-term health

- Exercise routines -that strengthen your pelvic floor and core

- Stress management techniques- to help you feel more in control

- Mental Load and Impact of this transitional phase of life

Let’s Work Together

You don’t have to navigate this phase of life alone. Schedule a complimentary call with me to discuss what you’re struggling with and what’s standing in the way of you feeling your best. Together, we can create a plan that empowers you to embrace this transition and sail through menopause with confidence and grace.

Let’s take control of your health so you can thrive through this next chapter!