Angelina Jolie is in it at age 43. I was in it at age 35! “It” is menopause, a still taboo topic thanks to our youth-obsessed culture, that affect more than 85 million women every year. But I’d like to remind you that even menopause comes with its perks.
Perk #1: No more periods. Period.
Obviously, this is a no brainer. The frantic midnight closet hunt for an errant tampon is over. You no longer have to beat yourself up because you forgot to buy feminine protection at the store! White pants and white swimsuits are no longer verboten just in case Aunt Flo arrives a little sooner than expected. White can be worn ALL of the time… EVEN after Labor Day!
Perk #2: No periods = no PMS!
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, at least 85 percent of all menstruating women experience one symptom or more of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS). Food cravings (salty or sweet?), bloating, migraines, breast tenderness and all of the other fun symptoms of PMS are a thing of the past!
Perk #3: Fertile Myrtle has LEFT the building!
Let’s face it, you are at the age that you should know what you enjoy in the bedroom and can ask for it. The blessing is now you can “bump boots,” “hook up” or as Aunt Edna said “have relations” without making babies. The Joy of Sex becomes more than a book title!
Perk #4: You get to use your superpowers…for YOURSELF.
For most women in menopause, the kids are gone and the silence is golden. Your physical energy isn’t going taking care of your kids 24/7. You get time and energy for yourself and that means…you get yourself back. So,how you doin’? Welcome back to the land of the living, you sexy thang!
Perk #5 – We’ve come a LONG way baby!
This ain’t 1943. Night sweats and hot flashes affect 75% of women in perimenopause or menopause. In 1943, 1953, 1963, heck, EVEN in 1993, there weren’t SAFE, effective choices to counter the unpleasant side effects of menopause. Thankfully, we have indeed come a long way baby! Hormone therapy is the most effective way to treat these symptoms and we now have choices! Choices that didn’t exist even a few years ago!
Most women think that if they are in menopause, they are instantly “old,” but, I am pretty sure that no one thinks of Angelina Jolie as old and she is in full-blown menopause. While we are all going to AGE, that doesn’t mean that we have to get OLD. Thanks to the choices we now have with hormone replacement therapies each woman can get the exact dosage of what she needs to continue to lead a balanced, health, libido filled life. Old should not be a term you will use to describe yourself.