Did you know, women spend more than one-third of their lifetime in perimenopause and menopause? However, most healthcare providers receive little to no training on how to best to support women during this stage of their lives.
Women are unprepared for the physical changes, treatments, and stigma around perimenopause and menopause.
Lack of education
“The lack of education around perimenopause is staggering,” says Carolyn Marshall, a Registered Nurse and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) in Sudbury. “Many women don’t even recognize when they’re entering the perimenopause stage, simply because no one has talked to them about it.”
Healthcare professionals often gloss over perimenopause. Carolyn adds, “The response can be dismissive leaving women wondering if their symptoms are normal or something more serious.” A lack of perimenopause and menopause experts, especially in Northern Ontario may leave women feeling isolated, confused, and frustrated by the lack of options available.
Carolyn Marshall: The Mama Coach
Carolyn Marshall also holds a master’s degree in nursing and is one of only four Menopause Society Certified Practitioners in Sudbury. For almost a decade she worked in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units at Health Sciences North and spent her last 5 years at HSN as a nurse educator. But Carolyn’s personal passion has always been learning about women’s health and continuously seeing women dismissed in the health care system spiked an interest in peri/menopause care.
In 2021, Carolyn resigned from her nursing position. She opened a private practice in Sudbury, with support from The Mama Coach, a North America-wide organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and families. She says, “I help women understand what’s happening in their bodies and tailor care to address specific challenges, in a compassionate and non-judgmental manner.” Carolyn Marshall’s is the only Mama Coach franchise in Northeastern Ontario and her service area extends from Sudbury to North Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste Marie, and Manitoulin Island.
How to prepare for perimenopause
Perimenopause, often called “the change before the change,” is when hormone levels, especially estrogen start to fluctuate. This stage can begin as early as 35 and typically lasts 4 to 10 years. Carolyn stresses, “There is no magic treatment that will allow women to skip over this transitional period and many women often don’t recognize when perimenopause starts.”
Women might notice symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and irritability. Carolyn says, “There are also more subtle symptoms like dry skin, thinning hair, and changes in libido. Every woman’s experience is unique, so while one person might breeze through perimenopause, others may find it to be disruptive.”
Suffering should not be a part of a woman’s healthcare plan
Women know that perimenopause is coming, but when it arrives, it can often feel like navigating through a fog without a map. Carolyn wants women to know there are qualified, educated, and empathetic experts who can support women through this transition. “Just because women are entering perimenopause, it doesn’t mean that their life is over; they do not have to suffer.”
Carolyn provides her patients with evidence-based holistic care. She says, “The most common issue I’m seeing with perimenopausal clients is that they completely ignore their own needs. And ignoring those needs can lead to an avalanche of symptoms, like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and weight gain that are often brushed off as ‘just part of aging,”
Big lifestyle changes
Navigating the whirlwind changes of perimenopause doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Carolyn says something as simple as lifestyle adjustments can make a world of difference. “I see a lot of women not eating properly, not moving enough, and not sleeping well. Not taking care of themselves contributes to the negative effects.”
Small tweaks won’t cut it; perimenopause calls for bigger shifts.
- It’s time to start prioritizing sleep. Quality sleep can make all the difference in balancing mood and energy levels.
- Regular exercise is also key, not just for managing weight but for boosting mood and easing anxiety or depressive symptoms
- Diet is extremely important. Lean into a diet rich in whole foods to help manage symptoms and reduce inflammation. Diet culture is not helpful in this age group, and more often than not, Carolyn sees women not eating enough, especially their protein intake
Patients should also get medical screening, as estrogen depletions come with other health problems. Carolyn says, “Family physicians and gynecologists are thrilled with my lifestyle-change first approach because menopause is not about taking a pill and expecting to feel better.”
Carolyn’s Care Plan
Carolyn Marshall’s supportive guidance with lifestyle changes and personalized advice helps women take control of their own health. Her plan includes The Mama Coach model,
- Integration
- Nutrition – Mindful Removals
- Wellness Factors
- Nutrition Additions
- Movement
Initial assessments can take up to 90 minutes. She says, “When I work with women, I assess what they’re experiencing in a holistic manner. I educate them on what is happening to their body and why. And then I make a very specific plan to address the concern and improve their health.”
This testimonial confirms a satisfied patient. “Carolyn is knowledgeable and passionate about helping women feel better and feel heard about their transition to menopause. I highly recommend her services.”
Contact a professional
Carolyn Marshall helps women make lifestyle changes, manage symptoms, and ease anxiety by helping them understanding what is normal and what might require a closer look. Carolyn empowers women to make informed decisions about their health.
Optimizing your health now, will help manage perimenopausal symptoms later.
For more information and to book an appointment, contact Carolyn Marshall at (705) 988-0159; Email: [email protected]; Website