7 things about menopause that made an entire room gasp
We had the pleasure of attending the National Menopause Show on Saturday. And it was AMAZING! We met so many wonderful people and gained so many incredible tools to support us on our journey.
In case you missed it, here’s just a few of the things we learned:
1. Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe
At the ‘Let’s Talk About (midlife) Sex Baby’ session, we learned that over 70% of us experience sexual changes during menopause. The declining estrogen affects everything from vaginal tissue to bladder health. The good news? There are plenty of effective solutions, from local estrogen therapy to moisturizers and lubricants. Get sexy!
2. Amanda Thebe
“It doesn’t matter what it looks like, just start.” A great reminder that strength training is one of our best tools for tackling menopause symptoms head-on. Beyond helping with body composition, it can help improve mood and sleep, reduce hot flashes, and can lower our risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. It just might be the secret sauce you’ve been looking for.
3. Dr. Safeena Premji
This fascinating session revealed that if hormone therapy isn’t your path (whether by choice or necessity), there’s still a whole toolkit of evidence-based options for managing menopause symptoms. From non-hormonal prescriptions to lifestyle changes and supplements – there are effective ways to manage menopause symptoms without hormones.
4. Dr. Woganee Filate
Turns out 40-60% of us experience sleep issues during menopause! And it’s not just annoying. Sleep disturbances can affect everything from our daily energy to our anxiety, moods, mental clarity and even heart health. Of course, sleep expert Dr. Woganee Filate has a number of easy hacks to help you get back to sleep.
5. Dr. Iliana Lega
POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency) was something we knew very little about. It was surprising to learn that POI affects up to 3.5% of people under 40. While that might sound rare, it translates to MILLIONS of people worldwide! Dr Iliana Lega, Endocrinologist at Women’s College Hospital points out that POI impacts fertility, quality of life, and long-term health. We need to pay attention.
6. Dr. Amy Louis-Bayliss
Those who stuck around for the closing panel with Dr. Amy Louis-Bayliss got a masterclass in optimizing our ‘healthspan’ during menopause. From bone density and heart disease to dementia prevention, we learned exactly how to take charge of our health and work with our doctors to minimize disease risks. What a way to wrap up the show!
7. Gina Livy
The energy of community at the show was electric! While (peri)menopause can feel isolating, watching women connecting, sharing, and supporting each other reminded us exactly why we started This Is Perimenopause – because we’re stronger together. A special shout-out to Gina Livy, whose vibrant community perfectly embodied this spirit of connection.
And those are just some of the highlights. OMG, what an incredibly empowering day! We’re already counting down the days until next year’s show. Until then, stick with us and let’s continue to learn and grow together. We can’t wait to see you next Thursday!
xoxo,
Mikelle & Michelle
