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. 

Staying A-Breast Of Things

I have been accused by a friend of being breast obsessed.  I believe her exact words were something along the lines of "you are all about the boob!".  I'd like to deny it.  I would like to roll my eyes and make some derogatory snorting sound, or utter the phrase "what-EVER".  Sadly... I can not. 

I would like to defend myself by pointing out that my interest in other people's boobs is purely professional!  I don't think you can spend 13 years as a breastfeeding counselor and lactation educator without being a little overly familiar with mammary glands you didn't grow yourself.  Those weren't just breasts - those were my job! 

And yes, I am all about breast health.  Do your self exams.  Get your mammograms.  That's just good medical advice which I promote and share with the people I care about.  Or anyone else willing to listen. 

But my obsession with breasts really probably started around the middle school years.  During that time, I think many of us are focused on our chests.  That previously flat expanse of rib area is changing.  Or not.  Either way, it's a cause for concern and interest.

If you are a female who has been through puberty - you probably know what I am talking about.  Are they growing?  If not, why aren't they growing?  If so, are they growing enough?  Too much?  Are they even?  How do they compare with the others we see growing around us?  In short... are we "normal"?  (it's all about being "normal" when you are a 13 year old girl) 

Of course, the ironic part of all this attention we are paying to our newly budding breasts is that we don't want anyone else noticing them.  Or even worse... mentioning them!  Oh, the horror... the horror!!

As I have grown older and gone through different life phases, the focus on the breasts is always there.  It just varies from one season of life to another. 

Once the breasts got past the puberty phase and stopped growing, I had to figure out what to do with them.  They were strictly ornamental at this point.  And at the peak of perkiness.  Choices had to be made.  To bra, or not to bra?  Where is the fine line between showing enough of them or too much of them?

When I was a nursing mom of babies the main focus switched to their functionality.  These were working breasts!  Half the time, they had a human offspring attached to them.  When they didn't there were still things to consider and keep tabs on.  Did they feel OK?  How full were they? Too full?  Not full enough?  Were they holding their own, or was there a leakage issue? 

And as I tried to patiently wait for the youngest to wean himself, they sometimes felt like the Brett Favre of breasts.  It was time to retire... no,not quite yet...  yep, now we're done... well, maybe we could make it another month or two... no, really, we're done now... or maybe not.  Until finally they were really ready to throw in the towel and call it a day.  For really real this time. 

Now,  I consider them classics.  And it's all about structure and upkeep.  Are they well supported, or is there any visible sag?  Are they comfortable?  (sadly, for too long the answer has been "not really")

So, yes.  I suppose I am all about the breast.  But c'mon.  They're right there in front of me all day.