What Actually Happens During Menopause? A Breakdown for Women Who Want Answers

Menopause isn’t just hot flushes and mood swings - it’s a total hormonal shift that affects everything from your sleep to your skin. Understanding what’s going on inside your body is the first step to feeling more in control. Here’s what to expect, and how to support your body naturally through it all.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause marks the end of your menstrual cycle, officially starting 12 months after your last period. It usually happens between ages 45 and 55, but symptoms can begin years earlier in a phase known as perimenopause.

Common Symptoms:

• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Mood changes and irritability
• Sleep disturbances
• Vaginal dryness and discomfort
• Low libido
• Weight gain and bloating
• Brain fog

Why It Happens

Oestrogen and progesterone—your key reproductive hormones—drop significantly during menopause, causing a domino effect across your entire body.

What You Can Do

• Nutrition: Eat foods rich in phytoestrogens (like soy and flaxseed)
• Exercise: Stay active to support mood, weight and bone health
• Stress: Manage it with mindfulness, yoga or even just better sleep
• Supplements: Consider natural support like Toni’s Menopause Support formula, designed to ease symptoms and restore balance