Kindra
Let’s talk menopause, that taboo subject all women are taught to dread about the inevitable cessation of our reproductive health. From an early age, I remember my Grandma warning my mom about “The Change” and only understanding that it involved getting very hot suddenly. Of course, back then, these conversations were only had in hushed voices and amongst other commiserating women.
Thankfully, times have changed a bit since then, and modern women-led companies, such as Kindra, are working to change the taboo nature of women’s health, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. Women no longer need to feel ashamed of their body’s natural lifecycle, but should rather embrace it. “Embrace the change” that is, not the uncomfortable symptoms that come with it.
Menopause And Perimenopause
Menopause is the term used to describe the natural process all women experience as their reproductive systems “shut down.” Medically, menopause is officially diagnosed once a woman has not had a menstrual cycle in 12 months. Perimenopause, or pre-menopause, is the transition into menopause, marked when a woman’s ovaries decrease their estrogen production, slowly at first and then more rapidly as one approaches menopause. Women typically begin to experience the signs of perimenopause in their 30s and transition into menopause in their 40s.
Physical Symptoms Of Menopause
Many people are familiar with the most common 10 signs of menopause, including hot flashes, irregular or missed periods, night sweats, osteoporosis, unusual vaginal dryness, developing incontinence, frequent urinary tract infections, and a decrease in libido. However, many people do not realize there are actually 34 signs of menopause and may ignore some of the more surprising symptoms. Some less common, but still normal, physical symptoms include dizziness, headaches, bloating or digestive problems, weight gain, new or changing allergies, hair thinning, brittle nails, itchy skin, body odor change, joint pain or muscle tension, burning tongue, tingling extremities, developing an irregular heartbeat, and even electric shock sensation.
Mental Symptoms Of Menopause
In addition to the physical signs, menopause can also cause mental and emotional changes in women. Historically, society has resisted recognizing that mental disorders are as potentially detrimental to overall health as physical disorders. Fortunately, along with openly discussing women’s health, this subject has also become much less taboo. Declining mental and emotional health can affect every part of life and leave anyone, no matter their other life circumstances, feeling isolated and alone, particularly when it happens quickly. Recognizing these symptoms early is essential to successful treatment. Need help understanding what signs of menopause you may be experiencing? Check out this quiz.
Mood Swings
Menopause “moodiness” has a very physical cause. As a woman progresses through her lifecycle, the main female reproductive hormone, estrogen, naturally starts to decrease. In addition to women’s sexual function, estrogen also plays an important role in both increasing the number of serotonin receptors in the brain and the production of serotonin. Serotonin is the main hormone that balances moods and promotes feelings of well-being and happiness. Therefore, when estrogen levels fall, serotonin production and reuptake decrease, and one may be left feeling depressed or cycle through mood fluctuations as the body adjusts to these changing hormonal levels.
Difficulty Concentrating And Memory Lapses
The other main female sex hormone, progesterone, regulates the menstrual cycle and prepares the body for a possible pregnancy each month. During menopause, progesterone levels decrease along with estrogen, and this drastic hormonal change often leads to cognition issues including memory loss, concentration difficulties, and an overall “brain fog.” Luckily, this symptom usually fixes itself once the transition through perimenopause and menopause is complete.
Sleep Disorders And Insomnia
Many of the other symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and overall stress, affect one’s ability to get a good night’s sleep. However, difficulty falling or staying asleep is not only a side effect, it may also be caused by the abrupt drop in progesterone. Progesterone plays a soothing or sedating role in the brain and helps prepare the body for comfortable sleep by releasing a metabolite to interact with GABA, the calming neurotransmitter.
Fatigue
Of course, while dealing with a sleep disorder or frustrating bouts of insomnia, fatigue is expected. However, sudden extreme exhaustion, regardless of one’s nightly sleep pattern, is another debilitating sign of both perimenopause and menopause.
Panic Disorder, Anxiety, And Depression
Again, the nasty culprits of these mental disorders are often hormonal fluctuations. As estrogen and progesterone drop, their “male” sex counterpart, testosterone, struggles to maintain homeostasis with its fellow hormones and, in turn, also begins to drop to match the levels. Since these hormones play instrumental roles in the production of serotonin, the happiness chemical in the brain, it is not uncommon for women to develop acute depression, anxiety, or even panic disorders during perimenopause and menopause.
How To Treat Mental Symptoms Of Menopause
While we all eventually accept and “embrace the change,” no longer do we also need to accept experiencing these symptoms during the years of perimenopause and menopause. After all, it is finally our time to experience life and travel to the fullest.
Kindra is helping women reduce these debilitating symptoms and take their lives back. All of the Kindra products are made by women for women, scientifically backed, and estrogen-free (0% estradiol or progesterone), ensuring they are safe and effective for most consumers.*
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To address many of both the physical and mental menopause symptoms all in one, Kindra formulated The Core Dietary Supplement. This daily supplement is powered by the combination of Pycnogenol and adaptogen Ashwagandha. Pycnogenol is a super-antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage. Specifically, it combats aging skin by stimulating collagen and supports heart and artery health to improve circulation and lower blood pressure to decrease the instances of hot flashes and night sweats. Ashwagandha is a medicinal herb that helps boost overall brain function to combat brain fog and lower stress and anxiety, leading to fewer mood swings, less insomnia, and even an increased libido. It comes in an easy-to-take capsule and is available for as little as $39 monthly.
Sleeping trouble, including insomnia, trouble staying asleep, and fatigue, can become one of the most detrimental symptoms if not properly, and safely, treated. Kindra developed The Sleep Enhancing Dietary Supplement to help women fall asleep, and stay asleep — and wake up feeling rested without a foggy hangover. This supplement pairs ashwagandha and Pycnogenol with the calming benefits of melatonin, a hormone that regulates one’s circadian rhythm to support a natural sleep cycle and promote a calmer mentality. Additionally, Kindra also developed The Energy Boosting Dietary Supplement to help keep women moving, even when fatigue threatens to creep in. This supplement combines the benefits of Pycnogenol with green tea leaf extract, which naturally contains caffeine to boost energy and improve overall clarity and mental alertness. Additionally, green tea leaf extract is known to assist with weight loss, improving high blood pressure, and supporting cardiovascular health. Both of these supplements are available in capsule form and each starts at as low as $29 monthly.
If you cannot choose just one, The Essentials Bundle is Kindra’s best-selling bundle that addresses the most common menopause symptoms. This bundle includes The Core Dietary Supplement and The Daily Vaginal Lotion, along with their revolutionary applicator. Since vaginal dryness is one of the most commonly recognized and despised physical symptoms of menopause, Kindra designed this lotion for safe application directly to the intimate area. Vaginal dryness can quickly lead to irritation, infections, and sexual discomfort and pain. Kindra customers agree: This product is one of the few over-the-counter lotions that actually works! Combine that with the mental clarity and overall mood boost from The Core Dietary Supplement, and you are ready to tackle your next adventure. The bundle is available for as little as $89 monthly.
In addition to providing powerful symptom relief, Kindra recognizes the isolating effect menopause can have. They have established an online community of supportive women, free to join, creating a comfortable space to discuss all aspects of women’s health.