Guys! It Is More than Hot Flashes

Although Silver & Grace is dedicated to women over forty, I truly believe in getting a balanced perspective on this stage of life. To that end, I invited Vonzel Sawyer to provide his view on menopause.

Vonzel rose to the challenge, and what follows is incredible advice for the men in our lives.

Ladies, I highly recommend you point your husbands to this article. … or print it off and just happen to have it lying around in a conspicuous place *smile*

As a woman grows in experience, time, loveliness, wisdom, as she is moving into her second wind, a milestone is reached. It is as significant in her life, and as remarkable as the onset of puberty.

Yes. You guessed it. This is about menopause.

Now what does this have to do with the guys?

There are times when a man looks back on a relationship and finds missed opportunities to make quantum leaps to impress his wife as a man. Well this is a new day and a new opportunity! Let’s take a trip and learn what happens during this time; then how to use your ability to positively influence the outcome.

Start out with the 3 Never’s:

• Never ever under any circumstances panic
• Never ever fake what you don’t know
• Never ever forget this is your wife’s first time too

So what is this menopause all about? “…-what many women refer to as the “change of life” that signals the end of a woman’s reproductive years” (http://www.womenshealth.gov/borders/womenshealth , article Understanding Menopause, paragraph 1).

As a man that wants to maintain his relationship and enhance it during this transition the saying is true, “to be forewarned is to be forearmed”. While you cannot control the internal changes you can decide how to respond to the symptoms when you know what they are.

Here is a list:

• Irregular vaginal bleeding, abnormal bleeding, unpredictable, excessive bleeding
• Hot flashes & night sweats; a feeling of warmth that spreads over the body
• Vaginal symptoms vaginal dryness, itching, or irritation and/or pain with sexual intercourse
• Urinary symptoms tissues of the vagina becomes drier, thinner, and less elastic; a sudden urge to urinate may occur during straining, coughing, or laughing
• Emotional and cognitive symptoms of fatigue, memory problems, irritability, and rapid changes in mood
• Body weight gain is not common but possible
• Skin Texture acne, wrinkles
• Sexual motivation decrease in desire for sexual intercourse

This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms. See an awesome article on this site You aren’t crazy, you just have menopause anxiety

So what can you do to make the transition easier and be your ladies hero? Here are a few suggestions:

• Make it easy for her to talk to you about it by not treating her as if there is something “wrong”. Treat this as a transition not a permanent condition
• Be flexible, laugh, cry, let her know you are there for her
• Continue to educate yourself about menopause. Read books, consult medical professionals
• Remember it is not a women issue; it is a relationship issue
• Be understanding but don’t be a fake
• Give her room and don’t smother her, but be observant
• Do let her know she is wanted, needed, and appreciated
• Know that what makes her comfortable one day may be uncomfortable the next

Be aware that there are recommended ways of dealing with symptoms that are out of control and your physician should be consulted. More physicians are becoming knowledgeable in use of natural treatments for systems.

Now you know it is a little more than just “hot flashes”!

More information!

Vonzel Sawyer is a life coach, minister, husband and philosopher (father of five and grandfather of eight) who believe that combining wisdom with practical application allows a person to be both maxamized and magnified. When combined this becomes the power of what Vonzel calls a Maxafication-ized life.

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