If you’re like me, and the 40% of women under 40 who go through chemo, you probably hadn’t even thought about menopause before you realized it was coming at you like a train (thanks to your treatments). Ah, cancer, the gift that keeps on giving.
Although early onset menopause wasn’t something you were anticipating happening to you, it’s a lot more common than you would think among women who undergo chemotherapy. Studies have found that up to 40% of women under age 40 go into permanent menopause as a result of chemotherapy, while 70-90% of women over 40 do.
Even if you don’t go into menopause because of treatment, an increasing number of women with hormone positive cancers are taking estrogen blocking drugs that can mimic many of the side effects of menopause like hot flashes and incontinence.
Menopause can present differently to different people but usually includes some combination of hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes and irritability, weight gain, loss of sex drive, and incontinence. Not everyone will have every symptom and the degree of severity of symptoms can vary widely between individuals.
Not to worry, though, we’ve got you covered with our curated list of menopause must haves from the OneVillage community to help you feel your best.
Innovo
A large number of women going through pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or other hormonal change experience loss of bladder control, which result from hormonal changes that affect muscle strength in your pelvic area. The best way to address incontinence is head on through correcting the root cause of the issue, a weakened pelvic floor.
Innovo’s FDA approved shorts deliver a painless electric pulse from one side of your leg to the other, causing a pelvic contraction that works your pelvic floor muscles equivalently to 180 perfect kegels per session. 90% of users reported improvement in incontinence over the first 4 weeks, with the majority of users being labeled as dry or nearly dry after the recommended 12 week session.
Panty Liners
If you can’t commit to a pelvic floor training program to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, save yourself the embarrassment of needing to replace your underpants after the unexpected sneeze, cough, or laugh. We love these because of their clean ingredients and, ability to wick moisture away quickly.
Bamboo Pajamas
Menopause and hormone changes are common culprits for night sweats, hot flashes, and other disturbed sleep patterns. One of the best investments you can make for yourself or for someone else as a gift is a set of cooling bamboo pajamas, which are perfect for hot sleepers or people who are prone to night sweats.
Bamboo Blanket
Keeping your sleeping environment as cool as possible is key to getting a good night’s sleep. We recommend getting the lightest, most breathable fabrics possible for all of your linens, and in most cases you’re going to find that bamboo is your best option!
Membrasin Vulva Cream
A hormone, fragrance and estrogen free moisturizing cream that nurtures intimate areas, and alleviates symptoms due to dryness from menopause, hysterectomy, breast cancer treatment, feminine atrophy, and more. We love this cream because of everything we’ve tried, it feels the most like natural moisture
Bonafide Relazin
Although naturopaths have used it for years, many oncologists are starting to promote the benefits of bee pollen, which balances body temperature to keep you cool and dry day and night. Stay breezy with cooling relief from hot flashes and night sweats, thanks to Relizen which uses plant-based ingredients to provide relief without the use of hormones, harsh chemicals or soy.
Revaree Vaginal Dryness Cream
Revaree provides powerful, hormone-free relief from vaginal dryness, with an easy-to-use vaginal insert that renews your body’s moisture for everyday comfort and intimacy. Hyaluronic acid, the primary ingredient in Revaree, is found naturally throughout the body; this humectant rejuvenates vaginal tissue and replenishes moisture to provide you lasting relief.
Tart Cherry Gummies
If menopause is causing you to toss and turn at night – eat tart cherries! Tart cherries are high in melatonin, which helps you fall asleep. They are also bursting with Vitamin C – an antioxidant that helps protect bones and prevent hot flashes. Full of phytoestrogens, tart cherry removes excess toxins from the body that cause hot flashes and irritability.
If you're experiencing early-onset menopause due to chemotherapy, we are here to support you! Reach out to support@onevillage.io with the email subject 'menopause' to get personalized support from our team of carers.
