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Menopause isn’t “just a phase” to push through—it’s a mystery tour with no refunds. Newsflash: For many, this isn’t a brief pit stop; it can feel more like a long-haul flight with unexpected turbulence. Here is more to the point:

Meet Estrogen: Your Body’s Ex-CEO (Currently on Extended Leave)

Before the great hormonal resignation, estrogen was running the show. This wasn’t just about periods; estrogen had its hands in everything, with receptors scattered throughout your brain, bones, heart, skin, and more. It helped regulate your mood, kept your internal thermostat steady, maintained bone density, offered some cardiovascular perks, managed the reproductive system, and even contributed to skin health. When the ovaries drastically cut production during menopause, the whole corporation feels the shake-up. It’s a systemic change, not just a reproductive one.

One of my personal estrogen’s greatest hits? It is the Personal Sauna that persists on and off unexpectedly while sleeping. The brain’s thermostat (hypothalamus) is going haywire because estrogen isn’t there to keep it calibrated. The thermoneutral zone shrinks, so tiny temperature shifts trigger massive “cool down NOW” responses. These flashes can feel like that one contestant on Big Brother VIP (Albanian edition per my mom) – you think they’re finally gone, voted out and evicted, but then they just keep showing up, uninvited and ready to cause drama at the most inconvenient moments. And despite what some might imply, this isn’t necessarily a short-term gig; hot flashes can persist for years, sometimes even decades. Oftentimes, while lying wide awake, it makes me seriously consider designing a breakaway night costume – maybe with Velcro seams? – for those moments I swing wildly from ‘surface of the sun’ hot to ‘arctic air conditioning-at work-cold in the span of five minutes.

Menopause is a profound biological shift, and the symptoms are real. The dismissal is also real, and it’s okay to be angry about it. But sometimes, finding the humor in the absurdity can and has been a lifeline. So, trust your body. Advocate for yourself. Find your support system. And remember, laughing through the chaos isn’t minimizing it; it’s surviving it with style – however long it takes.

Woman to Woman