It’s time to break the silence on menopause! That’s right, menopause has officially entered the chat and is here to stay. Here at Here We Flo we’re lifting up the curtain and shining a light onto a more positive and empowering menopausal experience for everyone.
What is menopause?
With so much stigma and taboo surrounding menopause, you may be wondering exactly what it is? Luckily, we’re here to answer just that.
Menopause is a natural process where a person’s oestrogen levels will drop until their ovaries no longer produce eggs. There are three stages (perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause) and they usually happen between the ages of 40 and 55.
The transitional phase leading up to menopause is known as perimenopause. During this time, a person’s fluctuating hormone levels can cause irregular periods, spotting, and heavy bleeding.
Menopause occurs when you stop producing the hormones that cause your period. The best indicator for this is when you haven’t had your period for 12 months in a row. According to the NHS, the average age to reach menopause is 51.
Finally, postmenopause is the time after menopause has occurred. Once this happens, you're in postmenopause for the rest of your life.
What to expect with menopause?
One of the hallmark signs that you’re entering menopause is missed or irregular menstrual cycles. There are many other lesser-known symptoms that come with menopause though, including:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Sexual discomfort
- Depression
- Changes in sex drive
- Insomnia
- Dry skin
- Weight changes
- Mood swings
- Hair loss
- Urinary incontinence
Whilst your symptoms won’t be the exact same as other people experiencing menopause, many are likely to be similar. Your symptoms will be dependent on how your hormones fluctuate during the process.
Tips to help with menopause?
Right now, menopause might not sound like a fun time but there’s lots of things you can do which will help make the journey a whole lot smoother.
A simple but super important tip to help with menopause is to look after yourself. Stay properly hydrated, cool your bedroom down so you can get your sleep, feed your gut with a good probiotic, and eat a variety of plant sources (we’re talking 30 different types in a week) to make sure you get the vitamins and minerals you need.
People who are in menopause commonly experience vaginal dryness thanks to low levels of oestrogen reducing the number of lubricating glands. Using a natural water-based lubricant can help your vagina to feel less itchy, dry and irritated.
As well as the fun of vaginal dryness, 1 in 3 of us on average will suffer from bladder leaks in our lifetime and often it is in our later years. It’s important to not suffer in silence and visit your GP for help but while you are waiting for a diagnosis, products such as sensitive bladder pads can help with these bladder leaks.
If you’re still worried about menopausal symptoms, get in touch with your GP to speak about whether hormone replacement treatment (HRT) is right for you. HRT is used to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal discomfort, by replacing the oestrogen your body stops producing during menopause.
Here We Flo to the rescue!
We make sure you’re feeling dry and confident during your period with our high-quality products and as you reach your menopause years, we extend that promise to your sensitive bladder care.
Our Glo sensitive bladder bamboo pads and liners are here to the rescue for a more empowering menopausal experience for everyone!
Menopause can be a tricky journey to navigate but now more than ever you have a supportive community by your side, with lots of information and products out there to help. We urge you to embrace the journey, talk about all the messy, imperfect realities that come with menopause and most of all, to take care of yourself.
