Today we’re pulling the curtain back on a topic that isn’t talked about nearly enough: perimenopause and menopause.
Considering this is something nearly half the population experiences, we really should be talking about it more!
If you’re worried that you’re in the wrong place — stick around. Even those without an estrogen-based cycle benefit from understanding how to support their partners, children, friends, and colleagues through these hormonal changes that can last NEARLY A DECADE.
With THIRTY FOUR recognized symptoms, perimenopause can start impacting us as early as our late-30s. And although many symptoms are physical, the cognitive and psychological impacts can have a profound impact. A recent study from The Mayo Clinic cites an annual loss of nearly $1.8 billion in lost productivity when women step away or leave the workforce due to their symptoms.
So what can we watch for and WHAT can we do? That’s exactly what we’re covering in this episode.
Join me for a conversation with Dr. Charlsie Celestine to discuss hormones, perimenopause, menopause, and the impact all those fluctuations have on our focus, energy, and productivity.
We’ll dive into the practical steps you can take right now to support yourself through these changes and you can download a helpful Perimenopause Symptom Tracker (see below).
Connect with Dr. Celestine
💻 For Vagina’s Only Website
🎧 For Vagina’s Only Podcast
📱 Instagram
🩺Dr. Celestine on LinkedIn
Additional Resources:
Download the PDF + Guide:
HOW TO USE THIS TRACKER:
Go through the list and highlight any symptoms that you can recall experiencing over the past 6-12 months.
Go back through any highlighted symptoms and assess their frequency using the “D/W/M/S” columns (daily, weekly, monthly, sporadically).
Next, assess each symptom’s severity or the interruption caused to your life by circling a number, 1-5. 1 = mild, 5 = severe.
If needed, use the “notes” column to jot down additional details about your experience with this symptom.
If you want to know more about each symptom, click on the item in this list from Meno-Me.com.
Make an appointment with your PCP, or a certified menopause practitioner, if your clinic has one (you can call and ask them).
Bring the tracker to your appointment to help guide the conversation + provide your doctor with valuable information.
✅ You might also find my Productivity Cycle Syncing Guide helpful, especially in the years before perimenopause. It helps you learn how to sync your work and productivity with the different phases of your menstrual cycle:
📱The Balance app is similar to period tracking apps, but geared toward tracking the symtpoms of perimenopause and menopause. Learn more here.
Dr. Celestine’s Recommendations:
📚 READ: Dr. Celestine has The Road Less Traveled cued up for her “next to read” list. The long-time New York Times Best Seller shows readers how to face the inevitable challenges of life, learn from hardship, and develop their self-knowledge.
📺 WATCH: I was shocked I had never heard of Younger (currently available via Hulu), the plot sounds so good! “40-year-old Liza (Sutton Foster) passes herself off as 26 to land a job in the field of her dreams. Now she just has to make sure no one discovers her secret. Even though it first debuted in 2015, Dr. Celestine hasn’t been able to resist a rewatch.
🎧 LISTEN: As a nod to her Trinidadian roots, Dr. Celestine is moving and grooving to Soca music when the sun is shining. New to this genre? Check out the playlist below on Spotify, which features some of the artists mentioned in the episode:
🧡 ENJOY: Can’t blame her for this one! Dr. Celestine’s pick to “Enjoy” is currently the warm, bright, and sunny weather. I totally agree 😎
Develop Healthy Habits:
Navigating big health changes like menopause can be easier if you’ve developed foundational habits to support your health. That’s exactly what my self-paced online program is all about!
Press play and watch the Intro + Lesson 001: Hydration💦, for free! If you get to Lesson 002 and want to keep going, official enrollment includes daily support from me while you work through the course. Use the code PLANPODCAST to take $50 off the enrollment fee.
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