A Broken Vagina?! + Myths, Muscles & Other Midlife BS

What’s this got to do with entrepreneurship??... LOTS! I promise.

Listen, this is gonna be a really vulnerable post. But I’m putting it out there for all the ladies who follow me, both young and mature, it doesn’t matter what age you are, this is information YOU NEED TO KNOW and be prepared for!

A little context…

In 2018 I was 39 and my monthly periods changed drastically… I developed severe cramps, heavy flow (like never before), clotting, major bloating, and lots of other issues. This sparked a 2-year long journey of trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I share the entire story on this episode of my podcast. Trust me, you should grab a girlfriend, and your spouse, and go listen to it now!

Long story short, in 2021, I had a partial hysterectomy. And by the end of 2023, I had trouble regulating my body temperature, which is one of the signs of menopause. However, several doctors told me I was “too young” to be experiencing menopause symptoms. They were wrong.

Immediately after Christmas was over, I did an extensive hormone blood panel and consulted with a hormone therapist who specifically focuses on menopausal symptoms in women. Well, a few weeks ago, I found out I was right, there was definitely something wrong. She confirmed that I was INDEED in menopause based on my hormone levels.

After she discussed my hormone levels with me, everything clicked. You guys, THIS IS WHY I've been struggling to not only stay fit and keep my hair from thinning, but also why I can’t stay focused, have been lacking motivation, and can’t remember anything!

There are two main hormones your body stops producing when you go through menopause: Estrogen and Testosterone. This hormonal shift can lead to various symptoms, including irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, thinning or loss of hair, dry skin, premature wrinkles, decreased libido and so much more! Guys, this is awful! Why have we not found a cure for this yet???

And that’s not the end of it… The reduction in estrogen levels is associated with long-term health impacts, such as an increased risk of osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, and cardiovascular disease. And the decrease in testosterone causes loss of bone density, sexual function, mood swings, impacts your metabolism and ability to build muscle and lose fat.

So what does ALL of this have to do with entrepreneurship… well let me esplain!

As someone who has been in entrepreneurship for over a DECADE now, who has put in the time, hustle, sweat, and tears- it’s easy to PUSH through the bullshit and get stuff done. Because that’s what we’re told to do! We’ve become accustomed to pushing through discomfort because that’s what entrepreneurship is. It’s a constant journey of ebbs and flows. BUT, what if I told you that one day, you would hit a brick wall? That you would lack concentration and focus? And question your entire well-being? Well, that’s exactly what happened to ME and has happened to women all over the world!

In your twenties and thirties, you feel energized, excited, full of passion and creativity, but it’s those exact same people who STRUGGLE the most in their 40s. Because all of a sudden their bodies are going through MASSIVE changes that impact their entire well-being. It’s like going through a 3rd round of puberty!

Every time, I asked a close friend who had gone through this, a family member, or a doctor, they all told me the same thing, “Oh, this is just something women go through,” BUT friend- it doesn’t have to be this way!

If I never took it upon myself to do the research, ask questions, leverage my network of friends and family members, and NOT accept basic ass answers that didn’t answer my questions and concerns- I would be just like 90% of the women in the world who are struggling every single day with their mental health, sexual health, and overall wellbeing. Because AGAIN, this is what we’re told is “normal.”

Friend, I’m pleading with you… Pay attention to your body, advocate for yourself and your health, and DO your own research and find answers. Cause if you aren’t going to advocate for your OWN body, who else will?

We should ALL know this information!

I swore I was going crazy. I was questioning myself, I couldn’t focus, and I would have to ask my team what I was supposed to be doing on a daily basis because I had severe brain fog. Friend, if any of this resonates with you, please send me a DM @janellecopeland, and let’s have a deeper conversation because I am now taking it upon myself to educate ALL women about this, especially women in entrepreneurship!

Let me know if this resonates with you and THANK YOU for listening to my TedTalk about vaginal health!

Xo, Janelle