Hello sisters! Here’s a full, engaging, script for todays class. It’s structured, clear, and grounded in evidence. I hope you find it warm and relatable for our community of mature women. Menopause: How It Shows Up, How It Feels, and How We Navigate It Together 1. How Menopause Starts Menopause isn’t a single moment. It’s a transition with phases: Perimenopause (the long runway) - Can begin in the 40s, sometimes late 30s - Ovarian hormone levels (oestrogen + progesterone) fluctuate wildly - Cycles become irregular: shorter, longer, heavier, lighter - Symptoms often start before periods stop Menopause (the milestone) - Defined as 12 consecutive months without a period - Average age in the UK: 51 Post‑menopause - After the 12‑month mark - Symptoms may ease or continue depending on the individual 2. What You Might Feel: The Symptom Spectrum Every woman’s experience is different. Some breeze through; others feel like their body has been hijacked. Common physical symptoms - Hot flushes and night sweats - Sleep disruption - Irregular or heavy periods - Vaginal dryness or discomfort - Joint pain - Weight redistribution (especially around the middle) - Heart palpitations - Headaches or migraines Common emotional and cognitive symptoms - Anxiety - Low mood or irritability - Loss of confidence - Brain fog - Memory lapses - Feeling overwhelmed These symptoms can be intermittent, unpredictable, and sometimes dismissed—making women feel unheard or “dramatic” when they’re actually experiencing hormonal turbulence. 3. Impact on Mental Health Hormonal shifts influence neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which means: - Mood swings can feel sudden and intense - Anxiety may appear for the first time - Existing mental health conditions can worsen - Sleep disruption amplifies emotional sensitivity - Many women describe feeling “not like myself” This is not a character flaw. It’s physiology. 4. Impact on Family and Relationships Menopause doesn’t happen in isolation.