Antoinette (52) is married, has three children, and is already a grandmother. Alongside her family life, she works as a dentist in a clinic—a demanding job that brings her a great deal of satisfaction. At around the age of 46, she suddenly began to notice the onset of menopause, both physically and mentally. This also had an impact on her relationship with her husband. “That caused me a lot of stress. I didn’t want our relationship to suffer because of it.”
Once I realised the changes were having an impact, my motivation grew. I started looking for more ways to manage my symptoms.
When Antoinette entered menopause, she experienced several symptoms that tested not only herself but also her relationship. Antoinette: “I had hot flushes that hit me out of nowhere, my mood could change in an instant, and I had almost no desire for intimacy anymore. It felt like I was trapped in a body I didn’t recognise.”
For partners, it can sometimes be challenging to provide the right support to a woman who doesn’t feel like herself and no longer recognises her own body. “My husband was very patient, but I could see the frustration in his eyes when I got upset over a small comment or when I rejected him when he tried to get close to me. At a certain point, he didn’t know what to do anymore,” she says candidly.
Antoinette wasn’t feeling well, and it was taking its toll on her. She wanted to regain her old self, including her energetic body. “I decided to do everything I could to ease my discomfort, for myself and for my husband. I wanted to save our relationship. The first thing I did was change my diet. I read a lot about the influence of nutrition on your hormonal balance, and this was something I could easily start with.”
These changes included eating more fruits and vegetables and avoiding coffee and alcohol as much as possible. “At a certain point, I noticed that sugar, coffee, and alcohol affected my mood and my hot flushes. But I have to admit, giving up these things was harder than I thought,” she says honestly.
“Next, I sought advice and started taking dietary supplements specifically designed to alleviate menopausal symptoms. I took black cohosh, magnesium, omega-3, and vitamin D,” she explains.
Black cohosh is a medicinal plant that, due to its oestrogen-like effects, can help reduce hot flushes and mood swings*. Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system, and omega-3 and vitamin D can also help improve mood*.
The result? “After a few months, I noticed the changes. My hot flushes occurred less frequently, and my mood became more stable. I started feeling more like myself again, and the spark between my husband and me slowly returned,” she says with a smile.
On her sister’s advice, Antoinette also tried to find more peace, which she found challenging due to her busy job. “I always thought the hustle and stress were just part of life, but when I started doing breathing exercises, I found more calm. My sister gave me an interesting book with many useful exercises. I was amazed that something as simple as breathing could have such a significant effect.”
“It was the combination of all the small steps, the healthy choices, the supplements, and the relaxation exercises that helped me get through menopause and saved my relationship,” Antoinette shares. “I now feel more at peace and have learnt that my husband and I can get through any tough time as long as we listen to each other and keep communicating. That’s also how my desire for intimacy returned.”
I hope other women find support and inspiration in my story. If I can do it, so can you.
Still, Antoinette wants to emphasise that it wasn’t all smooth sailing: “There were plenty of days when I still felt awful, despite all the effort I was putting in. Sometimes I wondered what I was doing it all for, but I’m glad I kept going.”
Her advice to other women? “Seek help! Whether it’s your partner or a specialist, that’s up to you, but you don’t have to do it alone. Someone else can give you the energy and willpower to keep going when you’re feeling down.”
*Health claim(s) pending approval by the European Commission.
