Monica Bellucci, 51: ‘The menopause is going to be great: no periods anymore’

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Monica Bellucci is only a few years older than Daniel Craig, but the promotional tour around Spectre has already declared her to be “the older woman who seduces James Bond.” When Daniel was asked about it, he reframed the issue beautifully by saying that he and Monica were “the same age” and that it didn’t matter anyway because she’s Monica Bellucci and she’s amazing. It’s funny because Monica herself really doesn’t give a sh-t about being called the Oldest Bond Girl Ever or whatever. She’s 51 years old and comfortable in her own skin. She’s also looking forward to menopause! I double-dog dare an American actress to say that.

Seducing James Bond at her age: “It’s really a new way to look at actresses and women in general. We’ve never seen this before — an older woman seducing Bond. Maybe something will change for older women now; for older actresses.”

On sexiness: “Am I sexy? I don’t know. I do what I do. If it’s provocative, it’s not something I can control. I am what I am.”

On aging: “I don’t want to be 20, do you?… [Aging is] nothing to be scared of. Accepting the new reality is the only way you can live. I hope I’ll be alive for a long time.”

On menopause: “I’m not scared about getting old. It’s what’s inside that makes us beautiful on the outside. Glasses are so nice. All those things are so touching. But menopause is a natural thing, it is not a sickness. OK, the body at the beginning will get a bit mad. But after a few months, or one year, it’s going to be OK. This is a natural process of life. I am not nervous about it at all.” And in anticipation of the phase that she said she “will start soon”, Bellucci is hoping to use natural hormones to help deal with it. “Listen, I had two kids – one when I was 40, one when I was 45. I breastfed for one year, which means I was breastfeeding four years ago. I’m going to move from giving birth to menopause without really realizing. Anyway the menopause is going to be great: no periods anymore.”

Her thoughts on plastic surgery: “Everybody does what she needs. And if you want plastic surgery and then you feel better, why not? There is no law. I’ve nothing against using something to help your beauty — but do it in a good way, with intelligence.” She claims she hasn’t yet succumbed to the surgeon’s knife, putting her looks down to ‘vitamins and good face cream’. ‘I use Dr Hauschka products, it’s very natural. I also do acupuncture,’ she says, showing me the points on her face. ‘Because it really helps. It is the opposite of Botox. Botox blocks and acupuncture moves.’

What help she gets: “I have a very good hairdresser. He dyes my hair.” She’s not ready ‘yet’ to show her greys — “Unless it was for work. For work, yes; for life, no. Maybe later. I have some friends who have white hair and they look amazing.”

On Botox: “Botox for some people is really good. For others they have different reactions. I . . .” she makes a noise like ‘pffffff’. “I am for freedom.”

Diet & exercise: “For one month I will do Pilates very often and then for the next I do nothing. But I have an elastic [the giant bands used for resistance stretches in Pilates] that I bring with me to hotels so that I can do some elastic sometimes on my own.’ After her second child, she says: ‘I got my figure back through work. I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat and I am not skinny…I’m not regular in anything. For example I don’t smoke, but I can have the odd cigarette. I don’t drink, but I can drink one glass of wine. But this is not an effort for me.’

She’s amused by the British attitude to pain: “And the attitude to pain. British people don’t express when they are in pain. They don’t think it’s elegant.”

[From The Daily Mail]

She also says she’s not really interested in seeing Spectre because it’s too violent. And somehow, I still believe her. I believe her about all of this. Like, I don’t think she’s had any work done. I don’t think she has Botox or fillers. I believe that she doesn’t exercise regularly, that she’s just a very active person with good genes and a great metabolism. Is it crazy to believe her? I don’t know. But she’s my new spirit animal.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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174 Responses to “Monica Bellucci, 51: ‘The menopause is going to be great: no periods anymore’”

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  1. Mimz says:

    Shes, amazing, stunning, beautiful, sexy and honest.

    Timeless beauty.

  2. MexicanMonkey says:

    Most European women don’t exercise much, don’t go on crazy diets and eat whatever they want and still have good figures. It’s not really a genetic thing, it’s just a different food culture than America. I’m not European nor American but I’ve been to both and in Europe people eat less in every meal and are just naturally more active.
    Do I have no problems believing her at all.

    • Saywhatwhen says:

      True! I believe her. And true what you say about European women…Most do not like the gym business. But they hike in the summer; ski in the winter and some cycle or walk to work; climb the stairs because they are environmentalists, and cannot bear to take the elevator for three flights. I have seen people I work with eat an apple or yogurt for lunch and top it off with a coffee. Then they go home and eat salads—delicious ones, but salads. They shop for grocery every other day so they mostly eat fresh produce and meat. I actually hate all of them….because If I look at rice I gain 10 pounds. If I skip 3 days at the gym my thighs grow half an inch and if I eat any bread I am 5 months pregnant.

      Also having lived in the US and in Europe I feel firmly that Americans are being stiffed on their food. They are piling way too much corn syrup and hormones into everything. Only God, The Lobbyists and the Congressmen know what the food is doing to people in America.

      • klein says:

        you’re right about that – I live in the Mediterranean and the food is really great quality here. And most people are very active as a matter of course, there’s a few people who are heavy but not many who are seriously overweight..

      • Eleonor says:

        ” I feel firmly that Americans are being stiffed on their food. They are piling way too much corn syrup and hormones into everything. Only God, The Lobbyists and the Congressmen know what the food is doing to people in America. “.
        I think it’s this.
        In Europe we have (maybe) even stricter laws about food, and small portions, we even walk a lot, but American cities are (often) too big ! Different distances, impossible to use a bike like I do every day.
        And water, drink a lot of water, no soda, no coke, no diet stuff. Water.

      • Luca76 says:

        Yes Saywhatwhen you are right in order to eat in the states well you have to spend a fortune.

      • Solanacaea (Nighty) says:

        I’m Portuguese and my concept of food is salads (some with 6, 7, 8 vegetables), grilled fish, seafood, sometimes meat. I always buy fresh vegetables twice a week, as well as fruit. Breakfast for me is a shake with almond or soya milk with wheat, half an apple, half a banana, and nut fruits or red fruits. Don’t like donuts, burguers or hot dogs. … It’s a cultural think, definitely.. And no, salads are not a diet, they are just delicious dishes. Don’t eat sugar (not even in tea) and almost no salt. Oh and always have a plate of soup for lunch and dinner (the latest is just the soup and fruit or yoghurt)

      • moomoo says:

        Love the way you put all of this. And I wish you could convince Americans (and the lawmakers) that we’re getting stiffed on our food.

        I avoid processed foods although when I live near a Trader Joe’s I definitely eat more of these. Living in a smaller town means I have to cook most of our food. I go to TJ’s a couple of times per year for non-perishable items like my favorite salsa, greek olives, rice crackers, and pretzels without corn syrup (non-existent where I live!).

      • SusanneToo says:

        @Sola. Look into cashew milk. I believe it has the highest percentage of calcium. And it’s delicious too.

      • SusanneToo says:

        Way too many Congresspeople are owned by Agribusiness, IMO.

      • ISO says:

        Wow, well said. IT’s the quality of American food that causes inflammation, then the subsequent crazy dieting to get rid of the condition makes it worse. I personally eat organic produce and grass fed meats/dairy. I am so lucky I’m aware, but I am a college student and I studied GMOs; MonSatan has taken over the FDA (Michael Taylor is the former litigation atty for MonSAtan now heads the FDA!) GMO food has only been tested since 2004 on rats; in middle age the rats develop horrific cancerous tumors and infertility. Because GMO produce and GMO fed cattle/chicken have only been around since 2004, we will see thESE cancers happen to humans IN MIDDLE AGE. We are about the see not only obestiy/inflammation but an explosion of cancers, particularly breast cancer. Flabby thighs will be the -least- of our worries. We are in a health crisis and I’m no conspiracy theorist- this is factual Science!

      • sofia says:

        See this documentary called “Fed UP”, narrated and produced by Katie Couric. If you are an American you should definitely see this. You may not be surprised by anything new, but you will be shocked by how pervasive and intensive the lobbys are and how many of our perceptions have been manipulated for decades just in the name of good profit. I saw this yesterday and actually today the WOH (World Organization of Health) shared a study that links bowel cancer with the consume of processed meat ad read meat because of the chemicals used to make it. We really need to take care of ourselves, bc governments and companies profit more when we are sick and unhealthy. WE can’t expect much from them:/

      • MCraw says:

        I was just reading an article that said bacon, Red meats and all processed meat is a carcinogenic akin to smoking and causes cancer.

        We really need to do something about the quality of food. I’ve been scaling back my meat intake because driving by the smell of a chicken truck in Georgia really messed me up, it was so horrible.

        http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/red-meat-bacon-hot-dogs-processed-meats-cause-cancer-dangerous-smoking/

      • Crumpet says:

        And yet the FDA requires labels on everything. Are Americans illiterate and helpless? I think not. People still have a choice on what they put in their mouths.

      • Nikki says:

        +1. American food laden with sugars and chemicals is killing us. Fresh, real food and being active each day is a youth prolonged.

    • littlemissnaughty says:

      Weeell, that’s probably true for some countries but I’m German and have also lived in the South of Europe (Mediterranean) and the UK. Greeks and Italians for example aren’t really overweight but um, Germans and Brits? Yeah, we’re catching up to the US and quickly.

      You are right though, many European countries have a different attitude towards food and exercise (I read somewhere the Swedes eat the most candy but are still the fittest?) but I wouldn’t say it’s a European thing. It varies quite a bit.

      In general, most people don’t even know what they’re eating. Cooking has become about Instagram or veganism instead of learning the basics. I will forever be thankful to my mother for teaching me how to make a healthy veggie stew for 4, spending about €5. I think the problem is not that we have access to crappy food, it’s that we don’t realize we also have access to super cheap, great and healthy ingredients. A lot of people simply don’t know how to cook.

      I will say this though. The French? For f*ck’s sake, they eat SO much food and still look so damn good. That is definitely a different food culture.

      • Denisemich says:

        American companies are not allowed to sell the same GMO food to other countries. Germany rejected Butterfinger candy because of GMO products.

        I believe it is more about the type of food American’s eat. I am an American and it is work to eat truly healthy. You have to make sure products in cans are BPA free and free of GMOs.

      • Sixer says:

        I think the UK is only saved from being as bad as the US in terms of diet and filthily unhealthy processed food by virtue of EU labelling and quality regulations. On these lifestyle issues, I always see we Britishers as a real halfway house between the US and continental Europe. You Germans aren’t as bad as us, even if you are pork-obsessed!

      • littlemissnaughty says:

        Sixer, we are just meat-obsessed in general. Pork is just the worst of it but most of our meat scandals were related to poultry, in fact. I have stopped eating poultry, pork, fish, and whatever else there is. I occasionally (not even every month) will have a piece of beef. Organic. Not because I think killing animals is MURDER but because industrial farming is disgusting and cannot possibly be healthy or good for our karma. Especially because we also then dump our pork waste on African countries as “meat” and ruin their farmers. We are just lovely like that.
        When I lived in the UK, the thing that struck me was the amount of convenience food in supermarkets. That was really the biggest difference. And … well, peeled and cut veggies. WTF? Get a knife! How lazy can a person be? On that front we have since caught up to you though. 😉

        Denisemich, it’s true that the EU is still holding out on that. At least for now. As far as we know (lemme get my tinfoil hat). I will scream if I cannot even be sure anymore what’s in a f*cking tomato when I buy it. It’s a tomato, I shouldn’t have to wonder.

      • Sixer says:

        I think we think alike on food issues! I grow my own as much as I can and – thankfully, I live rurally so have access – buy meat and dairy from local organic farms. The average diet in Britain is atrocious and people are lazy. I’m a governor at our local school and, even here, in a farming area, we have to run crash courses for 18-year-olds so that they can actually cook themselves some cheap but nutritious food when they go to uni.

      • Mel says:

        LittleMissNaughty, have you ever visited Vienna for any length of time?
        i have never ever seen so many women – the majority, really – with not an ounce of fat and nicely toned bodies. And I am talking about women of all ages. Women of sixty, not just 20-year-olds.
        It is true that Vienna is a very healthy city to live in, with a lot of options to exercise, but I don’t quite understand it. It must be something else, not just exercise. It is too widespread for that.

    • Bridget says:

      There are so many factors that go into that, though. American cities are set up very differently, with more urban sprawl and less efficient mass transit, so we’re far more dependent on cars and commuting and therefore walking isn’t a part of most American’s daily lifestyle the same way it is for Europeans. And of course keep in mind the difference in our food supplies – American farming has different (and most would say lax) regulations when it comes to GMOs and processing.

      Though to be honest, as much as people associate European eating habits with Mediterranean style eating (pasta, olive oil, etc) most Europeans I know only eat that way on the weekend, with much smaller meals for breakfast and lunch and even dinners. I personally couldn’t imagine eating only a yogurt and a piece of fruit for lunch because that’s like 300 calories.

    • JenniferJustice says:

      I completely beleive her because I am somewhat the same. I don’t exercise regularly. I walk alot at the track in the warmer months, but from late fall to spring – nothing. But I’m never sitting for very long. I don’t like being sedentary, so I’m always doing something and I move fast. I eat what I want when I want, but it’s never a lot. I don’t eat three huge meals a day. I eat maybe two small meals and several snacks. It bothers me that people don’t beleive me or seem resentful when they ask “what do you do to stay in shape” and my honest reply is not much, really. But it’s the truth. My grandmother raised me much of the time and she had an amazing metabolism. She was always on the go and “zippy”. She rubbed off on me. So, it’s genes and her role modeling I took after. I’m not bragging because I didn’t ask for or earn whatever genetic cocktail I am. I also think being in sports and dance during my youth really sculpted my body during it’s formative years and gave me a high hard butt. Many European women, especially the French so I’ve read, do not eat large meals, and do not have hardened exercise regimes. They stay busy and active. They eat little bits, often, but don’t gorge. They drink but don’t gorge. They seem to have a better handle on moderation in general than we do.

      I do think there is something to be said for the way most American’s eat and exercise. If you only eat massive meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner with nothing in between, you eat too much when you do eat. If you’re working out like a mad woman at the gym but not active outside the gym, I don’t think it does much good. We’re better off pacing ourselves on a daily basis and not inflicting miserable rules on ourselves. I have my son in sports – always and outside playing or working in the yard with us alot. We have dinner every night, but I let him eat whenever he wants and since niether myself nor my husband sit around much, neither does he. I can already see he has a super lean muscular body and so much energy. I don’t think he’ll have a problem with a weight like so many other kids already seem to. I have stern opinions regarding food and parents supplying take-out on the daily for their kids’ dinner, but talking about that too much seems to really offend some people so lets just say, natural foods, homecooked as much as possible makes a difference. Even if you get non-fast food take-out, it’s still loaded with preservatives and fillers.

    • Anna says:

      Ok, this is starting to tick me off quite a bit: what do you mean when you say “European”?
      How come no one says “African women eat healthier”, “Asian women do not go to the gym”, “South American women eat a lot of salad”? Because it sounds freaking ridiculous to lump an entire continent into the same standard.

      You know, same goes for Europe: we have over 30 countries with completely DIFFERENT cultures over here. And guess what? Eating habits differ in each country as another poster pointed out: e.g. French and Spanish people tend to look quite fit, however UK, and Germany are really catching up to obesity. While it’s true that the food in Europe as a whole is of better quality than in US due to EU regulations (and that will be over soon since we’re getting majorly screwed by TTIP), eating culture differs in each and every single country.

      Every time someone here says “Oh, Americans do xyz etc” all the American posters are enraged that someone lumps up 300 m people together. Well, there’s over 500 m people in Europe and most of them do not identify to belong to the same country and are very proud to be different. Stop treating us as a homogeneous unit.

      To OP: I do not know where you’re from and this post is meant as a general ‘mini rant’, not necessarily directly addressed to you.

      • Lisa says:

        People love to romanticize cultures and lump them together, thinking it isn’t othering. My mom, who is Italian, has always said that Americans (and some Canadians, to a lesser degree) are obsessed with Europe because it’s “fancy” or exotic to them. So everything that comes out of Europe is automatically sacrosanct ,the best thing ever. Someone writes a book saying French women don’t get fat? Everyone jumps on the bandwagon to eat that way. Monica Bellucci says something, everyone takes that as the gospel truth. It’s annoying.

      • Lostara says:

        Right. Europe is not just one big country, it is many different countries. With very different lifestyles and food-habits.

        Maybe EUROPEAN women don’t go to the gym – GERMAN women do.

        But unfortunately the rate of overweight people is increasing in Germany none the less.

      • mp says:

        Yes! Thank you, Anna!

    • Winnie says:

      I’m English. I’m 48 and I eat whatever i want. I don’t ever go to the gym and I’m very slim. I do potter about in my garden a couple of times a week but that’s it. I eat one square of really good chocolate for my dessert, any more than that makes me feel slightly nauseous.

      I do think it’s about quality and portion sizes. If I eat a really big dinner I wake up more hungry in the morning because my stomach has stretched. I usually cannot finish all the food on my plate because I feel full – I do eat my food slowly in small bites and really relish each bite and drink lots of water while I’m eating, which helps I think.

      I don’t eat processed food at all or sugary drinks like coke but I do bake cakes (that are predominantly egg whites like angel food cake or chiffon cake) and I have a large slice most days.

      The thought of going to the gym makes me want to stick a fork in my eye. I have tried exercise for depression and it does not work at all for me – although digging out a really obstinate dandelion root in the garden does feel good.

      Everyone is different, do whatever works best for you.

      Winnie xox

  3. NGBoston says:

    Gorgeous! <3

  4. lucy2 says:

    She looks great and I like her attitude on age.
    Is that all they asked her about though, her looks? Nothing substantial about her character or the film?

    • Naddie says:

      That’s what is bothering me about her interviews. Up until now we know nothing about her character. And it’s sad that seducing a man when you’re older is seeing as a goal for women. I mean, that’s nothing wrong with liking that, but the way it’s being showed is like a great achievement.

  5. Other Kitty says:

    Well, I don’t know about menopause because I’m not there yet, but I had a partial hysterectomy two years ago and the “no periods” thing has been the best ever!!! I DO NOT MISS those periods!!! It’s so freeing!

    • sherry says:

      I’m 52 (will be 53 in January). I will go about 3 – 4 months and not have one, then BOOM! And then I’ll get it for 2 months straight. I can honestly say that every time I go for a 3 – 4 month spread with no periods, it is wonderful! I find myself thinking, “Yes! I’m DONE!” It’s been 2 months so far and I’m hoping this time, it won’t come back EVAH!

      I love her take on aging! Aging is a blessing! There is a local judge here who’s son goes to the same school as my youngest. She is my age and has botoxed and filled her face to the max. She’s also Kylie Jennered her lips. I think if she had not done all of that, she would be an attractive woman. As it is, she looks almost scary up close.

      • Mrs. Wellen Melon says:

        For you young’uns who haven’t experienced menopause, Google “vaginal atrophy”.

      • justme says:

        @Mrs. Wellen Melon – yep “vaginal atrophy” is a real side effect that some of us do experience. It doesn’t get talked about much since it contradicts the old “sexy older ladies!!! No more periods! no more pregnancy worries” meme. But believe me if you are unlucky enough to experience it, you would love those periods back. Drugs can help a bit, but not as much as you might think. It’s hard when lovemaking really hurts.

      • AntiSocialButterfly says:

        @justme, mrs wellen melon-

        I hear you loud and clear! I have to say that a tiny vaginal estrogen pill two times a week makes me feel like a 30 year old again. it stays local – it’s not absorbed systemically so it’s safe to use if you have concerning family history. It’s magical!

      • justme says:

        @AntiSocialButterfly – yes I know about the vaginal estrogen pill- it sort of helps, but as I say not as much as I had hoped. I had no other great issues with menopause, sort of sailed through it. But when my periods stopped – it was immediate, only a month or so later – dry and horribly painful sex – no lubricant even touches the problem. Nothing much has really helped.

      • Anna says:

        @justme I have no knowledge of any of this but have used natural organic coconut oil as lubricant…good for skin, body inside and out…maybe could help…?

      • qwerty says:

        just wanna point this out to be safe, oil will make condoms break.

      • Mel says:

        I have the same experience: the period dropping by to visit after almost a year of absence. 😉
        I do love my menstruation, though. I always did. I never (or hardly ever, maybe once every few years) experienced any pain or anything.

        I don’t have any other unpleasant “symptoms” of menopause, either, even though I am well into it (or quite possibly past it). No hot flushes/flashes, nothing. I also look better than I did a few years ago.

        I am saying this not to boast but to encourage other women not to predispose themselves negatively, thinking the menopause is necessarily a horrible thing – or the end of beauty or sex appeal. 😉

    • Miss Jupitero says:

      People talk about menopause as if it were some kind of horror. I may have been very lucky, but for me it was nothing at all. I feel great.

      EDIT: And yes, I was very lucky. I asked my mother what it was like for her– same experience. As others have noted, there isn’t a doctor alive who can tell you what it will be like for you.

      • Bridget says:

        You are lucky. My mom has been having hot flashes for something ridiculous, 5-10 years. I can handle the fact that my reproductive years will be coming to a close some time in my mid-40s, I just really don’t look forward to the physical side effects.

      • qwerty says:

        the idea that my face might shrivel up like a raisin overnight without the hormones terrifies me

      • Mel says:

        Miss Jupitero – same here.
        “Lucky” or not, I do believe that reports about uneventful menopauses are simply getting buried under the avalanche of horror stories. (And yes, they may be a reason why there IS an “avalanche” of horror stories – but it’s also true that people tend to chime in more often with horror stories than they do with “happy” ones.)

      • Mel says:

        QWERTY – you should see my face (and I am past menopause). Skin like porcelain, wrinkle-free. No special treatments or creams – and of course no procedures whatsoever.

        Again, I am not saying this to boast – it is to encourage other women.
        Menopause is NOT the end of beauty or sex appeal.

  6. Kip says:

    I found everything she said really empowering, how nice to read such a perspective in a media blitz that will be promoted to a mainstream audience.

  7. MrsBPitt says:

    Gotta co-sign on the no periods thing! It is GRRRRRREAT!!!!!

  8. Bridget says:

    So George Clooney, what do you think about aging? Had any work done? Will you be using any Botox? How about you Mr. Cruise?

    • Kip says:

      Yeah totally this!

    • Elisa the I. says:

      THIS!

    • Noway says:

      Thank you!!! This is what I hate about the media and how they treat women. Always goes back to looks. The worst dichotomy is with female politicians. Look, Donald Trump can call Carly Fiorina ugly, but he really isn’t a prize in the looks department either yet all he gets is a few comments on the combover. The combover is terrible, if any woman politician had anything that bad they would be killed. The worse part is it makes me want to defend some of these women politicians, that I probably couldn’t agree to the time of day with. During the McCain campaign, I felt sorry for Sarah Palin and a lot of the comments she received, and that was hard to do cause I couldn’t stand her.

      • anna says:

        I love that gloria steinman said this exact thing…that no one really said the obvious ….that he isnt and hasnt never been a 10 when talking about heidi klum

  9. TheOtherMaria says:

    She truly is a gorgeous woman with the right attitude, at 34, I’m ready for “the change” as well; my cramps are horrific and I have no intention of ever giving birth so I’m ready dammit 😁

    She seems so very laid back and chill, love her.

    • Mrs Fonzieface says:

      Really boring info which was life changing for me: of you start regular doses of paracetamol (Tylenol) or ibuprofen the day before your period starts, and carry on taking regular doses for the first two days you will have little to no cramps. The tough bit is pin pointing the day before but some months I end up taking paracetamol for a few days before it starts and that’s OK.

      Try it and spread the word, if only I had known about this 15 years ago it would have saved me buckets of suffering.

      • SamiHami says:

        What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.

      • Elisa the I. says:

        I managed to get rid of the cramps by taking plain old Aspirin. Just like you I start taking them 1-2 days before my period and then the first 2 days of the period. It works wonders! I have also noticed that if I do Yoga regularly the cramps are almost completely gone.

      • Lee1 says:

        I’m very fortunate in that my menstrual cramps aren’t usually too bad if I get them at all but my poor wife has very bad cramps every month. She has started taking tylenol arthritis relief. It’s ultra extra strength (650mg) and it’s extended release so it seems to last longer. She says it has made a world of difference so far.

      • Bridget says:

        It’s because it’s easier to pre-emptively stop pain, rather than treat it after it’s started. Something or other about the pain receptors in our brains.

      • moomoo says:

        Raspberry leaf tea (best to start the day before cramps begin) has worked as well as high-dose ibuprofen for me and another friend for the last 20 years. I was able to stop the ibuprofen. Doesn’t taste bad. Can brew hot in a flash or cold in a big mason jar or water bottle. A pound (~$12 online) has lasted me more than 5 years. I grind it more finely in a coffee grinder for noticeably better effect, or Traditional Medicinals makes a ready-to-go teabag version for ~$4/box.

        I never tried Tylenol, but NSAIDs like Motrin and Aleve have too many side effects in the stomach/intestine, heart, and kidneys for me to want to take them regularly. Even in those who do not notice symptoms, NSAIDs block the production of mucus that protects the stomach lining, which can lead to irritation and ulceration.

      • anna says:

        very true i often forget this and then practically finish one bottle for one period. my gosh between that and pads how costly it is!

      • Lostara says:

        Ui, taking Paracetamol for several days? No, thanks – Paracetamol is known for heavy side effects (specially bad for the liver). I stick to good, old Aspirin…..

      • Anna says:

        I am prone to nosebleeds and thin blood so asprin (and kale) are big no-nos. Raspberry leaf tea has been great (though have to take 2-3 teabags per cup), and also had a roommate years ago who was a Wiccan and had specialized in herbology. He would boil up a pot of valerian root and that would put me out and take away all pain.

    • Jayna says:

      It’s more than no periods. I have two close friends who have gone into early menopause, barely in their 40s, and it’s hell. My friend told me the hot flashes are like she’s burning from the inside out like being in a microwave. You want to run and rip your clothes off. Both said their sex drive dropped off massively almost immediately and both were very sexual women. Skin changes started. Emotionally were affected, moody. Both when they finally realized what was happening and got tested got on HRT therapy, bioidentical, which helps with my one friend’s brain fog that started happening. My one friend’s hair has shown effects now after two years. She said her one doctor told her she’s lucky. Many women’s hair is really affected . Everyone has different degrees of the side effect. So to wish for menopause is a hugely silly comment to me. I remember Raquel Welch saying how it sent her for a loop. She would end up in a corner a mess, or something like that. My mother didn’t go through it in a year and then everything was fine the way Monica is acting like. Many suffer symptoms for many years.

      • jess says:

        Don’t forget that in menopause the hormone changes can cause osteoperosis and heart failure. I advocate eating healthy foods to protect us from these conditions versus synthetic drugs . I heard bio identical drugs are expensive. I won’t be going there.

        Anyways, hot flashes which drench you from head to toe where ever you are and you need another shower again, insomnia, hot flashes in your sleep, forgetfulness sucks and bones starting to hurt. While i started the peri menopause phase I had to go through a grieving process, its difficult to explain but I felt sad, i’m over it now . So the no periods thing really didn’t do it for me.

      • Noway says:

        I think you are taking her too literally. Plus, what’s the alternative? Dreading a natural part of life or dying before it. Those are pretty much your choices. She seems like a lets think on the positive side of life girl, and I think we all could use a bit more of that in the world.

        Now as far as the doom and gloom of menopause comments. Not a doctor alive can tell you what your personal experience will be like. Not everyone’s is that bad. I know several women with little to no symptoms at all. Your best bet would be to ask your mother about her experience as it very hereditary. Also, my daughter just started her period several months ago, and I forgot about how bad just getting it was and all the symptoms. Before anyone says anything yes we went to a doctor and yes it was all normal. Funny thing was I remembered my start of my period being awful for a few years too, just totally forgot about it as time went on. Beginning and endings of anything can be a challenge.

      • jess says:

        @noway; I never said i dreaded it or wanted to die before it . I said I found it difficult and am finding it difficult for various reasons. I have read up on bone and heart issues after menopause, it’s not made up . And my obs/gym tried to put me on hrt and i got swollen legs and had to stop because it was dangerous.

      • Noway says:

        I was just saying that there is no alternative but to go through it, and focusing on the bad symptoms just causes more anxiety and most medical professionals would say that makes most things worse. Monica’s attitude will probably serve her well.

        As someone who is going through it with a lot of my friends, I can say without a doubt it isn’t the same for everyone. To the ones in throes of long battles with it, my heart goes out to you. To my friend who is breezing through it, you know we hate you,- just kidding but you are a lucky bi&*. Now I had heart palpitations so bad I thought I was having a heart attack, but my favorite Doctor was my cardiologist. Who did all types of tests, but told me my heart was fine, and loved the fact that I started acupuncture as he thought it would help. Which it did for me at least, and I was a big non believer before. I have an autoimmune disease so any type of hormone drugs can mess with that. My experience has been that the anxiety made everything worse, so I like Monica’s attitude. For me at least anxiety is caused by emphasizing the bad symptoms and no easy way to cure them. I wasn’t trying to belittle anyone’s health issue or research or menopause problems.

      • Jaded says:

        I had a total hysterectomy when I was 42 and went on hormone replacement, just a very low dose of estrogen which I took every other day. I tried to wean myself off when I got into my 50s but it was horrible. Even though I eat a very healthy diet and took some supplements to help me with it, I had 20-30 hot flashes a day – no they were burning hot painful flashes – drenching night sweats, brain fog, constant miserable mood for a year – so finally went back on a low-dose patch which I actually cut in half and problem solved. I’m just one of those people who have a really tough time, as did my mother and grandmother. Some women breeze through it with hardly a bead of sweat, so yes, it’s an individual thing and there is no “one size fits all” solution.

      • EscapedConvent says:

        I would never have got through hot flashes without my freezer. I used to open the freezer door and just stand there, cooling off. Dead serious.

      • SamiHami says:

        @EscapedConvent: I totally believe you, since I do that myself. Sometimes I feel like I’m about to burst into flame. It’s especially fun when it happens at work.

      • JP says:

        I used to say the same thing–“Can’t wait for menopause and have the periods stop and I will get through menopause just fine.” WRONG. Menopause was horrible for me. The worst thing was losing your looks. HRT only worked for a couple of weeks for me and then stopped. You can’t make assumptions about menopause until you’ve gone through it yourself.

      • qwerty says:

        JP, may I ask what exactly changed about your looks? Do you mean new wrinkles, less hair, or what?

      • JP says:

        For me it was sagging skin. My hair did get thinner. Your face loses volume (collagen). More fine lines. For me using whey protein and antioxidants does help. Bioidentical hormones stopped working for me after two weeks. I had severe menopausal symptoms because I had acute adrenal dysfunction due to job stress. A book to read on anti-aging is “The Methuselah Project – How the science of anti-aging can help you live happier, longer and stronger.”

    • Delilah says:

      I don’t mean to scare you but terrible menstral pains can be a symptom of Endometriosis – which manifests itself usually in the 30s. It doesn’t kill you but the sooner you know the more options you have to manage it. Your OBGYN can prescribe meds to stop your hormone production…blah blah just check it out.

    • Mel says:

      Try magnesium against cramps.
      It will likely help you with many other things, too (like sleep or even depression if you have it). Most people are deficient in magnesium.

  10. GoodNamesAllTaken says:

    Love her and everything she said…except I think she’s underestimating “the menopause”. It’s doable, it’s wonderful when it’s over, but, honey, you’re going to notice it. Trust me. It’s noticeable.

    • Ann says:

      I laughed, too. She thinks it’s over in a few months or a year? Hahaha!

      Signed,

      Someone who knows better

    • Sixer says:

      Mine was chemo-induced and I kinda went through it in a whirlwind of crossness that I didn’t notice but everyone else did – especially poor Mr Sixer. I threw him out once – for reading a book! He sat in the car until I let him back in.

      On the other hand, Mr Sixer certainly lets the world know if he’s in any pain. He’s a pain drama queen, so not a good Britisher in Monica’s books!

      • My mom is starting to go through it as well, and hers was chemo induced too! She is sooo excited! No periods. She does get hot flashes though. She’s either too hot or too cold. But she’s the first woman in her family i.e. sisters/aunts/mom to go through menopause, because all of them have had to have hysterectomies before they went through it.

      • Sixer says:

        I didn’t really notice the hot flushes as I had lymphoma and hot flushes are a symptom of that anyway. So I suppose I got away lightly, really. Like a BOGOF deal with symptoms!

    • swack says:

      Don’t know if she is underestimating or not but I was a lucky one and menopause was very minimal for me. Few hot flashes that were minimal and menopause did not last very long. Except for my periods stopping, I’m not sure if I would have known I was going through menopause. I naturally sweat a lot, even in cold weather, even now after menopause. I feel for those who have a horrible time with it.

      • soporificat says:

        Yeah, it varies a lot from person to person, and I wish that women wouldn’t insist that it is horrible for everyone. I think that makes it a frightening prospect for women who are getting close to menopause. It can be horrible, but it also can be not much.

        So, for the record, I’m right in the middle of it, and literally the only reason I know that is because my periods are starting to space out weirdly, and skip, etc… no hot flashes, no extreme emotions, no skin issues, no sleep issues. Just the periods starting to go away.

      • @Swack. My older sister was like you. Her periods skipped months and then stopped altogether. She had no hot flashes. I started about three years ago. Hot flashes at night, I’d tell my husband to stop hugging me thinking he was the source of the heat, then I realized what it was. I sleep with the door to our balcony open all year long. But I have had no hot flashes during the day. Some coworkers drip with perspiration and I feel so lucky. My periods are stuttering, I get it every three to four months, but that’s it. I’d say I’ve been lucky so far. Like Monica I had my last baby at 40, so maybe it helps? Scratch that, my older sister had her baby at 19. Maybe it’s genetics, or the luck of the draw.

      • swack says:

        @yetanother judy. I didn’t skip periods, mine just stopped. Like I said – lucky. But, my periods were really easy on me also – no cramps, moderate bleeding and lasted only 3-5 days. Also, never really went into labor when I had my girls, broke water all three times or else I would of had babies at home or on the way to the hospital. So maybe the fact that it was all so easy all my life that menopause was easy. I also wonder if I had it easier because I was/am very athletic and have played many sports all year long. I just feel really sorry for those who have major issues with it all.

    • Louise says:

      What was your experience of the menopause? I have an older friend who told me that it made her want to leap off a cliff. She had to sleep on towels as she sweated so much but as soon as she started taking HRT she got her life back. She said the day she started it she felt herself again. My mother’s depression started around her menopause and she has battled it for the 20 years since, so it’s really freaking me out. Why do women have to put up with so much sh#t?

      • SusanneToo says:

        I think the fact that I’ve been vegetarian for 35 years helped. I wasn’t getting all the hormones that are pumped into beef and chickens. I had no hot flashes, no mood swings. One day I realized I hadn’t had a period in about a year so that was that. I had some co-workers who really suffered, so I feel for those who do.

      • Louise says:

        Susanne, you have made me feel better – i have been a vegetarian for 3/4 years and am 33, so am hoping it will also stand to me! A big reason why i gave up meat was because of the hormones injected into it, but i wasn’t thinking ahead to when i reached menopause. I really wish i had given it up earlier and did want to, but i grew up in a real meat-eating family where no meal was complete unless there was meat, so while i certainly cut down a lot when i moved out of home, i still ate some meat like bacon (in carbonara!). Then one day i just decided – no more. It was really a mental shift more than a lifestyle change for me, though i guess it’s harder for those who love their steaks!

      • SusanneToo says:

        @Louise. I know everyone’s different, but some years after my last period I heard a report on NPR that it had been noticed that Japanese women of a certain age group(my age) had fewer severe menopause symptoms than younger women. One common factor was that the women ate less meat than the younger generation. It was not a scientifically conducted study, just an observational one, but it definitely correlated with my experience. Good luck in the future!

      • Noway says:

        To the vegetarians, make sure you eat enough of vegetables that are high in iron or take a supplement especially around your periods. When you start heavy bleeding you could get anemia, which they think I had and it causes severe heart palpitations. I don’t eat a lot of red meat, but I will eat a steak around that time and not sure what has worked, but that seemed to help too. Diet does make a big difference no doubt about it. For some of us it is just so hard to give up foods though.

      • Lee1 says:

        I know that soy contains phytoestrogens so maybe it also correlates with that? I have been vegetarian since I was about 12yo and I eat a lot more soy products than your average meat eater (soy milk, tofu, etc). I wonder if consuming a higher quantity of soy products also has something to do with menopausal symptoms for vegetarians?

      • Maxine DuCamp says:

        I think that it truly is mostly genetic. I am not very athletic (I have periods where I’ve gone to the gym or done yoga regularly, but I’ve never been consistent), am not a vegetarian (and similar to physical exercise, healthy eating is inconsistent) and a sometimes smoker, never had kids and I’m pretty much sailing thru menopause. No hot flashes or night sweats, some mood swings (but I’m prone to depression/anxiety so hard to know how much is menopause related), some insomnia, but the worst thing is the chin whiskers! Too coarse so waxing and depilitories don’t work, too many to tweeze and not enough $ for laser treatment; I now have to shave every day. Honestly, my periods were pretty problem free as well (had cramps once, tired and hungry first day or two, pretty concistent 3-5 days cycle); honestly, I’d rather have periods for life than whiskers, but what can you do? I do feel for those who suffer through their periods or menopause and realize how lucky I’ve been.

      • qwerty says:

        susanne, read up on milk and hormones… milk is all hormones. It’s a baby calf growth hormone, to quote one doctor. All this talk made me think of a soman named Mimi named the sexiest vegetarian over 50 by peta a few years back, she’s been vegan for a long time and says she has zero hewlth problems like joint pain or low energy. basically feels half her age. Forgot her surname but she’s on youtube. Also, Anette Larkins is amazing. 70 yo, literaly looks 45 at best.

    • Syko says:

      It took me about 10 years to go through it. Ten years of twice-a-month, 8-10 day periods so heavy that I had to wear two hospital pads and still had accidents. Sometime later I realized all my clothes were black, since during that 10 years, black was all I bought because it didn’t show blood. I had countless tests, procedures, and hormone shock therapies, and nothing helped until finally one year I had three periods, and then they stopped. For a year. Then one last hurrah, and after that it was finally over. Luckily I escaped hot flashes, but I did get the thinning hair, softening of the jaw line, and other unhappy symptoms. Definitely noticeable.

      • lucy says:

        My sympathies. That sounds awful. Thanks for sharing.

        Thanks to ALL of you for sharing your experiences. This is an informative bonus to my usual daily reading!

    • Tiny Martian says:

      Okay, after reading all the comments here about menopause, I have to recommend this book for anyone who is interested. It’s called “New Menopause Years: The Wise Woman Way, Alternative Approaches for Women 30-90” by Susun Weed. It’s chock full of advice to help sort out symptoms and decide how (or if) you want to treat them Much of it is written in the voice of a wise mythical grandmother…….which may not sit well with some, but personally I find it very comforting, so I have a very dog-eared copy that I keep by my bedside,

    • Noway says:

      It is very different from woman to woman, just like having a baby, your first period, etc. I think talking about symptoms and ways to help are great, but emphasizing the horror of it will just cause anxiety, and to some women it might be nothing like that. Most women who have found menopause to be not as hard aren’t speaking because they are smart, and realize they were lucky.

      I had a friend who was pregnant the same time as me and she breezed through her pregnancy and had her baby in just a few hours. She told a few people, but didn’t say a lot about the labor to a lot of women as it seems to be a badge of courage to survive labor. I on the other hand, had morning sickness the entire time and just felt overall terrible. Dr. actually gave me some anti-nausea drugs as I was so bad. Then I had 48 hours of labor followed by a caesarian. (reason for only one kid and yes I want my badge for courage now) On the other hand, after the caesarian I felt great. My friends who had caesarians all told me you would be sore for a while, etc. Not in my case, I could have run a marathon I felt so good to not feel sick after nine months of just yuck!!!

      I know something about menopause too as I am going through it now. I have a suggestion for symptoms, acupuncture. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but I have found it to be a godsend to me. It really helped with hot flashes, heart palpitations, anxiety and migraines for me.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      To everyone who said not scare people who haven’t gone through it – I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you at all. I thought I was pretty mild about it. I said it’s doable, right? And yes, everyone is different, and they have treatments for the various symptoms. My mother had breast cancer which she attributed to taking hormones to treat menopausal symptoms, and I had breast cancer, so I didn’t use any treatments. Menopause for me lasted about 7 years. The worst year was the first. I was in a horrible, angry, vicious, murderous mood for the whole year. I wanted to strangle anyone who walked slow in front of me and punch anybody who disagreed with me in the face. That was really, really hard. Then that went away, and the rest wasn’t too bad. Hot flashes, mostly. Unpleasant, especially when you want to look nice, but I just tried not to let it get to me. I just thought it was funny that she thinks it’s not going to be noticeable. Maybe it won’t be for her, but I noticed when I was talking to someone at a party and sweat started running down my back and neck. I hope I didn’t scare anybody. You’ll get through it. But I think, unless you are very lucky, that you will notice it.

      • lucy says:

        I do think sharing these details, and the variety of experiences, is quite enlightening, supportive, and helpful.

        I’m in the throes of it. My first year (untreated, had not identified process yet) was woeful depression, wild mood swings, quick temper, occasional mild hot flashes, spontaneous weeping without correlated rational cause. I was experiencing estrogen dominance. I consume lots of soymilk and some other sources of soy in my diet. Treatment with progesterone to balance out the estrogen gave me my life back. Did a saliva test with a homeopathic physician for this. At first the progesterone was in tablet form, but then I switched to liquid capsules in olive oil base. The delivery format is a contributing factor to the effectiveness of treatment. The progesterone supplement solved all, immediately. I got my life back! Until a few months ago when my hormonal balance changed again, giving me frequent hot flashes, and noticeable sudden rages. So, while I am grateful for the ease and relief of those 10 months, it’s time to recalibrate my treatment again as my journey through menopause continues. Seeing my dr next week!

        Adding that my periods have always been very regular, until this summer. Haven’t had one since August. Wishfully hoping that was my last, as I understand sometimes it is just that abrupt. But, reading the comments here tells me that it could be a fakeout. I have a friend for whom menopause was a seamless transition merely noticed in hindsight. I have my fingers crossed I’m near the end of my symptoms, but I understand this could go on for awhile. Carefully choosing my protocols of diet and supplementation and lifestyle support to ease the transition. My main focus is to reduce the stress in my life. That’s actually what I come here to Celebitchy Nation for! 😉

      • Anna says:

        My mom passed away from breast cancer. I believe she also attributed it in part to use of hormone treatments for menopause. I am scared to think about using them when I enter menopause. I don’t want ten years of horror but I also don’t want to get cancer. :/

      • Nikki says:

        Wanted to say I had to take natural hormones for a while because I was cracking up from no sleep, BUT my doctor said there have been no higher risks of cancer for using hormones up to 5 years. At that point there is a higher statistical risk, so I got off them after three years; my mom had breast cancer. My funniest hot flash was while I was conducting a 90 person orchestra. I was trying to tell them the effect I wanted for the music, and suddenly I’m sweating like JACK NICHOLSON in a horror movie: it’s dripping down my face under hot stage lights! I tried to ignore it and kept conducting, but the musicians closest to me looked at me like I was scaring them!

    • Mel says:

      Mine has been totally uneventful.
      No visible physical changes either (except some for the better, but I doubt they are related to the menopause ;)).

  11. mkyarwood says:

    Not crazy. Good genes do exist and she’s got ’em. I’ll be getting some kind of eyelift at her age because, even though the women in my family have great skin, our eyes just bag and sag from the very beginning. I won’t bother with my saggy neck tho. I’d rather wear cool scarves or high necked dresses with no sleeves to show off my good shoulders than do any real knifery procedures.

  12. SamiHami says:

    It’s cute that she thinks menopause only lasts a few months or a year. I’m going into my third year of it and it’s showing no sign of slowing down. It’s a natural process, sure, but it’s definitely not fun at all. Especially if you choose to ride it out without hormone replacement therapy, as I have.

    • Isabelle says:

      It varies with women, from 10 years to less than year. The women in my family, usually no more than 2 years tops. Peri-menopause (which is actually whats last several years) can last the longer but Menopause can actually go quickly. Genetics and health (cancer treatments, immune problems, etc) can effect it.

      • noway says:

        I looked it up on a medical site, the average length for menopause is 4 years, but some women it is only a few months. Funny they didn’t have a worst case scenario length though. Perimenopause the time before you have not missed a period for over 12 months is harder to diagnose. It could be non-symptomatic or a decade or more.

      • SamiHami says:

        Yup. My sister in law has been going through menopause (not peri) for a few years now. I probably was in peri menopause but had my ovaries removed, which put me immediately into full blown menopause. It’s been a rough ride, but I know not as bad as others have described. My worst symptom is those damn hot flashes. Yikes! I sometimes wonder if those cases of spontaneous human combustion we hear about once in a while are the result of hot flashes…

        Oh, and I cry. A LOT. For no reason at all. Actually, that’s gotten better lately, so hopefully that fun symptom is over. But it’s so unpredictable.

      • Isabelle says:

        @noway my friends mom went through about 8 years of peri and about 4 years of menopause. She was ready to be over it. She was 58 by the time it was over. Swear a part of me wants to go through it quick and younger. My doc said your mother is your best indicator of what age and how long you will go through it unless there are medical conditions that prolong it or shorten it.

  13. candice says:

    I love her candour and she’s a breath of fresh air compared to what we’re used to. The no periods thing sounds great, but it comes at a price — i.e. menopause symptoms are no walk in the park for some and then there is the issue of your bones. My friend had a surgical menopause when she wa s younger and didn’t take HRT. She had other risk factors for osteoporosis, but at 45 she has the bones of an 80 year old. My doctor said in this regard, the longer you have periods the better

    • wolfie says:

      Bio-identical HRT has the advantage of keeping your bones strong. I’ve used them for fifteen years and have had no osteoporosis appear on my bone scans. I believe that HRT has also helped with my skin tone and texture and activity level. I am 60, yet I am told that I look 45 on a good day (I use nothing plastic and everything healthy). It happened like this with my mother as well. With HRT, I experienced no discomfort during menopause, other than wistfulness at the loss of my moon blood.

      • Calcifer says:

        @Wolfie The advantages of bio-identical HRT sound great to me, but the big question to me is: When do you finally stop taking them? There must be disadvantages to taking them as well (though the effects seem to be little researched), which might make you want to stop at a certain point. And what happens then? You would still have to go through menopause, with a body that by then is older and less resilient. Not to be critical of other peoples’s choices but I just wonder, do women who take (bio-identical) HRT ever ask themselves those questions?

      • candice says:

        Wolfie – where do you live? I’ve mentioned it to my doctor here in Canada and she is not aware of biodentical hrt. So much for staying up to date…

      • Jaded says:

        @Candice – I can’t believe your doctor doesn’t know about bio-ident HRT – that’s like not knowing about penicillin!! My gyno suggested them over decade ago but I don’t react well to them and prefer good old fashioned low-dose estrogen. Ask her to refer you to an endocrinologist or gynecologist who can explain the differences between regular HRT and bio-ident. In the meantime, here’s an article that can get you started on finding out a bit more.

        http://thecenterforoptimalhealth.org/our-services/menopause—hormone-replacement-therapy/bioidentical-hormonetherapy-faq.html

      • candice says:

        @Jaded – thanks, I will check it out. I have a male doctor who gets offended if you do any research before your appointment and even give a hint of questioning his opinion & advice. His mantra is “My way or the highway”. It’s not easy to find a GP here – although I’m pretty much stuck with this guy, I do try to be my own advocate and research things on my own.

    • SamiHami says:

      Unfortunately not everyone is a good candidate for HRT. Because of the very strong family history of female cancers, my GYN says I am not. I thought about trying some herbal remedies, but I’m on medication for other things and worry about adverse interactions. So, I’m just riding it out.

    • Mel says:

      Tell your friend to take vitamin K2 regularly (coupled with magnesium and vitamin D).
      Also, lifting/wearing weights will definitely help.

  14. atiaofthejulii1 says:

    I like her but she will find out……As someone who went into menopause at 40 due to a hysterectomy, it’s been the worst thing. I tried the natural hormone route but it didn’t work for me. I’m almost 50 and it’s been 10 years of menopause and I’m not done yet. I would do anything to have my periods back. That’s how bad it’s been. I’ve tried Black Cohash and that made my hot flashes worse.

    • AntiSocialButterfly says:

      I have got to tell you this:

      Try a clonidine patch from your doctor.

      My hot flashes became intolerable- waking me at least six times a night (just rolling over or stretching in bed would induce them) and countless ones during the day. The clonidine patch (change weekly) took about a week to take hold, consistently reducing the frequency and intensity. I just put my third patch on and I have no more nighttime flashes, and seldom have a small one during the day. It has been life- altering because the sleep interruptions are GONE. Much like when an infant first sleeps through the night (and I don’t mean 4 or 6 hours, lol).

  15. hadlyB says:

    I don’t look forward to it at all. The no periods sure but the other changes? Hair thinning, no sex drive, loss of muscle tone, weight gain especially in the stomach, lower metabolism, tiredness, bone weakness, aging faster, sleep issues, itching skin, hot flashes, migraines, achy body, and more.

    I will miss my hormones when they are gone I’d rather deal with my periods than to have all those issues. I will be looking into biogenetical hormones when the time comes.

    Some skate through it fine, no effects and others get every single one and then some. You just never know.

    Aging is no joke and just sucks. The one thing I agree with on Helen Mirren on this is after time goes on and you get older you care about less, and don’t give a *&ck as much as you did when you were 25.

    • wolfie says:

      I think that many of the issues that you mention have to do with lifestyle. Many people, after a certain age, succumb to couch sitting, and when the body no longer has demands placed upon it, will simply wither away. I watched lots of women think that they were “old”, who then stopped getting exercise and cool clothing. They get old and bent very fast. It’s very important to stay involved with exhilarated living.

      • hadlyB says:

        True is even more important to stay active as you get older if you can.

        But I also have seen family members who were fit, active, ate healthy have a lot of these issues I mentioned.

        I had one Aunt who brushed through it no problem — she loved it. But that is rare and she was also the most unhealthy person I ever met. Every one is different but its rare to have no issues as you get older even if you are the most healthy person you can be.

      • Mel says:

        Exactly, Wolfie. It’s not necessarily the menopause – it’s the cumulative effect of decades of unhealthy lifestyle, coupled with the defeatist “who cares” attitude that some women develop.

        My hair isn’t thinning (at all), my skin is smooth and wrinkle-free, my sex drive is better (or should I say worse? :P) than it was in my 20s – no, seriously – and I am well into menopause.

  16. kai says:

    Um, yes, I think it’s crazy to believe that she had no work done. Come. On.

  17. Tig says:

    I also agree- why can’t she be asked ?s about the movie, as opposed to hair/weight/plastic surgery? And ask her in 10 yrs re menopause- THAT I’d like to read!

  18. Jag says:

    I love what she’s saying. But she looks like she had under eye fillers in that photo with Craig.

    Reporters would never ask a man if he dyes his hair, what he’s doing for his skin, or about his hormonal issues. Men go through a menopause as well.

  19. Tessa says:

    How can she be that old and not know what the menopause entails?
    Someone enlighten her about flashes mood swings insomnia vaginal atrophy, stress fractures etc

  20. kri says:

    She is crazy gorgeous. And really,,,,, why fear aging? We all know it’s coming. I’m enjoying myself so far. So much less angsty and so much more at peace with myself. I never thought I’d feel this way.

  21. Veronica says:

    If she’s using the elastics, she is exercising regularly – it’s just weight training and not cardio. Those things give you quite the work out. With her build, I could see it. There’s a softness to her that you don’t see as much in American celebrity women.

    She seems to have a pretty good attitude toward aging, so kudos to her. She’ll likely regret saying menopause will be easy, though. My mother was miserable throughout hers, though she was fortunate to avoid some of the less flattering symptons – though her hair did thin out somewhat.

  22. TOPgirl says:

    She is gorgeous for her age. Aging gracefully.

  23. FingerBinger says:

    Monica Bellucci is the definition of sexy. I can’t wait for menopause myself. I’m tired of cramps and pms. I’m not looking forward to hot flashes.

    • LaurieH says:

      Believe me, menopause is a WHOLE lot more than just hot flashes. It’s terrible night sweats. It’s heart palpitations, indigestion, bloating, itching, vaginal dryness, loss of libido and loss of energy. It’s peculiar breast pains, abdominal pains and other odd joint pains. It’s terrible fatigue coupled with disrupted sleep. It’s depression and anxiety. It’s hair loss (in some places) and odd hair growth (in other places). The joke is about the “Seven Dwarves of Menopause”: Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy, Bloated, Forgetful and Psycho.” Yep… you think you’ll be glad to be rid of your cramps and PMS…. but trust me, you’ll quickly long for those days again!

  24. Neah23 says:

    I find her play on words funny Like “I don’t smoke, but I can have the odd cigarette. I don’t drink, but I can drink one glass of wine. ”

    In other words she does smoke and drink just not very often.

  25. Leah says:

    She’s everything!! I want to be her when i grow up!

  26. GreenieWeenie says:

    wow, she had a baby at 45? Wonder if she had help for that.

    • Truthful says:

      not every women have, my best friend’s mom had his brother at 49… and that was not expected at all he is now a very annoying teenager ;D!

      As my Oby says: the belief of women stopping procreating at mid-30 is foolish and ridiculous, people misconcept having a higher risk for birth defect and down syndrome with fertility, as he said if one take a look on the berth registers of the late 19th/ early 20th century, it would be amazing to discover how many babies had mothers in their late 40s/ early 50s.

      And I did take a look and I was indeed shocked and amazed!

    • Isabelle says:

      My grandmother had my mother that late in life. Perfectly healthy. Great grandmother also had a baby at 47, this was way back in the day.

    • Veronica says:

      The concern with women in their 40s having babies is an increased likelihood is genetic disease, but the majority of Down Syndrome children are actually born to younger mothers. Otherwise, there’s no real issue with childbearing in the forties, except that you are older and it can be hard on the body. (There are also plenty of issues with genetic degradation in sperm for men who want to have children later in life, but notice we don’t talk about that as often, eh?)

    • kibbles says:

      I have known women in their late 30s to mid 40s who have gotten pregnant without help. As long as a woman is still on her period, she can technically have a child. Yes, it becomes much more difficult and Bellucci is one of the lucky ones who managed to have two children in her 40s, but she isn’t the only one. We always read about the women who struggle in the news, but plenty of other women have give birth to healthy babies in their 30s and 40s. I’m sure we will hear more of these stories as more women in the world choose a career and education over being a mother early in life.

      • Truthful says:

        30s are perfectly normal, it is a non event when women have their babies within this decade it’s after 42 that it becomes harder (apparently it’s around that age that fertility takes a real plunge)
        In my country 17% of women have their FIRST baby at 40… and the average for the first one is 31, so not a problem at all.

  27. ABBESS TANSY says:

    I have a friend who had a sudden strong hot flash so she went outside in the middle of winter for a minute. She was wearing flannel pj’s pants with a short sleeve t-shirt.

  28. SusanneToo says:

    This thread has gone off on some very interesting tangents. That’s one of my favorite things about CB. Thanks for sharing your personal experiences, Ladies.

  29. Isabelle says:

    “Menopause isn’t a disease”. This 100%, its nature and needed and will happen to every single woman if she lives long enough. Seriously can you imagine being able to get pregnant past 60? Thank goodness we do get to go through menopause so we don’t have that worry of having babies our whole life. Like this refreshing look versus having to go into like we’re fighting a deadly disease.

  30. EN says:

    Monica, I love you, but you are up for a surprise girl. I am not at that stage yet, but periods are not a problem, there is birth control for that.
    Menopause is something I am not looking forward too – bone loss, weight gain, methabolism changes, hot flashes. I’ve seen women go through it and it is no good.
    She probably knows but is trying to go for the glass-half fool approach.

    • Veronica says:

      Well…in fairness, periods are not a problem for *most* women. Birth control is not a fail safe for better periods and comes with its own load of health issues. One of my friends had to artificially induce premature menopause because her periods were so bad she had to undergo surgery to remove buildup and multiple cysts. My other friend who has PCOS only put it off because she wanted children, but she may very likely be looking at a hysterectomy by the age of 35. My own periods had such excessive bleeding that my doctor stuck me on progesterone to cut it down, and we’re still having issues trying to figure out the right dose.

      So, like, I’m not personally looking forward to the SYMPTOMS of menopause, but I know women who are looking forward to getting across the bridge to the other side, eh?

  31. Grant says:

    She’s just stunningly, breathtakingly gorgeous. Always has been, always will be.

  32. Lrm says:

    Guys ayurveda and Chinese medicine have amazing strategies that also build energy and stamina/strength as well as deal with symptoms. Be open minded and explore options for really good health and longevity where you actually feel good not just absence of a terrible symptom. Lots of herbs and super food s plus nutritional strategies. To each their own, buy for those open minded there are options. Reading this thread was painful. Just wanted to share other ideas.

    • lucy says:

      I second this! And wish to add that beauty truly does radiate from the inside, including thoughts. Walk your talk, ladies! Health is not a superficial costume; it is comprised of the whole package of eating, attitude, movement, window-dressing, and actions. Here’s to us: Be well!

    • True says:

      Very true. Chinese medicine really helped me. As has Ayurveda.

  33. v says:

    so are we not going to talk about Monica’s sad wig/weave game? or is that only for Bey posts?;)

    • Jayna says:

      She’s worn wigs/hairpieces for quite a few years. With such dark hair you don’t always notice so easily when she wears them. Some are noticeable, though..

  34. Tara says:

    I believe what she’s saying too. She’s a stunning, confident European woman who probably doesn’t care about the nonsense she sees going on with Hollywood because in Europe actresses of an older age are allowed to be sexy and complex at once.

    It really annoys me that she is the same age as Daniel Craig, but she’s considered the older one. Please. People need to get over their issue with women aging. Stop with these young girls who don’t know anything about life or have any experience. Monica Bellucci is a Woman.

    • EN says:

      > Stop with these young girls who don’t know anything about life or have any experience.

      Jennifer Lawrence comes to mind. She is simply ridiculous in her “older woman” roles.

  35. Lisa says:

    I’m not even 30, but I’m not really afraid of menopause. My mom didn’t have a hard time with it. She didn’t gain weight. The only time she mentioned it was when she made a mistake driving and said it was because of that! If her experience is any indication of what’s in store for me, bring it on.

    • JP says:

      I’ve read that every woman is different, it doesn’t matter what your mother or sister went through. In my family of my mother and 3 older sisters, we all had had different levels of difficulty from mild to severe symptoms.

      • Hauschka says:

        I read about some studies that showed people who don’t have dairy have a much easier time. Japanese women, for example, have virtually “symptom”-free menopauses. But I think their diet is changing very quickly to include a lot of dairy products.

    • LaurieH says:

      My mother had a relatively easy menopause. Mine in hell. With a capital “H”.

  36. Kat says:

    Is it me, or is she touching Daniel Craig’s leg….and does he look a little shocked?

  37. Hauschka says:

    I love Dr Hauschka too. All that natural beauty stuff is good and won’t eff with your hormonal/chemical balance. I believe in acupuncture for certain things too. My friend lost a lot of weight from her acu treatments (but she put it back on with some extra after completing the program). I like Monica’s outlook on everything.

  38. AuroraBorealis says:

    I love you, Monica!!

  39. kibbles says:

    She is truly refreshing and I feel like she is my spirit animal too! Unlike most Hollywood actresses, I believe what she has to say about her health and beauty regime. I think she stays active but isn’t a gym rat, eats well, has great sex, and loves life. Those are the so-called secrets to living well and looking great! I can never see myself getting Botox, but I have tried acupuncture on my body and would prefer to use that on my face than Botox if/when I need to get rid of wrinkles. I turn to Western medicine when it comes to internal health issues, but for overall well being, I wholeheartedly recommend alternative and Asian medicine. Drinking tea, getting massages, acupuncture, etc. makes you feel wonderful and in turn look wonderful on the outside. I’m thinking of American actresses in their 40s and 50s who look absolutely horrible because of bad plastic surgery and an unhealthy lifestyle (Renee Zellweger, Meg Ryan, Melanie Griffith, etc.). They could learn a lot from Monica Bellucci who is by far the most (naturally) beautiful famous actress in her age group.

  40. redd says:

    What a dumb bitch.
    Yeah, cuz no periods is all there is.
    Thanks, you vapid cow, for trivializing a condition that emotionally, physicall and mentally cripples most women at some point.

  41. HatetheletterKf says:

    She is lovely, but if she thinks she is looking forward to menopause, with the hot flashes and night sweats, she may want to rethink that. It has truely been the worst experience in my life.

  42. Laura says:

    She is a gorgeous and intelligent breath of fresh air – love her!!!

  43. Well, I can truly say that anyone who looks forward to menopause or who likes it has never been through it without the use of hormones. Your sex drive goes and your vag dries up without help. That is what is normal in life.

  44. LaurieH says:

    The menopause is great? Oh honey, no – just no. I am 51 and I’m in menopause and it is NOT great… unless you think it’s great to feel like your insides are being microwaved. Or that night sweats are fun. Or bloating is cute. Or breast pain in a joy. Oh and the mood swings – yeah, those are excellent. And if she thinks it’s so natural and great, why is she taking hormones to deal with it? Either ride the hormone dragon or don’t. But geeeez.

  45. Tough Cookie says:

    I’m 59 and still waiting for menopause. My doctor thinks it’s wonderful and for the most part I agree…. My friends tell me to have a hysterectomy so I won’t have to be bothered with it but I really feel that is a drastic measure for the inconvenience. Yes it’s a pain to have been buying Tampax for over 40 years but there are worse things LOL

  46. Nikki says:

    I’ve had a really rough time in menopause, but my sister literally was surprised one day when she realized she hadn’t had her period in over a year; she didn’t even NOTICE! Hey, the only good thing is I am no longer anemic; I used to have unbelievable periods. Still, if any of you are having a terrible time in menopause, keep sharing with your girlfriends, try some of the things mentioned by other posters. My girlfriends and I all went to see “Menopause, the Musical” and I laughed the entire time! Hilarious and true!