Good things about the M

[scentedgeranium]

I'm expecting a short thread! But here's mine. No monthly bolting! I love knowing I'll be the same size all the time. No boobs busting out of bras or leggings days because jeans are so uncomfy

None.

Absolutely none.

Without estrogen women's bodies decline.

I've been on HRT for 12 years as I do not wish to live with weak bones, my heart endangered by loss of estrogen, my pelvic floor falling apart, my brain going soggy.

No more periods. I can’t wait!

Just one word of caution about periods - don't be too hasty to ditch your tampons or pads. My body decided to have one last hurrah after about ten months after my previous period!

No periods. Is there anything else positive?

For the few women (25%) who have no meno symptoms and get off lightly at first, that's great.

But what women don't seem to understand is that without a LOT of effort into their health post-menopause, they will be at risk from heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and pelvic floor atrophy.

Heart disease is the biggest killer in women and rises to the same risk level as men's, after menopause.

1:2 women end up with osteoporosis, and more die from complication of fractures than all cancers, annually.

Not much to be happy about really!

Oh yes.
And this is a semi light hearted thread.
Re health, I walk miles and do a lot of weight training (not just bicep curls with cans of beans!). And the reason I do this is to stay strong. Fortunately o can still
Trampoline without leakage, and 54. So fingers (as well as legs) crossed!

@JinglingHellsBells

For the few women (25%) who have no meno symptoms and get off lightly at first, that's great.

But what women don't seem to understand is that without a LOT of effort into their health post-menopause, they will be at risk from heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and pelvic floor atrophy.

Heart disease is the biggest killer in women and rises to the same risk level as men's, after menopause.

1:2 women end up with osteoporosis, and more die from complication of fractures than all cancers, annually.

Not much to be happy about really!

Sure I agree we have lots of self care to do but that is part of life I think we need to start looking at our bodies as beautiful in their transition rather than flaws . Recognise all that they still CAN do . Carry us through the day , hold our grandchildren and hug our loved one a and yes even be dare I say BE beautiful , My body now let’s me know when to slow down , it reminds me of the thousands of smiles I’ve experienced and most importantly it’s carried me all this way I don’t agree that there’s not much to be happy about at all I’m here . A woman of 50plus who yes had to take care of her Heath in ways I didn’t in the past but I still get to experience each beautiful day in this wonderful body . More than a lot of others , who haven’t been given this opportunity can say

Lovely way at looking at it @Sparklehearter.

For me, not having periods obviously.

Also, the confidence in myself that's come with age, and the not giving a damn what others think about me. It's very liberating.

For me, I’m 50 and perimeno I think.
It has brought the health risks to the forefront. For this reason I’m making even more of a concerted effort to keep well, fit, good nutrition, keep weight down, exercise regularly, drink more water, zero alcohol, track & journal.
I’ve got a young child too so have to parent him for another 15 years, gotta be fit & well for that.
All good, all positive so far. (I’m awaiting the onslaught of full on meno)

Loads.
I had a tough couple of years of hot flashes but life is no longer dominated by a monthly cycle of ups and downs.

I am sorry but I do find some posters on this topic are very fixated on hrt and blame everything on the menopause.

Yes we are growing older but that's part of life. Look after yourself and enjoy life when you can.

Yes we are growing older but that's part of life. Look after yourself and enjoy life when you can.

!00% yes,

But not growing older and getting ill.

I'm not fixated on hrt by the way but I like to point out what happens biologically to women from a scientific point once they are post menopause.

@Sparklehearter, great post, I absolutely agree!
I think there's a lot that is positive and we should be encouraged to think of it as a new phase in life with new possibilities.

Unfortunately I think menopause is becoming rather like breastfeeding with polarised opinions. The medical establishment have often been over-cautious but I have seen some pro-HRT posts on social media recently which are almost evangelical.
It makes me very uncomfortable when women are made to feel that a decision they have made regarding their own bodies is wrong. I went to a medical education session recently where the speaker was arguing that all women should be put on HRT unless they were clinically not able to and could not see why several women in the group objected and argued for making their own informed decisions (using their post-menopausal confidence to the full! .)

pro-HRT posts on social media recently which are almost evangelical
^^ Yes to this.

Yes things do start to go wrong when you grow older, but blaming everything on the menopause is a bit akin to blaming everything on "hormones " when you are younger. It's negative and unhelpful.

@JinglingHellsBells

For the few women (25%) who have no meno symptoms and get off lightly at first, that's great.

But what women don't seem to understand is that without a LOT of effort into their health post-menopause, they will be at risk from heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and pelvic floor atrophy.

Heart disease is the biggest killer in women and rises to the same risk level as men's, after menopause.

1:2 women end up with osteoporosis, and more die from complication of fractures than all cancers, annually.

Not much to be happy about really!

This ^^ Even with few or no discernible symptoms, the insidious damage is being done.

‘This ^^
Even with few or no discernible symptoms, the insidious damage is being done’

But is the damage absolutely BEING done or is this more about the Increased risks . Not all women will develop all ‘damage ‘ not all will develop even some . We may all have increased risk, yes , but life is risk . Many people are born with increased risks of this that or whatever ...
So at the end of the day we can look at the glass half empty and see ourselves as deficient and ‘damaged ‘ or look at ourselves as full , vibrant and amazing despite having increased risk
I just believe that the mind body connection is very real and our attitude towards aging and our bodies impacts us more than we know

It's true, not all women have terrible menopauses. But this isn't a fight between those who do and don't, just a celebration of the positive changes if there are any.
We age. At 50 our bodies have had half a century of life and use. My right knee has wear on it's cartliledge just like my husband has on his. That's from decades of being active and bloody loving it. Nothing to do with M. Not all blokes look or feel great at 50. And I know a lot of women who (with or without HRT) are remaining strong and fit after the M. As well of course as many who feel downright drained and broken. But that could also be a variety of other factors too.
Anyway. I wanted this to be about positives. And mine is no more bloating. It had become so normal over the decades that I was just resigned to it. I love its absence!!

And I love the attitude of @Sparklehearter

@Sparklehearter If you have the time and inclination, spend it reading the brilliant podcasts of Dr Louise Newson. www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/podcasts These cover everything and you might find them very helpful- all the speakers are world experts., so read about what loss of estrogen does.

But is the damage absolutely BEING done or is this more about the Increased risks .

Both. :)

Yes, you will lose bone density- up to 5% a year for a few years post meno and then more slowly for the rest of your life (read the science if you think I'm being 'negative')

Yes, you will lose estrogen from your pelvic floor which can result in prolapse and bladder issues and painful sex.

Yes, your risk of heart disease will increase from that of women's pre-meno risk to the same (higher) risk as males.

Yes, your may develop arthritis because estrogen supports collagen which cushions the joints.

What you are saying is we need to be positive and live our lives to the full post meno. I can't disagree with that at all!

There are 2 main reasons women use HRT

1 Quality of life- lack of sleep, hot flushes for decades, low mood etc.
2 Long term prevention of disease if they already have low bone density for example.

I am completely with you that women make an informed choice but sadly not all women are informed. They don't actually make the link between niggling or severe health symptoms and being post-menopause.

I don't knock women who don't want to use HRT- their choice- but equally I think it's unfair to be snide about women who do use it and start using emotive terms like 'evangelical'.

I think there are definitely lots of good things about getting older but for most of us menopause isn't one of them!

[quote JinglingHellsBells]**@Sparklehearter* If you have the time and inclination, spend it reading the brilliant podcasts of Dr Louise Newson. www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/podcasts These cover everything* and you might find them very helpful- all the speakers are world experts., so read about what loss of estrogen does.

But is the damage absolutely BEING done or is this more about the Increased risks .

Both. :)

Yes, you will lose bone density- up to 5% a year for a few years post meno and then more slowly for the rest of your life (read the science if you think I'm being 'negative')

Yes, you will lose estrogen from your pelvic floor which can result in prolapse and bladder issues and painful sex.

Yes, your risk of heart disease will increase from that of women's pre-meno risk to the same (higher) risk as males.

Yes, your may develop arthritis because estrogen supports collagen which cushions the joints.

What you are saying is we need to be positive and live our lives to the full post meno. I can't disagree with that at all!

There are 2 main reasons women use HRT

1 Quality of life- lack of sleep, hot flushes for decades, low mood etc.
2 Long term prevention of disease if they already have low bone density for example.

I am completely with you that women make an informed choice but sadly not all women are informed. They don't actually make the link between niggling or severe health symptoms and being post-menopause.

I don't knock women who don't want to use HRT- their choice- but equally I think it's unfair to be snide about women who do use it and start using emotive terms like 'evangelical'.[/quote]
Jingling , I am aware that we lose bone density and also estrogen that CAN result in pelvic floor issues . You’ve also pointed out that our cardiovascular RISKS increase to the same as men’s .
As for the arthritis . I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis for many years ( well before hitting fifty ) so yes I’m informed about that . I spent a lot of my life with drs and learning about medical stuff how the body works etc
What you’ve said here has reiterated everything Ives already said . That the risks increase .... and?My point is not just that we stay positive but that we recognise that even without menopause many people have these risks or the actual effects of the outcomes of these risks developing
I guess I look at it differently be a cause I’ve had to face many health issues from quite a young age, including a neurological issue that can basically cause me to have a stroke at any time and results in frequent ( 15 plus a month ) migraines ) the RA and I just feel incredibly lucky to be alive and well . Menopause to me is just part of the journey .

Nothing.

I guess we have to accept ageing, and that can be hard

Things do get pinned on menopause a lot, but my DH is having a harder time of being midlife than me, so far

Ageing can be cruel and unfair, it requires a bit of effort to stay positive, counting blessings, and being grateful

For me it helps to focus and what I still CAN do, the fact that I can still get fitter and better at my sport with training, despite being 49

I find sport is amazing for guiding me through these years, and for strengthening body and mind

I can’t do menopause without sport. Please let’s not close gyms and sports schools again in the next lockdown/tier3/whatever in Jan

Also I’m not sure if the ‘evangelical ‘ remark was aimed at me but I haven’t commented on hrt ?
For the record I believe it’s up to each woman to decide whether she uses it or not .
To eatch their own .

Each

No horrendous period pain.

Getting back to the positivity of the OP, I have found that body hair grows much more slowly. My legs and pits rarely need shaving now.

I was on HRT following a hysterectomy and removal of ovaries at 45, after 10 years they were tailed off very slowly so I didn't have any terrible symptoms. At my first visit to UK BioBank about 13 years ago they detected a slight reduction in bone density so I have a Dexascan every 3 years. I take Vitamin D daily and it hasn't got any worse.