My Journey through MENOPAUSE and RED LIGHT THERAPY as my secret weapon

Growing up and well into my own stage of menopause I thought it was only hot flashes that were a part of menopause. Menopause was the stigma of womanhood referred to as “The Change”, where we burst into flames from the depths of our core causing us to shed every layer of clothing while throwing ourselves into an ice bath.

Menopause, the stages of it and how I managed my symptoms with red light therapy

I was aware that my hormone levels were declining as my fertility years faded, but I was unaware of the full spectrum of symptoms that accompany menopause. What was missing in the conversations with my doctors was an explanation of the various stages of menopause and the numerous symptoms that can appear during each stage. I simply did not know that menopause was a phased process. I am only a few years into the post-menopausal phase of life and yet, it is not until now that I even knew there is a phase called Post Menopause.

Instead of older generations cautioning, “just wait, you’ll see,” and doctors addressing only isolated symptoms without connecting them to hormonal changes, there is now a shift toward understanding. Thankfully, the dialogue around menopause and its stages is evolving. The stigma is being replaced by open conversations, women supporting and educating one another. These conversations are empowering women to recognize that the symptoms they experience are part of a natural transition, and that support and knowledge are available as they navigate this journey.

Let's explore the stages of menopause and highlight some of the symptoms you may encounter along the way. I'll also share about how red light therapy became my BFF for menopause symptom relief, my favorite at home device and tips for getting results.

Perimenopause - Where Menopause Begins And Red Light Therapy Enters As Your BFF

It’s like being a teenager all over again with the responsibilities of an adult!

The years leading up to the final menstrual cycle. When Estrogen & progesterone levels rise, fall, and fluctuate unpredictably. This is the menopause stage when symptoms start and peak at their worst.

The mood swings, irritability (insert anger/rage), sudden a frozen shoulder, fatigue like I had not slept in years, complete brain fog and difficulty finding words. Remember hitting is bad, although someone breathing especially a spouse may set you over the edge.

For most women this is our busiest stage in life with children, careers and aging parents. The stage or phase leading up to menopause when your hormones are in such a flux that your body, mind and emotions are thrown into a blender to see what emerges each day.

This is when red light therapy became my secret weapon against the sudden menopause symptoms of joint pain and mood swings, headaches and for relaxation in general. My at home go to device, Nushape LipoWrap gave me the freedom to lock myself in the bedroom and just relax. Since it is a wrap I could use it for my headaches (googles came with it) or wrap my shoulder that was suddenly unwillingly to move. The joint stiffness caused by inflammation in my knees was almost a daily treatment. When I would use it on my head and face I found myself drifting off into a calm state where often I could take a brief but well needed nap. My hot flashes seemed to ease up the more I used it, regardless of where on my body. When the irregular periods with cramps so bad my organs were filing HR complaints, I would wrap my waist to relieve them, bonus points for helping with bloating.

This can last 4-10 years, with the average ages of 40-44 beginning to experience shifts. Some women notice it as early as their mid-30’s.

Common Menopause Symptoms - And How Red Light Therapy Helps

Like the slow creep of time each symptom slowly presents itself. Unrecognizable at first as a symptom of menopause, since most women are experiencing the stages of menopause as we are in the busiest stage of our lives, it is easy for a symptom to appear to be just stress. And that is how I believe menopause was overlooked and dismissed for so long.

There are over 34 recognized symptoms of menopause. The most problematic symptoms include mood changes, sleep disruptions, fatigue, joint pain (frozen shoulder is very common!), migraines. Loss of libido and coupled with vaginal dryness that make intimacy uncomfortable can lead many women to isolation from their partner. There are remedies that can assist with that so talk to your healthcare provider. It is also important that many of the symptoms of menopause can have other causes, so do not go it alone find a practitioner that can help you.

Since our bodies are in a state of flux during the stages of menopause there is no better time to also add in the support of red light therapy. Hair loss, joint pain, anxiety & depression, bloating, weight gain, breast tenderness, mood swings, hot flashes ~ all very common symptoms of menopause benefit from red light therapy.

Menopause - When Your Body Shifts Again and Red Light Therapy Becomes Your Steady Support

Defined by retrospectively after 12 consecutive months with no menstrual cycle that is not due to any other medical cause. Hormone levels (especially estrogen) have dropped significantly by this point. These hormonal shifts can impact the body in many ways, including increased joint stiffness and pain, slower muscle recovery, changes in skin elasticity, disrupted sleep, persistent hot flashes, mood changes, and a higher tendency toward inflammation.

This may be the stage where you may join the “I do not care club”. Your clothes fit differently, your tolerance for stupid things is less, and may just find yourself in the longest showers or baths of your life. The wild mood swings begin to subside while the changes in your skin tone begin to take over. This is when the battle of the belly bulge really steps in.

During this transition phase of menopause, the support of red light therapy can really make the difference supporting the mental, emotional and physical changes. I use a full body treatment at my facility once a week to support myself. Finding a provider of full body red light therapy like me or one with a red light therapy bed is optimal. Not only does the session while laying down work with all of the cells at once but the relaxation and scheduled me time works wonders for the mental and emotional states. Generally, I find that most of my clients during this phase are really starting to allow themselves more scheduled self-care rather than the doing when you find time as in the previous years of life. My at home device does wonders for any pop-up issues, like belly bloat, joint pains and headaches.

 This stage some symptoms may still be present but become less invasive and less often. The average age is around 51 but typically the years of 45-55 for most women.

Post Menopause - What Changes, What Stabilizes, and How Red Light Therapy Helps Long-Term

This stage begins once menopause is confirmed. Hormone levels reach their new baseline and symptoms often lessen or fade. Many women find postmenopause to be a surprisingly liberating stage with more time, more clarity and a deeper commitment to self care.

This is the other side, you made it through all of the hormonal chaos! Congratulations and welcome to the club! This is where you may find yourself reinventing your style, purging you home like Marie Kondo is paying you and really stepping into self care. I have officially made it to this stage and honestly, I feel better than I have in years. The battle of the belly bulge is on and so is fighting the sagging skin but with red light therapy, collagen support and getting back into exercise I feel more confident now than I have in years.

I thought this phase was the beginning of the end, meaning it is where you really start to look and feel "old". This is where we are more fortunate than the previous generations, with hormone replacement therapy, red light therapy, collagen, and so many other treatments available to us. We have so many ways to support our body, mind and emotional well being that we truly look and feel younger than our mothers did at this stage. Self-care is no longer indulgent it’s necessary, normalized, and celebrated.

The long-term support of red light therapy during post menopause can play an important role in maintaining overall wellness. With estrogen levels remaining low, the body can experience increased inflammation, slower tissue repair, joint discomfort, and changes in skin and muscle tone. Red light therapy supports cellular energy production, circulation, and tissue recovery, helping the body better manage inflammation and maintain strength, mobility, and skin health over time. When used consistently, it can complement other postmenopausal wellness strategies supporting an active lifestyle, promoting relaxation, and helping women feel more comfortable and confident in their bodies as they age.

Menopause, Red Light Therapy, and Supporting Your Body Through Every Stage

Menopause is not a single event but a journey that unfolds through perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause, each bringing unique hormonal changes and symptoms. Understanding how menopause affects the body allows women to move from confusion to confidence. With supportive tools like red light therapy for menopause, targeted wellness practices, and products designed to ease inflammation, bloating, joint discomfort, and skin changes, women can feel empowered rather than overwhelmed.

As conversations around menopause and perimenopause become more open, so do the options for support. Red light therapy has become an increasingly popular, non-invasive option for women seeking relief from common menopause symptoms such as joint pain, muscle stiffness, poor sleep, abdominal bloating, and changes in skin elasticity. Whether used in-studio or at home, red light therapy supports cellular function, circulation, collagen production, and overall recovery, helping women feel stronger and more comfortable in their changing bodies.

Ready to Support Your Body Through Menopause?

If you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, or post menopause and looking for natural ways to feel better in your body, red light therapy can be a powerful part of your self-care routine.

✨ Book a red light therapy session at Illuminate Your Wellness to experience personalized, targeted support for pain relief, recovery, and hormonal transitions. BOOK NOW

✨ Or, if you prefer at-home support, explore the The Lipo Wrap, a convenient red light therapy option designed to support the midsection, soothe cramps, reduce bloating, and improve skin firmness from the comfort of home.  Nushape LipoWrap

Menopause isn’t the end of feeling good in your body. With the right support, it can be the beginning of a more confident, informed, and empowered chapter.