The Versalie Ambassadors are a group of everyday people who are currently experiencing the ups and downs of the menopausal transition. They’ve been working with us to help build Versalie. Their experience and insights help us test our ideas, learn, and improve what we were creating. Their stories have the power to create real change.

We hope you see yourself in their stories — their symptoms, their highs and lows — and find that you’re not alone in this beautiful (but sometimes chaotic) phase of life.

Versalie Ambassador – Sandra, Age 50

Perimenopause, started at age 48

4+ symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, mood swings, joint pain

When and how did you first realize you were in perimenopause?

The first thing was waking up in a wet bed, sweating, night sweats. The first time I woke up thinking ‘What’s going on?’. When I was bringing it up, my sister said she did too. I have friends who also experience hot flashes/night sweats. It would come up in conversations which led me to believe maybe that’s what’s going on with me. I’m waking up drenched. Something has to be done about this! It comes and goes.

And I'm starting to notice that my cycles don’t have a pattern anymore. It used to be every month but starting last year, it might be 3 months. It’ll come and then it will disappear again for a long stretch, 45 days, 60 days. So I’m thinking something is going on.

My moods recently have changed. I know it’s not PMS, because I don’t even know when my cycle is coming anymore. I don’t know what it is, it’s just my mood. I’m angry, I’m sad, I might just burst out crying. Speaking to other women and learning more, I’m not the only one feeling this way.

You mentioned a few of your symptoms. Can you talk more about them and how they’ve affected you?

The whole cycle thing drives me crazy. I don’t know when it’s coming and then...here it is! I’m used to the routine of knowing every 28 days it will come. Now it’s like, “Where you at?”

When I get hot, I’m not sweating, but I get super hot. Imagine being out on a date and just getting really hot. That’s crazy!

The joint pains aren’t extreme, but I’ve noticed them when I’m at work. Maybe I need to start stretching in the morning.

What have you tried to do so far to manage your symptoms? Is there anything you’d like to try?

For the night sweats, I got a cooling blanket and a pillow. That helped a whole lot.

I have to talk myself down when I’m angry. Like, why am I this angry? What’s prompting this? Where's this coming from?

I would like to find something to also help with the night sweats and the mood swings. But I haven’t tried anything else yet.

Have you talked to a medical professional about your perimenopause symptoms? How’d that go?

It didn’t seem right to me that I was skipping cycles like that. I spoke with my primary care physician about my cycles — whether it’s a sign of perimenopause or menopause. She said “No” and just blew it off. I don’t think she has training in menopause.

Did anyone talk about menopause growing up? Did anyone talk to you about menopause before it happened?

Growing up, when my grandmother was going through menopause, it was known as the “change of life” and I didn’t understand much about it then.

I remember my mom starting her journey in her 50s. It wasn't a big thing with my mom. It was just like, ‘Okay, Mom's starting to go through menopause’. When my mom was going through her menopause, she didn’t do a lot of complaining, but she did have mood swings. We knew to get out of dodge. I only knew of her having hot flashes and mood swings, but she didn’t discuss it much.

I was prepared for my period. My mom sat down and talked with me about it. But no one stopped and said, “You’re going to go through menopause”.

What role have your family, friends, and partner played in your menopause journey? Have you seen any changes in those relationships?

I speak with my friends that I know are starting to go through menopause, having symptoms like I'm having, like the hot flashes. With my friends, it’s just like regular girl talk. Somebody mentions they’re having hot flashes and others might mention they’re having that too.

I’m comfortable talking to my sister and friends. My mom as well, knowing she’s going to tell me to suck it up. I’ll be okay, lol.

What I wish I knew: What would you tell your younger self about menopause if you could go back in time?

All of it, LOL. Just tell us what’s going on and be truthful about it. Everybody has different symptoms.

Don’t be scared! Just know that when the change of life comes, aka menopause, it’s going to knock you down some days, but you’re going to be okay.

Are there any misconceptions, myths, or stigmas about menopause that you want to debunk or clarify?

You’re getting older, but you’re not old. People will say, ‘You’re going through menopause, you’re old.” No, because it can start in your 40s, so it starts when you’re still young.

I think before you start speaking on something, be more educated about it.

What advice would you give to others starting or going through the menopausal transition?

Everybody’s body is different. It’s also not the end of the world. It's just a natural part of life, and it's something that we can all get through together.

I’d also tell them about Versalie. Go there and start reading up about it. I like to research stuff anyway and this is a good site to go to.

And if you need somebody to talk to, I'm here. I can direct you to some other people if you need more help. You’re not alone because we are all going to go through this at some point.

What's an unexpected improvement in life now, as you’re aging and going through perimenopause?

This is going to sound crazy because many people are saying the opposite, that they’re losing their sex drive, my sex drive hasn’t gone away. It’s been great, it’s been better. But then I think how long is this going to last? Is it going to go away when I get deeper into menopause?

Why did you want to become a Versalie Ambassador?

I’m glad to be a part of it because it’s some help on the journey. As I get older, I’m going to be going through menopause — I don’t know how long — but it’s going to be a journey. But to learn new things, speak with other women, and hear the doctors speaking, it gives you more insight on what’s to come.

What’s your favorite part about being an Ambassador?

My favorite part about being an Ambassador is connecting with other women that can relate and building new relationships with them. Where we can learn, uplift, and encourage one another on this journey.

What’s the biggest change you’ve made since joining as an Ambassador? What’s one thing you’ve learned about menopause that you think is critical to share with others?

Since joining as an Ambassador, I’m starting to pay attention to more things.

I think the biggest change for me is just being more open to talking about it. And I think that's really important because I think a lot of women suffer in silence, and they don't realize that there are other women going through the same thing.