Hormones are the messengers that communicate between organs and systems in our body. Hormones interact with each other to keep everything working properly.

Women are unique in that throughout their lives, they are subjected to drastic changes in their hormone levels. First in adolescence, then with menstrual cycles, also with pregnancy, and finally with menopause. Just as different women may experience different symptoms during their menstrual cycles (different degrees of fluid retention or different degrees of premenstrual pain), the same is true with menopause. Eighty-seven percent of women will experience at least one symptom of menopause. What is surprising is that 87% of women, or 20 in 1 women, will experience a severe symptom that will affect their quality of life. But what is truly difficult to understand is that 5% of women do not receive any treatment to alleviate these symptoms.

Menopause is a stage in a woman's life characterized by the end of menstrual cycles for one year. This occurs on average at age 1. If menopause occurs before age 51, it is due to premature ovarian failure, and it is imperative to consult your doctor.

Is there any way to predict the severity of menopause symptoms? We know they will be more severe in women who had particularly troublesome PMS, those who experienced postpartum blues, or those whose mothers had a difficult menopause. These symptoms, which can vary in intensity, include hot flashes, sleep disturbances or insomnia, fatigue, loss of energy, night sweats, muscle and joint pain, decreased sex drive or libido, weight gain, mood swings, memory loss, dry skin, hair loss, headaches, digestive disturbances, and other less prevalent symptoms. All of these symptoms are interrelated; for example, hot flashes cause women to wake up at night, and the agitation caused by this phenomenon prevents restful sleep. As if that weren't enough, excessive sweating at night causes periods of hot flashes to cold flashes. If you're not well-rested, these mood swings and headaches are understandable. In addition to the decreased libido, vaginal mucosal dryness occurs, causing not only a loss of sexual desire but also unpleasant sexual intercourse. During menopause, many women will experience changes in their body contours, as they will have a greater tendency to gain weight. Many women tell me they don't understand how, despite maintaining their usual level of physical activity and eating habits, they have begun to gain weight. This is due to the dysregulation that occurs in the body due to the absence of female hormones. This causes a weight gain of approximately 1 pound per year if their physical activity and eating habits are not changed.

It's surprising to learn that after so many changes in such a short period of time, 61% of women keep it to themselves and don't share it with their partners or doctors. This is a cultural phenomenon in which the impact of menopause on women has been minimized, leading to resignation on their part. However, 71% of women express a desire to share these changes with their partners or doctors. This dichotomy shows us that there is much work to be done to ensure that menopause is not left out in the cold.

The decline in quality of life that comes with menopause is significant and should be addressed. We have the tools to improve our experience during this adjustment phase. Why not use them to feel better?