Karin Kedar | Menopause

The Transition Age, ME-NO-PAUSE
A lecture for women aged 35–60.

Menopause, perimenopause, the transitional age, the age of decline, cessation of menstruation, aging, midlife.

So many decidedly unflattering words for a challenging, change-filled period that we holistic women like to call “the second spring” or “the transition age”—admit it, it sounds better. So why not?

The word menopause simply means the cessation of the menstrual cycle. In other words, the transition period is the corridor we pass through between regular cycles—periods that arrive after regular ovulation—and the cessation of menstruation.

If the whole matter were simply menstruating or not menstruating, we wouldn’t need to meet.

The hormonal transition brings us face-to-face with physical, emotional, and sexual challenges that shake up our world.

Some women will thrive with supportive hormone therapy for the menopausal transition.

We will discuss its safety, the history of research on the transition, and persistent beliefs that refuse to let go:

For most women, hormone therapy for the menopausal transition is safe.

Many others will successfully navigate this period without assistance:

They will identify inner resources, make lifestyle changes, and successfully experience this transition with a sense of capability and new opportunities.

Some will seek help from acupuncturists, nutritionists, psychologists, and other treatment and support professionals.

Most of us will do both.

At our age, either-or principles and perceptions are already unnecessary for us.

At our meeting, we will discuss the map of the menopausal transition: the points we pass through, why they exist (very intelligent evolution!), why they bother us along the way, and what can be done to make the journey toward the second half of our lives gentler and more interesting.

Noga Center is hosted at HaMesila Center—5 HaZemer HaIvri Street, Herzliya.