Menopause: it's not all bad

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It happens to every woman, there's no escaping it.

But while many women associate menopause with the end of the world, we'll show you how it could also mean a new age of freedom.

From night sweats, to weight gain, to driving you crazy.

"One of the craziest things women do is name their hot flashes," Chrisandra Shufelt, M.D., a certified menopause practitioner at Cedars-Sinai told Action News.

But menopause doesn't have to be all bad - it could mean a new beginning. Just ask Staness Jonekos.

"Menopause I have to say was maybe one of the best things that has ever happened to me," Jonekos told Action News.

In fact after a few lifestyle changes, she looks and feels better than ever before. Dr. Chrisandra Shufelt says the biggest myth about menopause is women see it as the beginning of the end.

"Women need to understand that menopause is a transition," Dr. Shufelt explained.

Another big myth is that menopause signals the end of your sex life. While a drop in hormones has an impact, general health and social factors like marital status carry more weight. To amp up your libido experts recommend exercising and staying sexually active. Having sex stimulates blood flow to your sex organs and keeps them healthy.

Finally, what about depression? While hormone changes may be responsible for some symptoms like mood swings - they're different from true clinical symptoms and they go away.

"Menopause is just a door we walk through into another stage," Jonekos concluded.

It's a door, with the right attitude, you can look forward to.

Dr. Shufelt says to avoid a wave of hot flashes, stay away from caffeine, sugar and spicy foods and exercise walking just 10 minutes a day can help alleviate symptoms.

For more information, contact:
Staness Jonekos
Staness@MenopauseMakeover.com

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