What No One Told Me About Menopaus: Puberty - The Sequel

This post is meant to share what I have learned about menopause based on my personal experience. It is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.  Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking help because of something you read on this website.

Your body is going through all sorts of changes that you may or may not understand.  Your hormones have you feeling all out of sorts.  Your emotions are up one minute, down the next, irrationally angry and then weepy.  You might be growing hair in unexpected places.  Your skin is doing things you've never seen it do before. 

Sounds like puberty. Right? Well, hold on to your hat - because I'm actually describing perimenopause!

You remember puberty, right?  That time of change as your hormonal changes to get ready for the years of menstruation, ovulation, childbearing, and adulting.  Perimenopause is the time of hormonal changes as the body prepares to stop ovulating and menstruating. If you think about it - it's sort of a second puberty. Just in reverse.

Let's compare the two...

In puberty,  breast changes occur as hormones cause the development of milk ducts and mammary glands.  The breasts will typically increase in size. During perimenopause, the lack of estrogen causes those glands and ducts to shrink.  This can lead to breasts losing some volume and becoming less firm... and sagging.

During puberty, body hair begins to appear under the arms, in the genital area, and on the legs.  In menopause, hair may become thinner, or could possibly start appearing in areas we didn't expect (or want!) such as the face.

Young women may experience acne as a result of hormonal changes and an increase in sweat and oil production.  Midlife women can experience the same thing - years after we thought we were done with it!  On the other hand, our hormonal changes may instead cause our skin to become dry and itchy. 

That increase in oil and sweat production may also cause a young woman to experience increased body odor.  The same thing can happen during perimenopause.

Puberty is when menstrual cycles typically begin.  They may begin having monthly periods right away, or their cycles may be irregular to start.  In perimenopause, we can also experience irregular cycles.  They may become shorter at first, or they may be longer.  You will probably begin skipping periods altogether.  Eventually, the cycles come to an end. 

Young women going through puberty may experience moodiness and emotional outbursts.  Perimenopause - well... same!

Whether it's puberty or menopause, some of it is amazing, some of it is frustrating, and some of it is messy - the important thing to remember is that it's all just a natural part of life. And whether your symptoms are minor or you are struggling with severe symptoms, help is available if you need it.