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MENOPAUSE IS HAVING ITS MOMENT By Amy Lynn-Cramer

Amy Lynn-Cramer

Local experts work to share information to improve lives



Panelists at the “Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ” symposium. L to R: Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, Dr. Sharon Malone, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Anna Barbieri, and Juli Auclair Lipof.
Panelists at the “Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ” symposium. L to R: Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, Dr. Sharon Malone, Dr. Somi Javaid, Dr. Anna Barbieri, and Juli Auclair Lipof.

If you spend time around the 40s-to-50s crowd in our towns, chances are you’ve heard a lot about menopause. From the recent Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ symposium to conversations at sporting events, birthday parties and even book clubs, it’s a hot (pun intended) topic that’s becoming nearly impossible to ignore.


Founding members of “Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ.” L to R: Stacey Futterman Tauriello, April McKenzie and Allison Kalsched.
Founding members of “Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ.” L to R: Stacey Futterman Tauriello, April McKenzie and Allison Kalsched.

Beyond the booming multimillion-dollar health and wellness industry and the content explosion fueled by social media, high-profile celebrities are stepping up to share their menopause journeys. By doing so, they’re breaking through barriers that once made the topic too taboo to discuss amongst a mixed crowd.


Allison Kalsched, a women’s fitness specialist, is one of the founders of “Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ”
Allison Kalsched, a women’s fitness specialist, is one of the founders of “Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ”

“Menopause, a subject that has been glossed over in the medical establishment and in society for years, is now receiving attention, research and funding,” says Allison Kalsched, a women’s fitness specialist and one of the founders of Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ, which held a symposium in January 2025 at the Maplewood Country Club.


“The information that is available can be confusing, and that was the impetus behind our symposium,” Kalsched says. “We saw a void in our community for information and resources about the menopause transition and engaged local, regional, and national experts to come together to help our neighbors in Maplewood and South Orange forge a path through the information.”

Recognizing the importance of continuing this conversation, Matters Magazine spoke with a handful of women who are currently going through perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. We also posted a Google form on Maplewood Moms and SOMa Advertising, Media, and Entertainment Network Facebook pages to explore gaps in communication surrounding this topic. The goal was to provide women with an opportunity to share their experiences and feelings, while providing men with an anonymous and safe space to ask questions to deepen their understanding.


Tara Roscioli, a Maplewood-based functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and certified holistic health coach, was a featured speaker at the “Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ” symposium.
Tara Roscioli, a Maplewood-based functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and certified holistic health coach, was a featured speaker at the “Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ” symposium.
“Just as every woman is unique, so is her menopausal journey,” says Tara Roscioli, a Maplewood-based functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and certified holistic health coach who was a featured speaker at the Not Your Mother’s Menopause NJ symposium. “The severity and duration of symptoms depend on a variety of factors, including genetics, hormonal variability, lifestyle factors, and access to quality healthcare.”

One man wrote, “I thought menopause was over once my wife stopped getting her period.”


“The best thing a husband can do to support his spouse is to educate himself on not only the emotional and physiological symptoms of this period of life but to remind his wife that she is not crazy and that these symptoms aren’t in her head,” says Roscioli.

“Surprisingly, we often think of menopause as a phase, but it’s actually only one day,” explains Dr. Somi Javaid, the founder of HerMD and featured speaker at the symposium. “Once a woman has gone without a menstrual period for 12 months, she transitions to postmenopause. This is where she can expect to spend 40 percent of her life, and the symptoms don’t just stop.”


“Menopause is a beast,” says one of the women. “All of these bizarre things are happening to my body. It’s almost like I’m possessed. I can’t explain how I feel and why I’m feeling it!”


Another woman adds, “I’m gaining a ton of weight (while working out five days a week), I have insane hot flashes when everyone else is cold, and my hair is falling out.”


“Think of perimenopause as the hormonal elevator ride or swinging pendulum, leading up to menopause,” Javaid says. “Symptoms like hot flashes, low libido, insomnia, weight gain, and brain fog are common during this time.”


With that in mind, one of the most heartfelt questions came from a man who asked, “How can I best support my partner through this transition?” Roscioli recommends that he “Encourage the family as a whole to adopt healthier eating habits, a new exercise regimen that can be performed together, and better sleep hygiene so that a woman in perimenopause doesn’t feel more isolated and alone. These healthier practices will also help manage her symptoms.”


“There are days when I simply don’t have the energy to be my best self,” one woman says. Another shares, “Intimacy is the last thing on my mind. I just want to sleep.”


One of the men asked, “How long will this phase last and will it permanently change my relationship with my partner?”


Roscioli says, “All of the systems of the body are related and impact one another, so it’s no surprise that a woman who is sleep-deprived, riddled with anxiety and self-conscious about her changing physical appearance may be less amorous.”


She continues, “A woman’s libido is adversely impacted by a drop in her testosterone. It’s important for a partner not to take it personally and to try to understand the physiological and emotional reasons why a once active sex life is suddenly in a rut. It won’t always be this way. Working on feeling healthier, more active and stronger overall can help.”

For those navigating perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, there’s often a fear of never feeling “normal” again – of being the only one clutching a hand-held fan, even on a snowy day. But there’s hope. Numerous options are available to help manage and treat these symptoms effectively.


“There are many supplements that can help support the adrenal glands, boost hormones, or just promote balance,” says Roscioli. “However, no one should take these supplements without some kind of hormonal testing and without the guidance of a medical provider or functional practitioner, as there are many contraindications.”


As Jane Fonda once said, “Menopause is not the end of life. It’s the beginning of a new one.” Fortunately, we’re surrounded by experts and support within this incredible and caring community.

 

Amy Lynn-Cramer, a Maplewood-based freelance writer and former publicist, is the founder of Cramer Connect. A culture changer at heart, she’s also an internal communications expert and certified health and life coach. Amy is in her post-menopausal era and passionate about fostering meaningful conversations about menopause with both men and women.

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