Menopause:
how make the best of it ... Naturally

The menopause is a normal part of women’s lives and is sometimes feared because it can cause minor inconveniences. However, the end of menstruation can also be experienced as a liberation! Especially since there are many natural ways to approach this phase with complete peace of mind.

What is the menopause?

The female cycle is orchestrated by hormones produced by the ovaries, mainly oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones trigger:

• The maturation of the eggs before they are released into the fallopian tubes
• The preparation of the uterus to accommodate a possible embryo
• The onset of menstruation when there is no fertilisation

From puberty onwards, women experience about 500 cycles with an average duration of 28 days. Then, around the age of 50, comes the menopause. The ovaries gradually stop releasing eggs and hormone production decreases more or less rapidly. A woman is said to be menopausal when she has not had a menstrual period for twelve consecutive months and tends to be permanent. The word “menopause” refers to the state of post-menopausal women while the period preceding it, which generally lasts between two and five years, is called the peri-menopause or the pre-menopause.

Menopausal symptoms

How can the onset of the menopause be recognised? Various symptoms, of varying intensity depending on the woman, may indicate that the peri-menopausal period has begun. These may include:

• Suddenly irregular periods
• Menorrhagia (very heavy periods)
• Sudden hot flushes, associated with night sweats
• Difficulty sleeping

Mood can be affected by hormonal imbalances, sometimes making women feel irritable, tired or even depressed. When the menopause sets in, the skin and mucous membranes become thinner, the epidermis ages more quickly, and there may be some discomfort during sex due to possible vaginal dryness. Over a longer period of time, bone density should be monitored due to the increased risk of osteoporosis.

The menopause and its symptoms do not affect all women in the same way!
According to some studies, only 20% of women in Asia experience symptoms, compared to 80% in Europe and North America. How can these differences be explained? Due to the more common practice of beneficial disciplines such as Qi Gong or Yoga as well as a diet rich in molecules similar to female hormones (phytoestrogens), mainly soya.

Preparing for the menopause as well as possible

The menopause is an inevitable stage. It does not in any way mean the end of a woman’s life, the end of her sexual life, or the onset of old age. Even if the transition can be a little awkward, the best thing to do to make the best of it is to accept it.

There are many positive aspects to the menopause, the main one being the cessation of menstruation, the pre-menstrual syndrome that may have preceded it, as well as the fatigue and the risk of anaemia it causes. Furthermore, it is worth remembering that the symptoms described do not affect all women. For everything to go as well as possible, it is important to stack all the odds in your favour by having a healthy lifestyle, which includes a regular physical activity, eating healthy foods as well as foods that are rich in vitamin D, calcium and omega 3 to protect your bones and cardiovascular system, reduce your consumption of sugar and fat, and eat more fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, white meat, seeds and whole grains. Maintaining an active sex life reduces the overall impact of certain symptoms (vaginal dryness or decreased libido).

At which age should the menopause be expected?
In the UK, the average age at which a woman reaches the menopause is about 51. However, this varies greatly from one woman to another due to genetic or environmental reasons (for example, smoking may move it forward). There is no reason to worry if it takes a while to run its course. However, the maximum age of the menopause is about 57. If it has not occurred by this time, it is best to consult your gynaecologist to ensure that there is not a different reason behind the bleeding you are experiencing.

Medical treatments for the menopause

There are hormonal treatments before the menopause (IUDs, progestogen-only pills to reduce the abundance of menstrual periods, etc.). Once you are menopausal, one option is HRT (hormone replacement therapy), which compensates for the physiological decrease in hormone production. However, HRT only delays the onset of symptoms because it cannot be sustained over the long term. There are also local hormonal treatments (vaginal gels for example).

Finally, other solutions that may also be prescribed, such as antidepressants and anxiolytics, should be reserved for depression only, as they are not benign and may have significant side effects. On the other hand, a simple vitamin D and calcium supplement is sometimes useful to prevent osteoporosis.

Natural ways for a smoother transition into the menopause

In most cases, it is quite possible, and even desirable, to begin the menopause without any hormone therapies. The female balance depends on many factors, including the state of mind with which this stage is welcomed, as well as a good diet rich in essential nutrients.

Nature is full of plants with powerful properties and nutrients that can be very effective in alleviating unpleasant menopausal symptoms. At Cocooncenter, there is a whole range of natural products designed for the menopause which provide each woman with the right support. There is a safe solution without any side effects for each symptom. For example, you will find various forms of cytoplasmic extract of purified pollen to treat hot flushes, ginseng to reduce fatigue, or chamomile to increase your level of relaxation. There are also saffron extracts that affect mood swings, fish oils rich in omega 3 to protect the cardiovascular system, and many other treasures from nature.

Staying positive is a key to successfully making the best of the menopause! Accept this stage and the small changes that come with it, focus on the positive aspects of this period of your life, and seek everything nature offers us to reduce or even forget the minor unpleasant symptoms that may accompany it. It’s time to learn how to take care of yourself again!

Three key points to remember about the menopause:

• Menstruation becomes irregular, sleep more chaotic, your mood resembles a roller coaster and hot flushes occur when you least expect them: these symptoms are all alarm bells.
• No more periods in the last 12 months? Keep using contraception if necessary, as ovulation may still occur.
• Hormone therapy or not? Talk to your doctor about it. It will be advised in some cases, but in many others, natural remedies will be just as effective to help you get through this period with less worry.