About Menopause and Body Change

It may sneak up on you when you are not paying attention, but your body will change once you've entered peri-menopause and then proceed into menopause, which is the permanent cessation of your menstrual periods. You may not gain weight, according to the scale, but you may notice that your weight has shifted. Your butt and legs might actually be smaller but your mid section is bigger. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is fairly typical but it's not a good thing. Excess fat in the belly area increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

Belly Fat

• Women find that fat tends to collect in their mid-section during middle age. Belly fat is not only the blubber that you can grab with your hands, but it is also visceral fat that lies deep inside the abdomen. This fat surrounds the abdominal organs and is not good for your health. Hormonal changes may contribute to the way your body is now breaking down and storing fat, which leads to excess weight gain. You must keep in mind that now is not the time to become sedentary. A slowing metabolism and lack of physical activity when you are menopausal will worse the situation.

Breasts

• Doctors may tell you that breasts will decrease in size after menopause because of a woman's estrogen deficiency, however, women may tell you otherwise. Many menopausal women report an increase in breast size during peri-menopause and menopause. This may be attributed to weight gain or the degree of hormonal influences on the breast, according to Breasthealth, the Women's Health Resource. If you are undergoing hormone replacement therapy and taking synthetic estrogen and progesterone, this may make your breasts bigger than they used to be. Many menopausal women experience sagging breasts. This is due to age and loss of estrogen. Your breasts may be tender and sore, which during peri-menopause can be caused by estrogen dominance. Menopausal women are inclined to develop fibrocystic breasts, which can be very tender, sore and lumpy.

Vaginal Dryness

• You may notice that your vagina no longer lubricates easily. This goes along with being menopausal. The vaginal tissues have become thin and dry. Author and menopause expert Susun
  Weed recommends trying homeopathic remedies to resolve this problem, as well as practicing yoga and eating more nutritiously. She also notes that if your adrenal glands, which are a back-up source for estrogen, have been depleted and exhausted by consumption or use of white sugar, coffee, alcohol, steroids or cortisone creams and/or stress, this contributes to vaginal dryness.

Skin

• Skin ages and thins as we become older. You may notice more sags and crepiness. This, too, is caused by lack of estrogen. You must keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun. Invest in some good creams that are specifically targeted toward older skin.

Joints and Muscles

• You may discover that you are achier and sorer than ever before. Weed notes that menopause can leave you feeling like you've been beaten. Muscles react to hormonal changes by getting sore. Joints get stiff. A calcium and mineral deficiency can make your bones hurt. Exercise will help you maintain your flexibility and range of motion. Weed also suggests eating yogurt on a regular basis because it strengthens and nourishes immunity. She recommends using herbal infusions, such as stinging nettle and comfrey leaf, rather than drinking coffee and sodas. She notes that magnesium is important in preventing pain in the connective tissues and muscles. You can get magnesium by eating whole grains, leafy greens, legume and herbal infusions such as oatstraw and nettle.