Venus at Every Age

Most women notice that their cycle affects them differently as they age, and with perimenopause and menopause the lack of consistency, or any cycle at all can leave women feeling a great loss.  It is key to understand the subtleties of the Venus as we age and learn how to take advantage of the peak years and stretch or create The Venus Effect as the cycle wanes. 

• Teens and Early Twenties
• The Venus Zenith - Twenties and Thirties
• The Peri-Venus - Your Forties
• Venus and Menopause - Your 50s, 60s and Beyond

Teens and Early Twenties

Venus begins her powerful reign from the time we begin to menstruate – on average as we approach the age of 13. The young ovary ovulates irregularly for the first few years, which can be aggravated by interruptions in sleep, stress and diet changes. As puberty progresses and ovulation evens out, the Venus Week asserts her might and the intensity of the new sexual feelings can be very challenging for young women. This is a great time to have a discussion with your gynecologist about ways to ease the strong fluctuations of the young Venus. More importantly still, is an awareness of the vulnerability that goes along with the burgeoning young Venus. The combination of increasing – and then soaring – amounts of estrogen, combined with the libido-enhancing effect of testosterone, leads to a powerful disinhibiting effect. Protection from STDs and unwanted pregnancy are a key concern among the newly initiated Venus women. Our most fertile years begin while we are still teenagers and Mother Nature expects us to be in full reproductive mode by our early twenties. Armed with the knowledge of The Venus Week, young women can better understand about their hormones and learn how to protect this precious gift.

The Venus Zenith:  Twenties & Thirties

Many women hit their stride in their late twenties and early thirties, radiating health from the inside out. All of this health and vitality is directly tied to a peak in your fertility – which is a peak in your Venus Week. This zenith of vitality also means that the biological clock is ringing louder than ever. Women reach their fertility peak when they are twenty-five (on average), and may find themselves with sex on the brain. Whether you are trying to get pregnant or avoid a pregnancy, understanding your Venus is key in this intensely fertile time – both the risks and rewards. The Venus Zenith is a rich time to enjoy the height of the cycle. It is easy to take for granted – until you look back at it from a different age.

The Peri-Venus:  Your Forties

Forty is a very strong and sexy age as women come into their own and begin to more deeply enrich their lives. Many feel liberated from the years where their focus was fertility and can enjoy a more uninhibited Venus. However, cycle changes in the mid-to-late forties can challenge women to make more conscious decisions about how they want to live their lives. By age forty-three you may begin to notice hormonal changes affecting everything from your appearance to your energy level. Often one of the earliest signs of perimenopause is the shortening of the monthly cycle. Your period may come sooner and be heavier. Your Venus may also be shortened in duration, but may be more intense. There are numerous ways to deal with the symptoms of perimenopause and enjoy your Venus throughout your forties and beyond.

Venus and Menopause:  Your 50s, 60s and Beyond

Yes, menopause marks the end of the Venus Week as we know it; however, the secret of Venus does not disappear so completely. During menopause, the ovaries continue to secrete hormones, primarily weak testosterone–like hormones, for a good many more years after ovulation ends. These hormones are converted to estrogens in certain tissues. This postmenopausal ovarian hormonal contribution may result in improvements in mood, vitality and libido. Even more interesting is that the brain never gives up on the potential for the ovary to respond and continues to send signals creating a cyclic mood phenomenon. The decline in the total amount of estrogen, however, does take its toll on the way we think, feel and look. There are numerous strategies for working around estrogen depletion, not all of them involving hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Although I am very open to HRT, there are documented risks that accompany the benefits. The Venus diet, beauty and lifestyle recommendations outlined in the Venus Effect section of this site are absolutely vital in this stage of life. There are also numerous prescription and non-prescription treatments for the symptoms of estrogen loss. The bottom line is that with the commitment to a healthy lifestyle, the Venus Week ends, but not the Venus Effect.