Welcome to

Rediscover your freedom and live without limits.
Welcome to Her Best Years, a space created just for you. Here, you’ll find valuable information, practical tools, and a supportive community to guide you every step of the way towards living life without boundaries.
Welcome to

Rediscover your freedom and live without limits.
Welcome to Her Best Years, a space created just for you. Here, you’ll find valuable information, practical tools, and a supportive community to guide you every step of the way towards living life without boundaries.
Understanding each stage
of the journey.
Perimenopause
is the transition leading up to menopause, typically occurring between ages 40 and 45, and lasting from 2 to 8 years. This stage is marked by hormonal changes that cause symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. Though fertility declines, pregnancy is still possible. Symptoms vary in intensity between women, with hot flashes and irregular periods being the most common. This phase ends after 12 consecutive months without menstruation, signaling the start of menopause.
Menopause
is just one day. It marks the permanent end of menstruation, usually between ages 45 and 55. It’s diagnosed after 12 months without a period. During menopause, the ovaries reduce their production of estrogen and progesterone, leading to symptoms such as hot flashes, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and sleep problems.
Postmenopause
begins the day after menopause and lasts for the rest of your life. During this phase, hormone levels stabilize, but the decrease in estrogen can increase the risk of health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease. While symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings tend to ease, genitourinary changes, such as vaginal dryness and urinary issues, may continue.


Recognizing the changes, and understanding the symptoms.
Menopause affects women in different ways, with symptoms generally falling into four categories: physical, cognitive, mood-related, and urinary/sexual/vaginal (GSM). You may experience some or none of these symptoms during the three phases of menopause. Regardless of your experience, it’s important to be aware of the physical and mental changes associated with menopause and beyond.
Physical symptom
- Thinning and dryness of the skin
- Loss of skin elasticity and firmness
- Increased risk of osteoporosis due to bone density loss
- Higher risk of fractures
- Elevated risk of heart disease
- Increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Potential rise in blood pressure
- Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen
- Changes in body fat distribution
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of muscle tone
- Changes in the menstrual cycle
- Heart palpitations
- Joint pain
Urinary/sexual/vaginal symptom (GSM)
- Vaginal dryness and thinning of vaginal tissues
- Lower libido
- Vaginal dryness that can cause discomfort during sex
- Changes in sexual response
- Higher risk of urinary tract infections
- Low libido
- Pain during intercourse
Mood-related symptom
- Mood swings
- Increased irritability and anxiety
- Risk of depression in some women
- Anxiety
- Irritability
Cognitive symptom
- Increased risk of cognitive decline
- Brain fog
Contributors’ Blog
Meet dora moreinis
Lessons from my body
10 things nobody tells you about menopause
The first step
It’s important to remember that the intensity of these symptoms varies among women, and there are treatments and strategies to help manage them, improving your quality of life during and after menopause.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek advice from a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about menopause.
