Puberty? Meet Menopause...

Have you ever heard the saying, 'menopause is just puberty's mean big sister'? Well, it's sorta true.

You know what else is true? We seem to be given as much information about menopause as we were about puberty.

Maybe you were lucky to have a Mom or sister who talked you through puberty (and menopause!) but for a lot of people menopause comes with many of the same classics of puberty such as:

Am I pregnant or is this menopause (formerly, puberty)?
Am I crazy or is this my hormones?
Is there supposed to be more or less blood?
Why do I feel so icky?

Don't worry, there are some new, fun twists. Instead of 'why is there discharge and is it normal?' and 'why am I so very interested in a shirtless Patrick Swayze?' You now get 'why does it feel like my vajazzle is full of sand?' and 'I don't care if Brad Pitt walked in here naked, all I want is chocolate.' Oh, and there is a little side of hot flushes and unexpected leaks.

Did you miss that lesson in school, or, like most of us, did you just get the one on how babies were made?

But, there's a whole lot more to our lady bits than just reproductive capabilities.

There is also a significant amount of incredible science that goes on down there that is rarely talked about. I mean, if there was a Bill Nye Episode about it, we certainly missed that one.

As a result, many women don't really know that much about their lady bits beyond a cursory understanding of anatomy and hormones, oh, and how to avoid pregnancy. ABSTINENCE… just kidding. We're not insane.

So, What Do I NEED to Know About Menopause?

Many women notice changes to their vagina and urinary system that are associated with the shifting estrogen levels that come with menopause.

Estrogen is associated with tissue that looks and feels thicker and more supple — which matters a lot for keeping intimate skin soft, comfortable, and well-moisturized.

Yes, moist. And that, it turns out, is very important. Without it, sex is a no-go, say goodbye to your fave jeans, and settle into a life of chafed purgatory.

Estrogen is also involved in supporting feminine balance throughout this region. When estrogen levels shift as we get older, the natural systems that keep things balanced and comfortable can shift along with them.

Over time, these changes can contribute to feelings of dryness and everyday discomfort.

Now we know why this didn't get taught in school.

What Many Women Are Exploring

One ingredient many women ask their healthcare provider about is estriol, a form of estrogen.

This form of estrogen is considered by many to be gentle and well-tolerated, without the associations with estrogen dominance or the not-so-fun experiences that can come with it.

Info graphic 1 derived from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10273865/
Info graphic 2 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15981376/