The Menopause Transition — An Opportunity

Dr. Richardson shares three important ideas:

First, the menopause transition is a time of change, so persistent experimentation with different approaches is key. This can be frustrating, we know firsthand, but there’s good news too. Evolving hormonal patterns also means that some things will just get better, while others will come and go. Seeing less pleasant aspects subside, allows us to be more patient while they are present.

Second, Dr. Richardson offers heartening advice about what she observes in most women’s experiences after the final menstrual period. (Watch to find out!)

Last, she invites us to view these years as an opportunity to assess personal goals for the next phase of our lives.

Here are the three most-watched videos featuring Dr. Richardson:
What is the First Sign that Hormonal Patterns are Changing?
Mood Changes
Sleep Disruption

Transcript

Welcome to Interviews with experts, today we share a clip from our interview with Dr. Marcie Richardson, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist. Dr. Richardson is also the Director of The Menopause Center at Atrius Health and an Assistant Clinical Professor, Harvard Medical School. 

Perspectives from an Expert

In this clip, Dr. Richardson shares three perspectives that can help women think about this phase; it’s a time of constant change; there is an end; and it’s an opportunity to take stock.

It’s a time of change, be prepared to try different things.

And also remember women in perimenopause you’re changing. So what may work for you at some point may not work for you indefinitely, it may need to be tweaked multiple times. 

You need to find a practitioner that can iterate with you. Try one thing and come back a couple of weeks later and try something else.

Absolutely, It is an iterative process.

What to expect when you reach menopause 

Most women feel alot better when they arrive at actual menopause. And it turns out that having your hormones be a lot more even is great, welcomed! There are definitely some effects of the absence of estrogen on women. You are going to have your fat distribute more towards your belly. Your vagina may suffer from some aging aspects. You joints are going to be less flexible. But you’re not going to have hormonal ups and downs that have many protean effects.

An opportunity to take stock 

You have a third to a half of your life left. And this really is a flag waving and saying you know ladies, you need to stop and take stock of what you’ve done, and what you want to do and what you want to be doing as you continue with your life and it’s a physical sign that time is marching on. And I think it’s actually great that we have this time to reflect on where we are going. And we need to stop and think when we are eighty what we want to look back and say we’ve been up to.

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