Not many women talk about perimenopause and/or menopause. But I want to. I want to encourage others to be open about what we as women experience. The more we talk about it, the less stigma it has, and the less alone we will feel. It can be a struggle talking about this topic because so many people experience different symptoms at different stages of menopause.
This post is sponsored by EQUELLE. All views and text are my own.
Being a mom (and step-mom) to three boys has allowed me to be present as they grow and experience the various stages of life, even that awkward stage of adolescence. Ahhh puberty. Full of gangly legs, big feet, B.O., voice cracks, and hormonal changes. And as my two youngest are in this particular awkward hormonal stage, I find myself in my own awkward stage: perimenopause. Perimenopause is the very first stage on the road to full-blown menopause. Imagine struggling to fall asleep every night, and when you finally do fall asleep, you wake up only to be drenched in sweat. Sexy, huh? Not many women talk about this stage of middle age. But I want to. I want to encourage others to be open about what we as women experience. The more we talk about it, the less stigma it has, and the less alone we will feel.
Perimenopause and menopause are natural parts of aging for women (although it feels more supernatural than anything). During perimenopause (the very first step to menopause), estrogen production fluctuates and eventually decreases, causing annoying and uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep issues, mood swings, irregular periods, vaginal dryness (what?!), and muscle aches. This usually begins when a woman in is in her 40s, but can happen in her 30s or even earlier. Perimenopause typically lasts 1-2 years and ends when a woman hits menopause, or when her ovaries completely stop producing eggs and she has not had a period in a year. Approximately 6,000 women reach menopause each day1 and 85% experience some kind of bothersome symptoms.2 The most common symptom is hot flashes, which 75% of women experience.3
Because so many women find hot flashes the most bothersome, EQUELLE was developed to offer women some much needed relief. EQUELLE is a new non-prescription, non-hormonal4 supplement designed to help reduce the frequency of hot flashes and muscle aches associated with menopause.† The active ingredient in EQUELLE is S-equol (fermented soy germ), a naturally derived ingredient similar to estrogen that binds to select estrogen receptors in the body. Research on S-equol shows that women who naturally produce S-equol following soy consumption had more mild menopause symptoms. In the US, only 20-30% of women can produce S-equol following soy consumption. Scientists used a proprietary process to naturally produce S-equol from the soy isoflavone daidzen. The main active ingredient in EQUELLE, S-equol, is not only natural and plant-based, it has also been clinically tested to be effective. In clinical trials, women saw results in as few as four weeks, with optimal results in 8-12 weeks.
Because EQUELLE alleviates the frequency of hot flashes†, it has the potential to dramatically improve women’s lives. In fact, over 50,000 women trust EQUELLE as they navigate “The Change.”
Here are what some users have to say about EQUELLE:
Jennifer from North Adams, Michigan, writes, “When I finally found Equelle, after many months of drenching hot flashes, I was at the end of my rope. I’m a vegan, have been for a decade, and do all I can to treat imbalances in my body naturally. I was so miserable, having on average 50 episodes every 24 hours, and no amount of black cohosh or essential oils providing ANY relief. I’d come to the point of acting contrary to my beliefs and would have scheduled an appointment with my Medical doctor if Equelle has not worked. It took about a week for Equelle to work, but I haven’t had one single hot flash since!!!! I’m now happily we’ll-rested [sic] and comfortable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Patricia S. from Santa Monica says, “I was in the middle of a career/life change, and I was moving when menopause struck. The hot flashes were horrible and frustrating. A couple of weeks after starting Equelle, the hot flashes started subsiding. You can choose to suffer or give yourself the gift of relief that works. It changed my life.”
Denise C. of Orlando, Florida, gushes, “I was plagued with hot flashes every hour during the day. After taking EQUELLE… my symptoms came almost to a stop. Best thing I ever tried.”
Being a woman comes with so many taboo subjects we don’t talk about, but I want to help break that cycle. I want to open up about my experiences with perimenopause and menopause with the hope that I can inspire others to not feel ashamed of something that happens to us all. If you’re experiencing hot flashes, EQUELLE could be the answer in the search for relief.†
EQUELLE is manufactured by Pharmavite LLC, the makers of Nature Made vitamins. EQUELLE may be ordered online at www.EQUELLE.com and costs $39.95 for a one-month supply.
Visit equelle.com today to learn more about how it can help you or the women in your life.
The article, Perimenopause Talk and How EQUELLE Can Help, first appeared on Hip Mama’s Place.
†This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
4Free from human or animal hormones. Contains trace amounts of isoflavones, a type of naturally occurring plant hormone
1The North American Menopause Society. Overview of Menopause. Available at: https://www.menopause.org/docs/2012/cg_a.pdf/sfvrsn=2. Accessed March 27, 2019.
2Woods NF and Mitchell ES. Symptoms during the perimenopause: prevalence, severity, trajectory, and significance in women’s lives. Am J Med. 2005; 118 Suppl B:14-24.
3US Office of Women’s Health. Menopause symptoms and relief. Available at: https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-symptoms-and-relief#13. Accessed March 27, 2019.
Aso T, Uchiyama S, Matsumura Y et al. A natural S-equol supplement alleviates hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms in equol non-producing postmenopausal Japanese women. J Women’s Health 2012; 21(1):92-100
Oyama A, Ueno T, Uchiyama S et al. The effects of natural S-equol supplementation on skin aging in postmenopausal women: a pilot randomized placebo-control trial. Menopause 2012;19(2):202-210.
A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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I really feel I am reaching this stage quicker than I thought. I just turned 40 end of April and my periods have gotten shorter and lighter. I just feel like something is changing inside me.
I am pretty sure that I will be going through this soon. It is good to know that there are products out there that can be helpful.
I haven’t heard of this brand before. I know that many women suffer from horrible pre-menopause symptoms. Glad that you were able to discuss this with others. Very useful!
great information! there are so many women that need to know this stuff that are afraid to bring it up. they shouldn’t be.
I agree, there is a lot of stuff that women go through that no one talks about. It is great you are talking about this and even better, is great to know there is something that can help with menopause and the symptoms. I will keep this in mind and pass it along.
This is an interesting piece of information which I had no idea about. Great learning and thanks for sharing.
It’s important that we, as women, have these conversations with one another. Health topics, such as this one, should never be a taboo.
As a woman, I hesitate to discuss these things with my peers, but I have noticed the importance of sharing our thoughts about this with others. Thanks for bringing up this topic. It is certainly not a stigma, it is what we all need to know and be prepared for.
Is EQUELLE safe? It seems safe for me. I think my friends would take this.
I’ve never heard of this! Going to remember this for when I hit this stage.
I hadn’t heard of Equelle before, but it sounds like a good product. I remember my stepmom going through menopause and it scares the heck out of me.
I have so many of those symptoms you’ve mentioned, night sweating, mood swings and sleep issues are my most common.
My mom went through perimenopause pretty early and I am hitting that age now. It is good to know about this product.
Good to know that this product is available. I am not experiencing menopausal symptoms yet, but it’ll be here before I know it.
Glad that you’ve shared information like this for us to be aware. Thanks for sharing it!
I jumped into menopause with both feet after my hysterectomy. It’s not easy to go through all of these changed, but it’s great that there are products out there that can help.
I cannot imagine how is it like having growing up kids. All the awkwardness and weird moments are going to be there. Looks like you are one amazing mother.
I certainly talk – talk about ALL stages in life because if we don’t talk, no one learns!!! So I appreciate you talking about perimeonpause, because you will most likely TEACH someone something!
Talking about your experience, I think it makes you whom you are, keep up.
Equelle sounds like a great solution for so many women. I love that it’s working well for you.
I’m sharing this great information with one of my girlfriends who is going through this right now. I think it’s important to open conversations on this topic with friends and relatives. Sharing tips and info and supporting one another during this phase of life is so darn helpful.
My mother is going through this right now. I should show her your post; very great information here!
That is an interesting product. I had breast cancer and was thrown into menopause with a hysterectomy. Man, that was not fun. This product may have helped me through some of it.
I’m pretty sure I’m close to this stage in my life. I’m not looking forward to it, if I’m completely honest.
This is one of these things we don’t like to discuss, but know full well it’s inevitable. I am glad you’re bringing this to the forefront.
Yeah, I really don’t want to talk about this but it I know it’s important to do so. This stage of life is meeting me head on.
Those menopause symptoms definitely sound disruptive and frustrating. It’s good when you can help keep them under control so you can live your life.
I think I’m starting my premenopause. Some times I wake up with hot flashes.
I am almost at that stage so I am not looking forward to mood swings and neither is my husband. I will look for this and get ready for when the time comes.
I feel as if I’m swiftly approaching this season of life and you’re right, it is very lonely when you don’t have anyone to communicate with about stuff like this. We’ve only been in this area for about a year, so I don’t have close, close, girlfriends to share this with. Thank you for posting this, I certainly feel a lot more normal knowing that it’s not just me.
Interesting! I am 36, and I think I’m starting to have peri-menopause. I was hoping I was too young, but the hot flashes are telling me otherwise. I’ll definitely look into Equelle, since I really don’t want to take hormones with all their side effects.
I’m so glad you shared this. I have a good friend who has shared some horror stories about perimenopause, and I’m not looking forward to it.
I am glad there’s something to help. This can be a tricky time. I would want to know what to expect and what I could do.
This is going to help so many women. Menopause and the years after it can take real toll on the body.
Oh, that’s interesting. I didn’t know there was something like that out there.