Talking about menopause seems to be taboo. That seems so silly since millions of women have lived and thrived through the stages of menopause.

It seemed only right to ask women who have gone through menopause what they would pass down to their younger self, in hopes to inspire future generations of women!

I asked women around the country the question, “What would you tell your younger-self about menopause?” Here are their thoughtful and frank responses.

All the women were right.... it happens earlier than you think but it is not the change-all be-all of your contribution to the planet.  Wisdom can be power. It can be conceited. All should pay attention to All. Daphne

Just because you don’t have hot flashes, your body is still impacted. Get a medical advisor who asks broad questions and listens to you. Leslie

HRT rocks!  It helped my sleep, mood, energy, horrible hot flashes 24x7, and sex drive. Nav

Lower estrogen leads to more visceral fat in abdomen.  Keep moving! Logan

You won’t always be a care giver! Keep dreaming-there will be a time that you can speak your truth whenever you want to not only when you are in pms!

I love the freedom given from not having those younger woman hormones. I had come to notice I was more truthful with feeling right before my period. Now those feelings are much more accessible. JoanMarie

Don’t freak out when your body doesn’t function like it used to; Take extra care of yourself!

The first thing is the weight gain and not being able to lose it as easily. Workouts can’t be as intense; I have to slow down!  And it’s ok to age!!

One of the ways I take better care of myself is not weighing myself all the time. I’m trying to listen to my body, how I feel after eating things, and how my clothes fit instead of wanting that number on the scale to go down. It’s very freeing! Janet

It is indeed ok to age. In fact, it is a privilege. Dale

Everybody has a different experience. Don't fret about things, it doesn't help.

Don't be afraid to share your story and, most of all, listen to others. Most of the time when we speak our stories and listen to others, it takes away most of the negativity and anxiety everyone is experiencing. Sharing helps us feel connected and helps us to feel some control over something we know will happen.

Don't be afraid. Fall into step with mother nature and go with (or without) the flow. Lol Sue

It will last 4 Ev-Er. Do the acupuncture sooner! Leslie

You can but pretty panties and they stay pretty!  Marla

Take more silent time in nature. I did a lot of what friends suggested. One thing, besides night sweats and hot flashes, was being in a room with a lot of people talking used to sound so loud and I would become anxious. I didn’t know it was okay to step away. Mary

Be gentle with yourself. My brief answer here is…treat yourself like a beautiful orchid i.e., as much as possible avoid stressful situations, try not to overextend yourself (sometimes that can be hard to do) eat well, remember to stay hydrated, hug yourself often (literally) don't be afraid of a good cry, it can feel 'cleansing' and remember you are not alone in this. Dale

Be glad you're a man and don't have to go through it. Haha Honestly, men do go through a change but no one talks about it, calls it a name, or even recognizes that there is a change in men too. I guess I'd prepare myself for the wave that's coming, and it is coming, and I wouldn't listen to myself because I'd be too young to appreciate the wisdom I'm passing down to myself. Haha  Jeff

Wow this question really left me thinking!! Even though I'm not at that stage, and I know that one day it will come! I think that when you're going through it, you can't even think about how to comfort or pamper your body because your mind is not connected with your body when you're at that stage and of course all bodies are different, and it happens to everyone in a different way. My mom did not have a good time in this whole process.  Veronica

I can wear white pants and clothing every day. Yay! Ann

“It started early and slowly for me. It caught me a bit by surprise and took me some time to understand that the change had started. I always thought it would be sudden and definitely not gradual.

Above all, whatever it’s like for you, it’s ok. Take care of yourself, slow down, and like any big health changes make sure you have a good team of healers and providers to help carry you through when rough patches get to rough. xo Love, Mom” Meme Pûyé

Get some education about symptoms and options for help. A good functional medicine or holistic provider. Kare

"I don't know.. is it starting for me? I think so, but maybe I'm just not keeping good track of things because I'm busy. I mean, really, I'm too young. Right? I'm not even __ years old, RIGHT? That's waaay too young to worry about THOSE types of things," said so many of us. Daphne

Be more patient and show compassion with people going through it because it’s real! That’s what I would have told myself. And wear sunblock always. Christi

It’s going to happen earlier than you think. Consider freezing your eggs. Jeryl

Embrace the experience as I find when I resist it, my mind controls me. And lifestyle matters, potentially more than ever: quiet time, nutrition, and movement. Denise

I can clearly remember being about 20 and sitting with my mom who would have been about 50 at the time. My mom never talked about ‘women’s issues’ so this was memorable. She said to me, “just in case I’m not around when you are my age, I have one thing to say to you. Take. The. Drugs. “ Janice

How about you? What would you tell your younger-self about menopause?? Leave a comment to inspire future generations and normalize the menopause transition.

Nicole Vienneau MSN, RN, NC-BC

Nicole combines 20+ years of nursing experience with 30+ years of fitness + health coaching to uncover your most authentic expression of wellbeing.

Nicole is navigating menopause too, and is learning to accommodate her life through these magnificent stages of aging.

She is a board-certified integrative nurse coach, menopause fitness specialist, brain health trainer, and a group fitness, yoga, and tai chi instructor. She specializes in protecting your health through habits and behaviors that support your brain and body health at Blue Monarch Health, PLLC.

Nicole is passionate about everything she does, and especially loves creating safe, restorative communities. She loves exploring nature, finding solace with her cat-babies and traveling with her awesome husband.