"Hold up! Nothing fancy...I just want to start with the basics!"
I got you! Not everyone needs or wants a full course. So this 14-page guide is designed to give a basic overview of WHAT perimenopause is, and typical things that women and couples can expect to see with changes related to cycle lengths, cervical fluid, basal body temping, and LH testing in the various stages!
PLUS- it includes a list of Natural Family Planning method options and links to websites so you can follow up with individualized advice from a certified instructor!
But... what would happen if we went beyond just the basics and really invested in learning about our bodies as we age?
What if we assumed that women need perimenopause education the same way girls need puberty education? After all, OUR bodies are changing, too!
Menstrual cycles and periods are just... different. Shorter? Longer? Heavier? Lighter? Yeah. What's up with that????
...Not to mention mood swings, insomnia, night sweats, and changes in our body shape, too! Why is that happening?
But we're adults. We're super busy, on the go, and we probably just need a portable education option.
You are not alone in feeling like there should be more education and support for menopause.
The fact is that women deserve education about our bodies, but...
Sometimes we don't know who to turn to for advice. Our moms may not be around, they may have gone through a totally different menopause experience, or they just may not want to talk about it.
And doctors are helpful, but they don't really have time to explain why all of this is happening.
And our friends' experiences may be really different from ours. So while it's great to know that we're not alone (and it's SO important to be affirmed that we're DEFINITELY not making all of this up!), there's only so much information we can get from girl talk.
It's impossible to predict the future and to know EXACTLY how each individual woman will experience the perimenopause transition, but don't you think we could all benefit from knowing:
☑️ The different stages of perimenopause (Yep! Even within perimenopause there are distinct phases!)
☑️ How our menstrual cycles, periods, and fertility shift through these various stages?
☑️ Considerations for how these changes might impact our family planning protocols (whether we're trying to avoid pregnancy or conceive!)
☑️ What are other normal symptoms to experience, and when I should talk with a doctor?
☑️ How to navigate this time together, as a couple?
☑️ And especially for CATHOLIC couples, why not add in some reflection that can help us navigate this time with more positivity and respect for this unique (albeit confusing!) time in our lives?
Hi, I'm Christina Valenzuela.
I've been a Natural Family Planning instructor for over a DECADE and through Pearl & Thistle I'm on a mission to bring better body literacy to the Church.
Because NFP is challenging.
Understanding our bodies can be a beautiful, but also frustrating experience.
And coping with the transition through perimenopause is something that adds layers of changes to our relationships, our overall health, AND yes... our NFP protocols.
THAT'S WHY I CREATED:
Perimenopause Prep: Navigating NFP with Shifting Fertility
A self-paced course to give you a comprehensive overview of the hormonal and cycle changes we can expect to see through the different stages of perimenopause, with a SPECIAL FOCUS on how this all applies to Natural Family Planning and our relationship with God and our spouse.
When it comes to Natural Family Planning during perimenopause, just imagine how much better it would be if...
...we had a heads' up about certain cycle changes (like... did you know that SHORT cycles are one of the first signs?)
... we knew what sorts of issues we might start to see with our various fertility biomarkers, and could ask really targeted questions of our instructors about how our NFP method will handle that?
...we understood how fertility rates change through this transition, so we can discern more concretely with our spouse about postponing pregnancy or trying to conceive?
Here is what "better" perimenopause education looks like ↓
Self-paced video course, bonus discussion guides and activities to do as a couple, curated suggestions for resources to learn more, and even a private podcast with guest experts to listen on the go!
VIDEO PREVIEW
Want a sneak-peek?
Watch the "Introduction" video to get a feel for the tone, pacing, and content! But buckle up, because this course includes:
Contents
Downloadable Course Materials
Welcome to Perimenopause Prep!
These files are here for you to have as a reference while progressing through our course. You can download the Slides document to have an easy place to take notes as you work through the videos, and the Resources & References document will give you all the handy information about footnotes, sources, and recommended further reading!
- 16.3 MB
- 6.64 MB
- 18.4 MB
Course Videos
- 16 mins
- 1.91 GB
- 25 mins
- 2.8 GB
- 15 mins
- 1.34 GB
- 15 mins
- 1.03 GB
- 12 mins
- 743 MB
- 8 mins
- 557 MB
- 21 mins
- 1.53 GB
- 16 mins
- 1.79 GB
- 17 mins
- 2.19 GB
- 22 mins
- 2.89 GB
Private Podcast Episodes
This series of podcasts features expert interviews to expand the conversation about perimenopause beyond NFP! You can listen to the files right here in Podia, or you can just click the link to find this private podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
- 18 mins
- 31.4 MB
- 23 mins
- 40.5 MB
- 24 mins
- 43 MB
- 8 mins
- 13.6 MB
- 21 mins
- 38.4 MB
- 27 mins
- 47.9 MB
And if that's not enough, the course includes a PRIVATE PODCAST full of additional expert interviews on topics like:
Dr. Naomi Whittaker
Navigating Symptoms with Hormonal Supplementation
Megan Eberhardt
Navigating Changes to our Pelvic Floor
Annie Mahoney
Navigating Insulin Resistance
Rita Johnson
Navigating Low Hormones Through Adrenal Support
Rebecca Vavilov
Navigating Decreased Libido
Tracy Mann
Navigating Perimenopause with PCOS
What are other Catholic women saying about Perimenopause Prep?
"I am impressed. I can tell you have done your research and the courses are engaging!"
"I love how you break things down by perimenopause staging and how various bio markers may or may not be a good fit at those times."
"Thank you for offering this!! I like how you combine science and theology. Your delivery is good and approachable."
"This course EXCEEDED my expectations! In all the video topics, I learned a LOT!"
"Just watched the intro and now I want my husband to watch with me. So good so far!"
"So so helpful. Exactly what I was looking for. In addition to learning about perimenopause stages, I learned a lot about how to talk with my husband!"