Hello Everyone

Disliking menopause is completely valid. Losing estrogen triggers symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, facial hair and menopause rage, severely impacting your mood, sleep and daily life. Getting relief is possible through specific adjustments and medical treatment.

Why Menopause is So Frustrating

– Hormonal Shifts: Declining estrogen and progesterone directly alter brain chemicals like serotonin, which causes mood swings, irritability, and even anger (older women and young women).

– The “Invisible” Symptoms: Memory issues and lack of motivation.

– Physical Toll: Night sweats disrupt sleep, leading to daily fatigue and brain fog.

Actionable Relief Strategies

– Medical options: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

– Diet and Supplements: Incorporating vitamins like Vitamin D (for bone health), magnesium glycinate (for sleep and anxiety), and Omega-3s can help balance your system.

– Lifestyle Adjustments: Strength training, cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, and utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can significantly reduce both anxiety and emotional reactivity.

This is an unnecessary part of menopause I deeply dislike (nothing I can do about it): Facial hair during menopause is caused by shifting hormone levels. As estrogen drops, the natural balance tips in favor of androgen (testosterone), which stimulate hair follicle to grown coarser, darker hairs. Why does this affect some women and not others?

This comes down to four main factors:

– Genetics: Your family history is the biggest factor: If your mother or close female relatives sprouted chin or lip hair, you’re much more likely to as well.

– Hormone Ratios: While all women experience an estrogen drop, the amount of circulating testosterone varies from person to person.

– Weight & Insulin: Excess body fat and diets high in refined carbs can increase insulin levels. Unfortunately, high insulin causes the ovaries and adrenal glands to produce more androgens, increasing the likelihood of facial hair.

– Underlying Conditions: Pre-existing issues like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or adrenal gland disorders make some women much more prone to hair growth (facial).

Why Does It Happen?

Before menopause, high levels of estrogen keep this hair fine and light. When estrogen decreases, testosterone doesn’t necessarily increase, but the effect becomes stronger, causing these vellus hairs to turn into dark, coarse hairs (typically along the chin, jawline, and upper lip), SO UNFORTUNATELY AWFUL

Common Management Options:

If unwanted facial hair is bothersome, there are several ways to manage it:
– Temporary: Plucking, shaving dermaplaning, threading, or waxing
– Topical: Prescription creams (like eflornithine) can help slow the growth
– Semi-permanent/Permanent: Laser hair removal or electrolysis. Note: White, gray or blonde hairs
do not respond well to lasers

Men don’t experience menopause like women do, but they do go through a gradual decline in testosterone, often called “andropause” or late-onset hypogonadism. Unlike women, whose reproductive hormones drop sharply over a few years, men lose about 1% of their testosterone each year starting in their late 30s or 40s.

This is a topic I wanted to share because menopause has caused me and so many women these unfortunate issues. It’s unfortunate, but we can only embrace and endure it.

“It’s Not My Fault, It’s Menopause! Menopause is a great excuse for everything from weight gain, facial hairs, night sweats and mood swings”