Millenopause – it’s a thing
How could we be at this point in life? Where did we lose time?
Was it on TikTok?
Was it time well spent on Instagram?
The reality of perimenopause (the time preceding menopause) can be a stark one. The body begins to shift. We feel a bit of a reckoning for what the body is missing, needing, and begins communicating about areas of our lifestyle that need balancing.
The Millennial generation includes women born between 1981 and 2000 (depending upon which source you reference). That means the oldest Millennials are entering their 40s, well within the time frame when perimenopause can begin. It's time to reckon with "Millenopause."
Millennial women have spent a great deal of time striving in the workforce, carving out new footing for women in leadership On behalf of other generations of women, thank you very much!
On top of an already full life, Millennial women are making new choices about how, when and even whether to start families. To support this range of choice, some are exploring proactively freezing their fertile eggs.
Women over 35 whose bodies are beginning the delicate natural shift toward aging can experience a range of symptoms in relation to fertility treatments like:
Taking Clomid pills
Injectable drugs like Follistim
Invitro Fertilization, known as IVF
Very little is documented about the experience of women birthing children during the perimenopause and menopause stages of life.
Family planning choices aside, the shifts of perimenopause can offer a grounding surprise when the pituitary gland begins to shift the balance of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). This begins when the ovaries start to release lower estrogen levels. These changes that will remind us of important behaviors that we may have neglected in our years of adult development to this point, like:
Daily exercise and muscle strengthening
Healthy balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables
Connecting regularly in nature
Getting quality sleep
Good self care
For those experiencing this shift in life, ensuring these health habits are covered will enable us to experience a modest change in mood and shifting hormones. This is the good news!
However, Millennials striving to have a picture-perfect life in a world that is more expensive may be forced to work harder than ever and be creative with their time. This can be taxing on our attention and brain functions, and can deplete the body’s resources.
The transition, which appears in stray grey hairs, mood swings, and fatigue can grow more intense when we are stressed and out of balance. This is because stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, suppress our sex hormones. If our bodies are running like this for years at a time, we may experience infertility, low immunity, and even auto-immune disorders.
Fortunately, there are a number of resources to help us through this process. Zooming in on this concept at around 35 is appropriate, as many women tend to begin seeing signs of perimenopause and may not yet understand the reason for our symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Estrogen creates lushness in the body: beautiful skin, lubricated tongues and vaginas. Estrogen also lubricates our central nervous system. We can feel deeply thanks to the extra lubrication of cholesterol which creates ease in sending information from our bodies’ nervous system to the brain. When this is performing differently, this may lead to feeling differently (as in anxiety and depression).
The magical hormone estrogen also lubricates our tissues and helps us look attractive. The skin is smooth and fine lines are filled in – estrogen retains collagen in the body.
This is but one example of the hormonal shifts happening during perimenopause. By the time we hit 40-45 (which is when most women begin thinking about perimenopause), the time has passed to make the mental shifts needed to accept this part of life, and to prepare for the final stage in all this: menopause.
Changes that can help with the transition to Millenopause include:
Drinking less alcohol, or removing it entirely.
Implementing subtle exercise like yoga and pilates to attune and support the nervous system with good alignment.
Making informed decisions about fertility and creating a family during perimenopause. Enlisting good support at this time will support your new awareness.
Dietary changes, including elminating hormone-influencing foods like animal products.
Meditation and exercise to de-stress and balance the body.
Connecting with nature regularly to ground the body and lower stress levels.
Developing and nurturing meaningful supportive relationships.
With celebrities like Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Meg Mathews sharing their wisdom about menopause, we can take heart in knowing that there are ways to age gracefully. Sharing your experience can help those around us. Finding community support can help us move through perimenopause and menopause in an informed and intentional way.
Mindful awareness of what lies ahead can create a more connected version of life in this moment to move it all forward. Whether you're with a baby, a partner, a business, or single, the change is coming. Rest assured knowing you can absolutely get through it beautifully!
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Angela Rosoff is a Health Coach and yoga teacher in San Francisco. She teaches clients 1:1 how to live the life they imagine by tuning into their self-healing power and unlocking their identity to age gracefully with holistic practices of mindset, nutrition, and yoga for face & body. You can find her offerings and sign up for Angela’s free weekly wellness newsletter at her website, www.yoginiprana.live.
