You likely know what it means to go through menopause — but did you know there are four separate stages in the journey?
The terminology can be confusing, so let’s break it down.
While not an official medical term, premenopause refers to the later years of your reproductive life or the end of your childbearing years. Immediately following this is perimenopause, the transitional time leading up to your final period. This phase is usually
marked by a change in bleeding habits such as irregular or missed periods. It’s also common to experience symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness, as your hormones begin to shift. Often beginning in your mid-forties, perimenopause typically lasts between four and eight years.1
Defined as your final menstrual period, menopause is actually one, single moment in time. You’ll know a period was your last after you’ve gone a consecutive 12 months without experiencing another one. The average age of menopause is 51, but it usually occurs from ages 40-58.2 Finally, the last stage, when you haven’t had a period in 12 months and one day, is known as postmenopause.
Even though there are different stages, the symptoms may be similar – sometimes varying only in frequency or intensity. Always speak with your provider if you have concerns about any symptoms you’re experiencing.
1. https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal 2. https:// www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal
There are a lot of myths about menopause and weight gain floating around and it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. And if you associate menopause with weight gain, you’re certainly not alone.
Let’s take a look at a few of the top myths surrounding menopause weight gain.
While hormonal changes during menopause may influence where weight is gained, they’re not necessarily the reason behind weight gain itself.1 If you find yourself gaining weight around the midsection, it may be because of a very real menopause symptom: weight redistribution.
Fluctuating and dropping hormone levels
trigger menopause symptoms like weight redistribution and fatigue, but there are other factors at play when it comes to weight gain. Additionally, shifts in mental health, such as depression or anxiety, may also impact your weight and appetite.
While it’s true that your body will change during menopause, dealing with notable weight gain isn’t inevitable. If weight gain is a concern, there are ways to both prevent it and better manage it.
If you’ve noticed your usual scent has changed during menopause, you may be wondering what’s normal, and what’s causing this change.
While vaginal odor is a sensitive topic, it’s actually something many women experience.
Every woman’s vaginal scent is unique, and it can shift over time and because of certain variables – from having sex to changes in your diet. When you notice a more significant change in your scent, it may impact your confidence. Take comfort in knowing that the hormone changes experienced during menopause can play a role, and it’s more common than you realize.
While menopause doesn’t directly cause the vagina to have an unpleasant odor, hormonal shifts can cause a change in vaginal pH, possibly leading to vaginal odor.1 That’s because alterations in vaginal pH levels influenced by fluctuating hormones can lead to thinner, drier vaginal tissues, as well as changes in the balance of bacteria that populate the vagina. In turn, you may notice several other vaginal changes, including discomfort, itching, or burning, a change in discharge, in addition to a difference in your vagina’s scent.2,3
No matter what’s influencing a shift in your vaginal scent, there are solutions to manage it.
For starters, cleanse your genital area gently and steer clear of scented products that can throw off the vagina’s delicate pH balance. Avoid douching, which can increase the risk for odor-causing infections like bacterial vaginosis.4
In addition, you might also consider investing in a vaginal moisturizer, which can help to minimize symptoms such as dryness, itching, or irritation, which are known to influence changes in scent.
If you struggle with recurrent vaginal infections or irritation, you should also consider speaking with your healthcare provider about the benefits of taking a probiotic, specifically one designed to support vaginal health. Vaginal probiotics are supplements intended to provide beneficial, live bacteria to your vaginal microbiome, which supports a balanced pH and may help to reduce symptoms such as odor and discharge.
Click below to learn more about the causes of vaginal odor and what you can do to manage it.
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1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6008313/ 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6008313/ 3. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ feminine-odor-problems-what-you-should-know-about-douching/ 4. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/feminine-odor-problems-what-you-should-know-aboutdouching/ 5. https://www.healio.com/news/womens-health-ob-gyn/20221014/probiotic-supplement-improves-bothersome-vaginal-odor-symptoms-at-warp-speed
In a recent study of women ages 24 to 70 who took a vaginal probiotic:5
65 reported improvements in vaginal odor at 2 weeks. 63%
65 reported improvements in vaginal odor at 4 weeks. 75% 65 reported an absense of vaginal odor at 2 and 4 weeks. 30%
Common causes of vaginal odor include infection with bacterial vaginosis or an STI, along with poor hygiene and excessive perspiration. But low estrogen levels experienced during menopause can also result in a vaginal odor.
—
Alyssa Dweck MS, MD, FACOG, Bonafide Chief Medical Officer
When it comes to menopause symptoms, hot flashes get plenty of coverage, but urinary changes, although common, are not as frequently discussed.
In addition to dryness, some common GSMrelated urinary symptoms include:
Stress Incontinence: This issue is defined by the involuntary loss of urine due to weak pelvic floor muscles or bladder.
Overactive Bladder (OAB): If you find yourself having to urinate more often or waking up multiple times to go, it could be OAB. This is caused by involuntary bladder muscle contractions followed by an intense urge to urinate.
Bladder Infection (including UTIs): Infections have similar symptoms to OAB, like urinary frequency or urgency, but an official diagnosis is dependent on a urinalysis done by your healthcare provider. Low estrogen levels during menopause can make you more vulnerable to infections as skin is thinner and more prone to tearing – letting bacteria in more easily.
Urinary symptoms can stem from low estrogen, which also contributes to dryness and other vaginal changes during menopause. Because vaginal and urinary symptoms are often related to a similar cause, they’re referred to collectively as “genitourinary syndrome of menopause” (GSM).
Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider if urinary changes are affecting you. No matter the symptoms, there are solutions that can help.
We all know tossing and turning is annoying, but during menopause, disrupted sleep can become even more pronounced.
What’s worse? Sleep issues have the potential to exacerbate other menopause symptoms.
Sleep disorders impact 39% to 47% of perimenopausal women and 35% to 60% of postmenopausal women, according to the National Sleep Foundation.1 During menopause, decreasing levels of estrogen, progesterone and melatonin — along with an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol — can all contribute to sleep problems.2
And missing out on a few hours isn’t just exhausting; it can also impact your overall health during menopause, potentially triggering brain fog and other cognitive symptoms, as well as contributing to anxiety, and exacerbating weight changes and mood swings.
As frustrating as sleep problems are, there are ways you can address them.
Forget counting sheep — make sure you create a bedtime routine that helps you wind down
(and stick to it). And if you can, invest in a comfy mattress and cool bedding to cultivate a sleep oasis. After all, quality rest is crucial to your well-being.
Sleep is when the brain is focused on repair and restoration. Without adequate time to perform this important restoration process, any health issues you’re dealing with (including menopause symptoms) will be exacerbated.
— Dr. Jamie Tartar , PhD
1. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/women-sleep/menopause-and-sleep
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Trusted by more than 10,000 health care professionals, Bonafide provides first-of-its-kind, evidence-based solutions developed from naturally derived ingredients that are hormone-free and drug-free.
Bonafide Health was launched with a simple mission in mind: to provide women with novel, safe and highly effective treatment options for relief from symptoms throughout their menopause journey. As part of Bonafide’s scientific research and product development process, the brand prides itself on its deep under-standing of the biological and physiological changes that affect women due to hormonal fluctuations experienced as they age.
