SmileyRose Ramblings by Frances Rose Agnes Napper (She/Her)

I’m a woman and sometimes being a woman can make you feel run down and you can feel like your whole world is falling apart, particularly in your teenage years, when your body is changing all of the time. The joys of Womanhood. 🙂

Starting your first period can be quite daunting for some, particularly if you are uncertain what to expect. I can remember preparing both of my daughters, however, I did not make a great deal about it. I wanted them to both embrace the fact that they were now women. I even thought about having a little party for them, but I never went that far. 😉

I can remember buying a packet of sanitary towels and popping it in their bottom drawer, making sure to tell them where they were. I then asked my daughters to let me know when their period started so that I could run them a lovely hot bath, with happy bubbles. I can remember making it sound so matter-of-fact. It is a very natural process of becoming a woman.

Then you have the joys of Motherhood, during and after giving birth. You can become very emotional, moody and irritable, especially towards the latter stages of your pregnancy lol when you just want that baby out of you. Babies are a bundle of joy, but it can cause moodiness due to Sleepless nights and you can become irritable because you’re going through lots of hormonal changes.

…….and then finally, you go through the menopause. Menopause is a natural biological process marking the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles and reproductive years. It is diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period and typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, though it can vary widely.

Phases of Menopause

1. Perimenopause: This transitional phase begins several years before menopause when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. Symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes, and mood swings can start during this time.
2. Menopause: This is the point when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The ovaries stop releasing eggs and produce very low levels of estrogen and progesterone.
3. Postmenopause: The years following menopause. Symptoms such as hot flashes may ease, but the decrease in estrogen can increase the risk of certain health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.

Symptoms

• Hot flashes: Sudden feelings of heat that spread over the body, often with sweating and flushing.
• Night sweats: Hot flashes that occur at night, often disrupting sleep.
• Vaginal dryness: Decreased estrogen can lead to thinning and drying of the vaginal tissues.
• Mood changes: Increased risk of mood swings, irritability, or depression.
• Sleep problems: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
• Weight gain: Metabolism slows down, leading to potential weight gain.
• Thinning hair and dry skin: Changes in hormone levels can affect skin and hair health.

Health Considerations

Postmenopausal women are at increased risk for:

• Osteoporosis: Reduced bone density can lead to fractures.
• Cardiovascular disease: Lower estrogen levels can negatively impact heart health.
• Urinary incontinence: Loss of tissue elasticity can cause bladder control issues.

Management and Treatment

• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Can alleviate many menopausal symptoms by replacing estrogen and progesterone.
• Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and good sleep hygiene can help manage symptoms.
• Non-hormonal treatments: Medications like antidepressants or gabapentin can be effective for hot flashes.
• Alternative therapies: Some women find relief with acupuncture, yoga, or herbal supplements, though their efficacy may vary.

Menopause is a normal part of aging, and while it can come with challenges, many treatments and lifestyle adjustments can help manage the symptoms and maintain quality of life.

I went through a terrible menopause. I thought I was dying at one stage. I worked full-time and I was tearful a lot. I can remember having dry itchy skin. Oh goodness, it felt like the worst feeling in the world. Not forgetting the hot flushes.

Thankfully, I have put all of that behind me now, but I have memories of it all, and just how it made me feel at the time. I don’t get very many menopausal symptoms anymore, just the odd hot sweat, however, I just wished I had a sympathetic partner back then, someone who could just hug me during my times of need.

I survived it all, however, it wasn’t a very pleasant thing to have to go through.

The only advice I can offer someone is that you need people around you when you are going through the worst of it, because when you are going through Menopause it is not a pleasant experience. You will have days when you won’t look your most beautiful, you will have a tired look like you’ve not slept. Some people sail through it. I became very anaemic. I needed reassuring arms and nothing more. It’s something your body has to face during the ageing process.

If you are going through menopause right now, it doesn’t matter how you look, just remember that beneath you are beautiful and a woman who has experienced it all, will understand what you are going through.

That’s Womanhood for you. ❤️ 🙂

The Male Menopause

Did you know that men can have something very similar. They can become irritable and moody too?

Frances x