Embracing change
The “Change of Life phase was been a subject many people only hear about, but few really talk about. I remember my mother at age fifty saying to my aunt she’s 15 years old again, laughing and giving a girlie jump. Looking back, I realise now that I have more knowledge about menopause, that my mom was expressing her delight about the end of her periods. I also remember her sneezing so loudly while cooking (allergic reactions to spices associated with perimenopause/menopause), that one could hear her sneeze “ai tissue!” from the street corner! Its all coming back now I remember mum being irritable, having headaches and saying she is getting hot, when it was cold. I guess that’s painting a very daunting picture of menopause.From what I discovered many women, including myself see this as my mother used to say “die tweede jonk” meaning she is a young girl again, free from the worries about periods, pregnancy and energetic… (she was able to touch her toes at age 50!). Or as I perceive this phase to be “Men-do-pause” …
Truth be told it is different for every woman and the possibility exists that if you had a relatively easy menstruation period the transition could occur over a time with very few symptoms related to menopause. I believe acceptance of change comes with preparation. The old expression forewarned is forearmed come to mind. (and that’s why I did some research on menopause and the male climacteric,(yes men do experience hormonal changes as well, more about that in a bit).
On that note, lets learn about this life cycle, together shall we.
And then Jesus tells us to remember that people are worth much more than birds and flowers! So don’t ever forget you are valuable and important and your life matters.If God kept Stormi alive and cared enough to answer my prayer to protect her. How much more won’t He care about you and your family. I want to encourage you to be like Stormi she fought for her life. You too can overcome life’s challenges and survive and thrive knowing that God cares for you and will protect you.Stormi was rescued by one of the teachers who took her home, bought Kitty milk for her and this morning G fetched Stormi and brought her home. Stormi is looking better already.☺ She is reunited with her mother and her siblings. They are happy to have her back. It’s so adorable to see how they hug each other.This brings to mind the importance of acceptance and the bond between family members. Ps 68:5 says “He sets the lonely in families” For me more than anything it speaks volumes of Gods love for us. He answers prayer and even cares for the tiny new born kitty. He kept Stormie alive and brought her back to us. My Miracle from God.
What is Menopause
According to science the years during which a woman experiences biological change is called the perimenopause also known as “change of life” or the climacteric.” (Papalia, Sterns, Feldman & Camp, 2002). From her early thirties onwards, a woman produces less ova and as she nears her fiftieth birthday, the ovaries produces less of the female hormone oestrogen (however small amounts of oestrogen is still secreted after menopause by the glands). Periods becomes irregular and longer time lapses in between periods. Menstruation stops completely as the levels of oestrogen and progesterone is produced by the ovaries. (Papalia et., 2002).
Menopause takes place when a woman permanently stops ovulating and menstruating and can no longer conceive a child: it is generally considered to have occurred 1 year after the last menstrual period.” (Papalia et., 2002).
Physical Effects (Symptoms)
Pregnancy
You might have heard of the “change of life baby”, yes, it is still possible to fall pregnant during perimenopause! (until a woman has had a full year without periods) some women have been caught off guard on this one and end up with a ‘laat lammetjie’. (a menopause baby). This happened to John Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston who conceived at age 48!
Age: You might be wondering at what age does these changes occur. To answer your question, I consulted the American Medical association,1998 which reports that menopause occurs when the ovaries is no longer able to produce enough oestrogen for a full menstrual cycle. According to research this happens between the age of 45 – 55 however some women experience changes in their thirties. (Papalia et. al., 2002).
Post menopause (After menopause)
This is the phase my mother was talking about being 15 again! The time after a woman has not bled for a whole year and menopause has occurred. Many of the symptoms discussed earlier may lighten and or go away. It can also be a very liberating and enjoyable time of your life.
What about our male counterparts? I decided to study the other side of the spectrum. As a matter of fact, men do undergo a period of life change in midlife, but differently of cause. Let’s explore that for a while.
Source: Dreamtime.com: Anna Bocharova
Andropause (Male Climacteric)
The term andropause or male climacteric is used to refer to the time frame when men experience physiological, emotional and psychological change according to studies conducted by (Rowe & Kahn,1998). Some of the symptoms displayed by men in this phase (male climacteric) include depression, anxiety, irritability, lower sexual drive, reduction in muscle a body mass and hair loss (Rowe & Kahn,1998).
Men can reproduce until late in life however his sperm count drops in mid-forties and fifties, reducing the possibility of fathering a child, (Merrill & Verbrugge, 1999).
Wow! I am starting to suffer from information overload. I hope you are still with me. Now for the liberating time of our lives….
Sexuality and Aging
Source: Getty Images: Adam Smith
Sexual expression could be enjoyed by older people if both young and old accept it as normal and healthy. Relationships at all ages have physical Kittyand emotional needs for expressing love and affection which differs from person to person (Papalia,2002)
Lifestyle & Wellness
It is highly recommended by health professionals to follow a healthy diet of a variety of foods which include fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds and complex carbohydrates; plus, food supplements to support your system for optimum health and wellbeing. One must try to balance relationships, diet, exercise, sleep, and fun… (be sure to follow my blog for more about wellness, lifestyle and fun!).
I have been using the Sportron Wellness products for more than 20 years and highly recommend it. The Sportron products are available from Beautiful Life Training & Community Development. (15% of the proceeds will be donated towards Beautiful Life Training & Community Development NPC’s skills training projects for unemployed persons).
Recommended Supplements
Women’s Endocrine Support: Femplex food supplement
Source: Getty Images: Adam Smith
Femplex is a food supplement designed for menopausal women. Femplex contains phytoestrogens, herbal and FoodState nutrients to assist women with the management of menopausal symptoms.
Source: Getty Images: Adam Smith
Gentron: ascendisdirect.com
Gentron is a product formulated specifically for men. The nutrients that form a part of this product are carefully chosen to provide micro-nutrient balance to assist in the maintenance of maximum vitality and to assist with symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
This is my term for the word sexy or attractive during menopause… so yes, “men-do-pause.” Men still find women attractive and women in this life cycle are still attractive and can still cause men to stop and stare for a while…. ‘Mendopause’. And of course, the same applies for men in the male climacteric cycle.
“You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty and irresistible for the rest of your life” Coco Chanel
Women’s Endocrine Support: Femplex food supplement
Menopause is a difficult cycle to ride out on your own. It is highly recommended to reach and touch, connect with other women and men who are in same life cycle. You most welcome to contact me for life coaching and support.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Warm Regards
Wendy
Subscribe: Email: info@beautifullifecommunity.co.za
Please share my blog with a friend http://beautifullifecommunity.co.za/blog-3.html