Managing change during perimenopause and menopause

Thanks to a number of high profile ladies like Davina McCall and Oprah Winfrey, there’s so much more conversation about perimenopause and menopause than even a decade ago. Sadly, a lot of that dialogue has sprung from how alone, confused and unsupported these women were during this stage of their lives. Menopause is natural, it’ll happen to all women, and it should not be shrouded in secrecy and shame. This much we know, and this much pretty much all of us agree on! So how do we go about improving things? We’re not going to try to explain menopause in one blog post, don’t worry. It’s worth making a start, though. 

Menopausal Basics

There are fairly standard biological transformations that happen during perimenopause (the period leading up to menopause) and menopause itself (when you have not had a period for a year). Menopause can be likened to a second puberty in so much as it’s a time when the body undergoes these transformations. Most importantly, like puberty, childbirth, and indeed the experience of menstruation, every woman’s experience is unique to them. 

Weight and shape

With a decline in oestrogen, many women notice a change in where their body stores fat. Instead of the hips and thighs, fat tends to accumulate more around the abdomen. Women commonly report ‘losing their waistline’. 

Breast change

Fluctuating hormone levels can lead to changes in breast size and shape. This often manifests in a decrease of density in breast tissue; so larger, softer breasts.

Skin and hair

Dropping oestrogen can highlight those consistent signs of ageing that we all start to notice from our 30’s (wrinkles, we’re looking at you!) Skin becomes drier and its elasticity drops, and hair may thin and break. 

Muscles and Bones

It may not be immediately visible, but this is a huge change brought on by dropping oestrogen: decreased bone density and muscle mass. While you can’t see it, this has the potential to cause conditions like osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures. 

Body temperature

Good old diminishing oestrogen brings another gift in the fluctuation of body temperature. Without the moderating effect of oestrogen, other hormones that are released confuse the body’s thermostat causing hot flushes and an increased heart rate. 

Mental Health

Emotional changes are a far more tricky area to predict. Some women experience anger, others anxiety or sadness. Some become forgetful while others suffer from insomnia. You may experience all of these to varying degrees and more. It’s incredibly hard to manage, but medical solutions are improving with more readily available HRT and therapeutic support.

What can we do? 

Far from perimenopause and menopause being a trial to live through, there are ways to ease your experience. These will differ from woman to woman and are worth more dedicated blog posts! Medical support with HRT is a key thing that has been pressed to be more widely available and there are developments being made. In addition, talking therapies, nutrition, strength exercises, and self care are really simple things that you can do to make a difference to your daily experience. 

While some women find that a great shaping bodysuit works wonders for their confidence, others will find solace in a new discovery for their skincare routine. Some may find a new career path to ignite their creative juices, and others may go from basic strength exercises to becoming immersed in the crossfit community! 

Women going through menopause undoubtedly share common bonds, moments and understanding. It’s so important to communicate these to each other, but every experience will have its differences. This is a challenge because it means that every woman sort of needs to find their own path. By continuing to talk and share tips and ideas, though, this path is easier for each woman who comes next. For some, shapewear won’t help, for others it will, so have a browse if you might be the latter!