Vanessa Ford knew something was off. She was 44 when she was surprised by an out-of-the-blue, three-week-long period, one that required her to purchase package after package of super-absorbent tampons. Knowing that this was highly unusual for her, at first, she quickly dismissed the idea of menopause, because she believed that menopause was only something that happens to women in their 50s or 60s. Vanessa met with her doctor, and after several tests that came back fine, her doctor said the words that she never thought she’d hear in her mid-forties: “It’s no surprise. You’re 44. It’s perimenopause.” Perimenopause is the very first step during the menopause process. As a woman transitions into menopause, they experience the classic symptoms you’re likely familiar with: irregular cycles, hot flashes, sleep difficulties, and mood changes. Vanessa now realizes that she was having these symptoms since she was 40, and next year, she’ll be turning 50. Although she is still experiencing some of these symptoms, she has been able to discover some positive aspects of “the change,” including founding an entire company based on her experience that can help other women like her.
Turning to a creative solution
Vanessa’s irregular period was her first clue that something had shifted. But then, other symptoms followed. “The first [sign] is what I call ‘menopause rage,’” she says. “It is an irrational anger that just comes out of left field. It seems completely justified at the time though and makes you so angry about every little thing.” In hindsight, Vanessa realized that other signs were there, such as her insomnia that grew so severe that she was “lucky to get four hours of sleep a night.” She says that she also suddenly developed allergies and experienced intense brain fog. As a result, Vanessa and her doctor began to explore treatment options, and found that hormone replacement therapy wasn’t a good fit for her. Her doctor directed her to some reliable resources so she could start to do her own research and further educate herself. When she embarked on that research, Vanessa suddenly realized that there was so little out there for women in the menopausal transition, from education to support to natural treatment options. That’s when she reached out to her friend Danielle Jacobs, her business-minded friend who also happens to be a nutritionist, to ask if she thought there was anything they could do about this together. With Vanessa’s background in marketing and public relations, they decided to join forces and start a company that could fill this gap in the marketplace, providing natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy and drugstore products. Developed alongside a doctor who specializes in menopause, the two co-founded Menolabs, creating natural supplements and products that can aid women through menopause. Vanessa says that the products she helped create, which include probiotic supplements, natural sleep aids, metabolism supplements, and progesterone skin cream, have alleviated her own symptoms. Through her company, Vanessa says that she wants to change the way menopause is viewed by society, treated by doctors, and researched by the medical community. Through her own experience, she realized women should feel better as they go through this transition, and they need more support. “It’s a status quo that must be interrupted,” she says. “Doing so has vast implications for women’s health, their socio-economic status, technological innovations, and even macroeconomics. This particular demographic of women is the fastest-growing segment of the workforce, and there will be 1 billion of us by the year 2025. To ignore our health concerns simply doesn’t make good business or economic sense.”
Finding positives during a life transition
Since menopause can take several years to reach completion, Vanessa isn’t through it just yet. But already, she can see the positives, and has experienced many. In particular, she’s looking forward to the cessation of periods, saying, “I am so over having periods! I will be so glad to be done with all of that.” She also views this season of her life as a time that’s ideal to focus on herself and her needs, making self-care a top priority. “The less obvious aspect [of menopause] is that you no longer have to prioritize others’ needs ahead of your own,” she says. “As a mom, I know I did that for a very long time, and happily, but now that my daughter is grown and on her own, I am realizing that I have the freedom to schedule a dinner date with a friend instead of running to soccer practice. It feels very precious and valuable to be able to do what I want to do, when I want to do it.” For women who have had children later in life, menopause can mean a busy schedule and quality time with the kids that isn’t dampened by the hassle of periods, cramps, and PMS. Vanessa points out that in some parts of the world, menopause is known as “the second spring”, and it’s seen as a period of transformation into being the person you truly are. “From what I’ve heard from the hundreds of women I have talked to who are firmly on the other side of menopause, it’s true,” she says. In fact, after speaking with several women who have gone through menopause, they say it’s the best time of their lives. Vanessa adds, “They feel freer and more able to be who they are or want to be and to pursue the things that interest them.” She also relishes the fact that she and her husband have the freedom to date again at this time in her life, to fully enjoy each other’s company. She says, “We can travel more easily and readily, which is just lovely." And for single or divorced women going through menopause, the transition offers rich opportunities to further focus on self-care and/or enjoy dating to the fullest without having to focus on the unpleasant symptoms of a monthly cycle.
Easing symptoms for better days
Vanessa believes that women can go through menopause with great success, even turning it into “the best time of their lives,” with the right outlets and treatment approaches that can be explored with the help of a doctor. She says, “Hot flashes can make you feel like you’re losing control of your body. Brain fog can make you feel like you’re losing control of your mental faculties. Mood swings can make you feel like you’re losing relationships. But I am here to tell you that you are not alone. You are not crazy. There is help available, and there are other women going through exactly the same things you are. Reach out and talk to them. If they aren’t in your immediate circle, find them. There are books you can read. There are tools out there to help you take charge of your life, so that menopause symptoms don’t interfere with what can be, and should be, the best years of your life.” Next up: 50 Real Quotes About Menopause That Will Resonate With Every Woman
Sources
Vanessa Ford, co-founder of Menolabs, a company that specializes in natural supplements and products
