Naomi shares her perimenopause story, her symptoms, and figuring whether she was in menopause or not

From Hot Flashes to IUDs: Naomi’s Menopause Journey

By Naomi Braun, MPH, MSW • Published 02/03/2025

Navigating symptoms and surprises   

About 7 years ago, I was at an all-company meeting, in a big conference room, packed to the brim with about 75 people sitting side by side. I was listening with great focus, when out of nowhere, a wave of heat started to radiate from my core out through my limbs. I immediately looked around to see if others in the room looked as flushed as I felt.   

The short answer was no, they didn't. It was just me. I frantically took my sweater off, leaving me with just a t-shirt on, as I turned to my co-worker who's 10 years my senior and said, "Are you hot or is it just me?" She looked at me, smiled, and said, "I think you're having a hot flash." And thus began my menopause journey.   

I was 45 years old at the time. I am now 52. So, I guess that was the beginning of my perimenopause period. That was also the year that I got my second IUD inserted. I had my first one inserted about 6 years earlier, after I was certain I was done having children. And while it provided effective birth control for me, it had the side effect of causing me to no longer get my period.   

Naomi stopped getting a period when she got an IUD and wasn't sure if she was in perimenopauseThe impact of an IUD on my menopause experience   

Even though my periods were on pause, I started to experience more symptoms. I realize today, but didn't know at the time, that they were related to menopause. The hot flashes kept coming, along with occasional night sweats. You know, waking up in the middle of the night and throwing off the covers because you feel like you're in a pool of your own sweat! Yeah, those.   

I also started noticing that I was having trouble remembering certain words when talking. Calling it brain fog is a perfect way to describe how I felt from time to time. A bit forgetful and not quite able to fully focus and concentrate. I attributed this to age, which is partially responsible, but once again, I now know that was likely another sign that menopause was creeping closer and closer.   

Fast forward 5 years, to the year I turned 50. I decided soon after my birthday that I wanted to know what was going on with my body. I specifically wanted to know if I was still menstruating or if I was officially in menopause. At that point, I hadn't gotten my period for 5+ years, presumably because of my IUD, and I was so curious to know what my body was up to. So, I called my doctor and went in for an appointment to remove the IUD.   

After having her IUD removed, Naomi wondered how she would know if she was in menopause or notThinking it would be a simple (but not pain-free) procedure (remember, I had done this once before), I took a deep breath and told her I was ready. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. Long story short, she was unable to remove it. A few months and a few procedures later, I ended up having laparoscopic surgery to remove the IUD. It was a relatively easy procedure that came with only a few days of recovery.   

My biggest question when I went back for my 6-week post-op visit with my surgeon was, "How will I know if I'm in menopause?". The doctor explained that just like if I didn't have the IUD in, the definition of menopause would be 1 full year without getting my period.   

So, that's when my 1-year clock started. The day of my surgery. I waited patiently for that year, so curious what was going to happen. Would my period come when I least expected it? Will I get cramps like I used to? Would it be heavy or light? So many questions.   

Reflections on my unique path to menopause   

The year went by, slowly but surely. I continued to have my occasional hot flashes, my somewhat frequent night sweats, and my brain fog challenge. I also noticed my skin was dryer than it used to be. And the more informed I became about menopause, the more I realized that despite if my period ever came again, my body was changing.   

While she was waiting to see if she would get a period, Naomi realized her body was going through some changesThe year came and went, and no period arrived. While I didn't think about it a lot, I noted in my mind every so often that I was still period-free and continued to wonder if this was it. I'll admit, it was somewhat anti-climactic when the year anniversary of my surgery hit.   

To be honest, I feel like I missed out on the "typical" menopause process, where your period slows down and then sometimes reappears after months, just to start the clock again. I'll never know at what age I officially became menopausal. And while it doesn't really matter, I'll forever be curious.   

As I've started to share my story more and more with friends, I'm quickly realizing that everyone's story is unique. One of my personal takeaways from my experience is that when you share, you also learn. I've heard so many unique stories so far and as a new member of the menopause community, I'm excited to learn as much as I can.  

 

Naomi Braun is an experienced health communications and content strategy professional with 25+ years of expertise in developing digital health and wellness solutions. Armed with a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Social Work (MSW), Naomi's got the ultimate combo for tackling health issues. With her experience, you can bet she's got a knack for blending the art of connection with the science of behavior. 

She also has a deep passion for health topics that have personal meaning to her. Her recent entry into menopause has fueled her enthusiasm for engaging in conversations about this topic. She's written content for Versalie for about a year, sharing her expertise and personal stories to help others navigate the maze of menopause. 

Last Updated 02/03/2025

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