

Depression and Menopause: Recognizing the Signs and Seeking Support
This biological stage, marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years, carries more than just physical transitions. As ovaries cease egg production and hormone levels fluctuate, these changes profoundly affect a woman’s mood and overall well-being. Notably, the intertwining of depression and menopause has garnered attention, as many women report heightened emotional disturbances during this phase.
How to Manage Irritability and Anger During Menopause
Emotional swings are a normal but annoying manifestation of the menopause transition. Anger can come out of nowhere and blindside you as well as unsuspecting others around you. Thankfully, Maya Flores shares invaluable advice and expert tips to help us manage irritability and anger during menopause. We can navigate menopause mood swings with these effective strategies.
. Enjoy!
Why I started Hotflash Inc Part II
Enjoy Part Ii of Ann Marie’s inspiration and journey.
Why I started Hotflash Inc Part II
I launched the first edition of Hotflash inc in June 2020 and have not looked back. More than 175 issues of the newsletter, a podcast heading to 100 episodes, robust social media, and overall, a community of more than 30,000 women.
Hotflash Inc.: A Resource for Menopause Goddesses
When I started perimenopause, there was a dearth of information to help with the menopause journey. So Menopause Goddess Blog was born out of the collective experiences of our core group of goddesses. These days, there is plenty of information, a glut actually, (not all of it helpful) and it can be difficult to sort out what’s relevant. One of my favorite sources is Hotflash Inc, Ann Marie McQueen’s carefully curated repository of wisdom. I asked her to write her story and tell us how she came to start and continue such a helpful, heart-filled space. Her story was too long for one post, so here’s Part I – Part II will be posted next week. Enjoy!
Menopause and Sleep Issues Part II
Before I met (virtually) Talia, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a sleep coach. What a perfect idea! Sleep problems are part and parcel of the menopause transition for most women. Reclaiming our sleep can be a lifesaver. Read on for Part Ii of her informative guest blog. Enjoy.
PART II – WORKING WITH A SLEEP COACH TO OVERCOME SLEEP CHALLENGES DURING MENOPAUSE
When people experience sleep challenges, it’s often due to stress, disruptive behaviour or lifestyle habits that have been ingrained over a long period of time and then people get stuck in these negative sleep spirals. It may also be due to medical issues or nutritional or hormonal imbalances. Often it’s a combination of things.
Menopause and Sleep Issues
Sleep (or rather no sleep) is a major difficulty in perimenopause and menopause. Sleep coach Talia Shapero shares important information in this guest blog post. Enjoy Part I of II.
PART I: MENOPAUSE AND SLEEP CHALLENGES
Menopause is a significant time of major hormonal, physical and psychological change. As levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone decline, this can have a knock-on effect on mood, appetite, energy, sex drive, cognitive and emotional function. And then come the sleep disturbances…
The Impact of Hormonal Changes on Mental Health During Menopause
Enjoy this informative guest post from Maya Flores. Gen-Xers, this is important info for you as you approach and enter perimenopause.
Menopause, a natural phase marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years, is often associated with physical changes, but its impact on mental health is equally significant. As the body undergoes hormonal shifts, women may experience many emotions and cognitive changes that can disrupt their overall well-being. Let’s learn all about the impact of hormonal changes on mental health during menopause and explore effective coping mechanisms to navigate this transformative journey.
Research Study Opportunity: Estrogen Cognition Project
How important is estrogen for memory across women’s lives? How do ovaries, estrogen and the brain affect each other? To answer these questions, a Canadian study wants to compare cognition in four groups of women: young women with ovaries, young women post ovarian removal, (on hormone therapy or not), and menopausal women. Finally, someone is taking brain fog seriously. The point of the study is to provide information to women considering ovary removal of possible outcomes so an informed decision can be made.
An Open Letter to Gen X Women: Menopause is Coming
Some of you may have already begun perimenopause, that beginning of the menopause transition where hormones peak and dive like a freaking roller coaster.
5 Lesser-Known Symptoms of Menopause
5 Lesser-Known Symptoms of Menopause
Hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and brain fog—we must be talking about menopause! These are among the most common symptoms that affect women during this transitional time of life.
Yet that’s far from where the story ends. In fact, there are over 100 symptoms of menopause based on our research
From Night Sweats to Restful Sleep: The Story Behind CoolYourSweats
As a person who has suffered from night sweats, I know how disruptive it can be to wake up drenched in sweat and unable to get back to sleep. Every morning I woke up clammy and exhausted. I tried many different types of sleepwear, but nothing seemed to work. That’s why I decided to start my own company, CoolYourSweats, to create sleepwear specifically designed to help people like me get a good night’s sleep.
Those Pesky Hot Flashes!
Those pesky hot flashes. You hate them. We hate them. But now a new natural, holistic supplement company known as Rebalance Health may offer up some long-awaited help in the form of hot flash relief.
Menopause: Help for Vaginal Dryness and Low Libido
Vaginal dryness afflicts the majority of menopause goddesses. Along with loss of libido. These symptoms can really interfere with intimacy. And as I have mentioned repeatedly orgasm is important for general genitourinary health.
The kind folks at Morgasm sent me a couple samples of their terrific products to try and color me impressed. I asked them to tell us more in their own words
Comfortable Lingerie for Menopause Goddesses
The very first thing I do when I get home from shopping (or anything) is take off my bra. Then I take a deep breath, having been released from this constricting torment.
If you follow this blog, you likely know that I have been on a continual quest to find comfortable underwear, especially bras.
Sex – A Pathway to a Healthier Life Overall
Our friends at Healthline have a new article detailing the many ways that sex can be a literal lifeline. From heart health to stress reduction, sex can lead to a healthier you. Read more here: Surprising Facts About Sex
Menopause Energy Bossa Bars Have a New Flavor!
I love love love Bossa Bars. Full of healthy and TASTY all-natural ingredients like maca, kale, pea protein. I’ve actually just finished a Toasted Vanilla Almond one. And of course, I’m a huge fan of Double Decadent Chocolate.
Now, drum roll please, Bossa Bars is launching a new flavor: Blueberry Lemon.
5 Top Hormone Balancing Tips For Menopause
Loosely defined as starting after a woman hasn't had a period for at least 12 months, menopause affects everyone at different rates and ages but typically begins at around age 51. Many people have a lot of questions about this time, such as "are hormones high or low...
Hot Flash Relief without Hormones May Be Coming
Hot flashes. They're one of the worst symptoms of the Big M. And they can last for years. It's not fair, but there you have it. Hot flashes or flushes are due to a malfunction in the hypothalamus, the temperature-regulating center of the brain. That's been known for...
Create Your Own Menopause Goddess Group Now
Here’s how you can create your own Menopause Goddess group – it was the single most important modality for getting us through the Big M menopause transition. You don’t have to start from scratch – click on the pdf below to find out how to begin. Women sharing wisdom – that’s what it’s all about. Stay cool.
Have a Stress-less Holiday
Menopause and Christmas can combine to produce exponential amounts of stress. For many of us, this Christmas will be the first “normal” one since the pandemic. So it’s even more important that we focus on friends and family rather than stress out over holiday prep. Here at Menopause Goddess Blog, we have a few ideas for more ease and less pressure this holiday season.
Romanticize Your Life
Romanticizing Your Life – Put simply, it’s like a real-time gratitude journal. Noticing small, everyday things and seeing the wondrous moments, things, or beings in our lives. It’s taking time to feel the blessing of a cup of coffee or tea, of the breeze blowing, or the snowflakes floating down.
Trim Down Your Fat Cells – Size Matters
We’ve all heard of healthy people who are large and unhealthy folks who are slim. But how to tell? And how can we be healthy, regardless of our actual weight?
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Menopause
Everything you ever wanted to know about menopause – is likely already on this blog! Put your symptom or area of concern in our Search box located on the right side of the home page and all posts related to that topic will come up. Want to know about hot flashes? Oodles of posts. Concerned about vaginal dryness? Lots of info. And plenty of posts on less known symptoms such as brain fog and anxiety.
What’s Needed (and not) for the Post-Menopausal Journey
We recently took our first trip to the mainland to see family in two and a half years. Wow. So wonderful to reconnect. However, in that two and a half years, I had forgotten how and what to pack. There is so much stuff I need post-menopause just for maintenance. But then I started to muse on what I no longer need now that I am officially post-menopausal. And the list is pretty long.
Menopause and Your Brain
Menopause messes with just about everything, including your mental acuity. Many goddesses report “brain fog” and being unable to think – including yours truly. Thankfully the worst of it only lasts a year or two. That said, as we age, we need to exercise our brain to keep it reasonably sharp.
Take A Bath – In The Forest
Hello Menopause Goddesses. Sorry for the radio silence but I’ve been traveling for the first time in 2.5 years – and wow. Just wow.
Seeing friends, kids, and grandkids has just been rejuvenating. No, the pandemic isn’t over but I still feel like I’ve been freed from confinement.
Menopause and quarantine do not go together well, so stop a moment and congratulate yourselves on coming through this challenging time as well as you have.
Fountain of Youth for this Menopause Goddess
Okay, well maybe I haven’t discovered the Fountain of Youth but I do feel younger. No, it’s not a new skin cream or makeup or facial toning exercise. It’s my eyes. My cataract surgery was a total success and I can now see far away, middle distance and close up.
4 Tips for Increasing Sexual Pleasure During Menopause
For women in their late 40s and early 50s, hot flashes, weight gain, and mood swings may become a common occurrence. In addition, as a result of the end of your menstrual cycle and childbearing years, menopause may also impact your sex life.
While this may seem like your sex life is coming to an end, there are ways to have safe, fun, and pleasurable sex no matter your age. Follow along to learn more about improving your sex life after menopause.
Climacteria – A Movie About the Menopause Journey and More
I am so excited to share with you all a new project – Climacteria is a film project addressing just those themes with a scifi bent. The film is half-finished – a crowdfunding drive is being conducted to finish the movie and I am delighted to contribute and share. One caveat: this is not your mother’s menopause.
Why Women Should Support Other Women During Their Menopause Journey
Are you going through the anxiously anticipated journey of menopause? If you are, remember that you are not alone and you have so much support behind you! Whether you have friends or family members that have been through it before or a supportive significant other, you have so many resources you can rely on. Your support group is there to help you prepare for the journey and go through it with you.
The Best Little Health Tracker Ever
A while ago, I wrote about a health and fitness wearable that looks like a pretty bracelet – the Bellabeat Ivy. Right now, the Ivy is on sale for $50 off with code APRIL 50 – offer good while supplies last. Check it out on the Bellabeat website here.
Seeing Clearly after Menopause
Along with the myriad changes that happen during the menopause transition, there are also changes associated with aging. Wrinkles, aches and pains, dryness, just to mention a few. Several months ago, I began noticing the most lovely prismatic rainbows around lights at night. “Darn it,” I thought, “cataracts.”
Creative Flowering is part of Menopause
Creativity blooms during menopause. And after. I’ve written about this before and it bears repeating. We become fertile in a new way, as we explore and delve into our artistic urges.
Track Your Wellness with Bellabeat Ivy
Looking for that special Valentine’s Day gift? Bellabeat has you covered with a wellness tracker that looks like jewelry! The Ivy sinks up to the Bellabeat app on your phone and you track your fitness, heart health, sleep, and more. For those of you in perimenopause and still having cycles, it tracks your menstrual patterns as well.
Women, Sex & Menopause
Enjoy this terrific guest post by award-winning sex educator Renée Denyer. Renée regularly offers advice to health professionals and provides comprehensive sex education and sex-positive workshops for women of all ages. Focusing on female empowerment, Renée offers one-to-one support and advice for women, supporting them on their journey into sexual wellness and pleasure with kindness and care.
Underwear and Menopause
Your body changes when going through menopause. From hot flashes to incontinence, vaginal dryness and even spotting, your body is likely experiencing some level of discomfort. There are a variety of medicinal solutions that can help combat some of these symptoms, but you shouldn’t forget about all of the ancillary ways you can increase your overall comfort as you experience menopause, most notably being your underwear.
New Year’s Rx for Menopause Goddesses
Whew. We can take a deep breath now. We made it through the holiday season. 2022 is a new year. A new start.
And if it feels like a reprise of the last couple of years? Omicron, zoom meetings, masks and sanitizer, uncertainty. It’s normal to feel fatigued by it all. I know I do. And I have a prescription for all of us. Be gentle with yourself.
A Christmas Gift for Menopause Goddesses
’Tis the season. This Christmas/Hannukah and the holiday last year pegged the stress meter well into the red zone for most of us. So this holiday season, the most important gift is to yourself. Make a list of what might be enough – enough to make the season festive for you and yours without excess stress.
Help for Menopause Mood Swings and More
Right now, I want to alert you all that Beth Learn of Fit2B Studio is once again offering her free webinar: 5 Ways to Manage Your Moods and Hormones during Menopause. I participated in August and just loved it. Beth shares advice about dietary changes, overlooked fitness areas, the role of hormones in sleep, and the power of ‘having fun’ during menopause. (Fun? yes Fun!)
Menopause – Everything Changes
We sometimes focus on the difficult and alarming changes, for good reason. We want help and we want it now. But when the change tornado eases off to a gentle breeze, we find that there are positive changes.
Orgasm – Better Health for Menopause Goddesses
The many wellness benefits of orgasm for women have been documented in recent studies. Regular orgasms lead to stress reduction, better sleep, a stronger pelvic floor, enhanced immunity, even improved cardiovascular health. Mystery Vibe devices are geared to facilitate sexual health and wellness at every life stage. Including menopause and the climacteric.
Will Menopause Fatigue Last Forever?
Sleep is literally the superfood that has the most impact. The true nectar of life. The super fuel you need. Frankly, this is where the magic happens.
With the decline of vital hormones during menopause, sleep disturbances are very common. With the vicious cycle of sleep deprivation and the load of stress, it can take much of the joy and ease out of transitioning into menopause.
Mastering Menopause: Two of My Favorite Offerings
I can’t say enough how much I recommend the Mastering Menopause Bundle. Loads of great stuff for those who are in perimenopause and menopause – but also for those who consider ourselves post-menopausal. Wonderful offerings to help us sleep better, nutrition tips, exercise options (like belly-dancing – how great is that?!)
Must Have Resources for Your Menopause Journey
The Mastering Menopause Bundle is available from Monday August 9 – Friday, August 13. It’s a ton of menopause (and peri and post-menopause) resources.
Free Webinar: 5 Ways to Manage Your Moods and Hormones during Menopause
free webinar called 5 Ways to Manage Your Moods and Hormones during Menopause. The webinar is being offered at two times for your convenience: Thursday, August 5 at 11 am EDT and Friday Aug 6 at 7 pm EDT.
Changes to Menopause Goddess Blog Part II
OK, lovely goddesses, the migration to a new email list server is in progress. You will begin receiving posts from follow.it with the subject line “Menopause Goddess Blog dot com new message”.
Changes at Menopause Goddess Blog
Google has decided to stop supporting Feedburner – the engine that powers our subscribe feature. We thank them for all their years of service and are migrating our email list to a new portal called follow.it. If you don’t receive posts from Menopause Goddess Blog (or get duplicate mailings or have other glitches) just drop us an email to lynette@9points.com
Do You Need 10,000 Steps a Day to be Healthy?
So how many steps should we realistically aim for? How many steps will confer positive health benefits? And is more really better? Thanks to a new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we finally have some answers.
Menopause Rhapsody
Enjoy this hilarious, professional parody of Bohemian Rhapsody – sung especially for menopausal women. We need to laugh – because if we don’t, we will cry for a very long time.
Reclaiming Our Voices in Midlife
The minute Nancy Bos told me about hormonal voice changes during ad post-menopause, I said to myself “well duh!”. It was obvious the minute she said it, though I’d never thought or heard about it before that moment. Sure, aging may come with voice changes but all we have to do is remember the voice changes that occur during puberty to know that hormones affect the voice too.