October 18 - World Menopause Day

Every October 18, World Menopause Day is commemorated, a date promoted by the International Menopause Society (IMS) together with the World Health Organization. The goal is simple and is still necessary: to talk about a stage that every woman goes through and about which, in Mexico, people still speak in a low voice.

At The Everyday Lab this date matters to us because a good part of what women ask us —dryness, changes in the skin, loss of firmness, intimate discomfort— originates in what happens to collagen during this transition. And almost no one explained it to them beforehand.

Why does World Menopause Day matter?

World Menopause Day exists because for decades this stage was treated as something to be endured in silence. Many women reach perimenopause without knowing what to expect, attribute the symptoms to stress or age, and take years to ask for help. Putting a date on the calendar forces us to name what is happening: it is physiology, it is manageable, and there is nothing to hide.

What exactly is menopause?

Menopause is the moment when menstrual cycles permanently end. It occurs when the ovaries stop releasing eggs and, as a result, estrogen and progesterone levels drop.

The WHO defines it as the permanent cessation of menstruation, determined retrospectively after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea, with no pathological causes. That is: it is not diagnosed on the day it happens, but a year later. The average age is around 51, although the normal range goes from 45 to 55.

The three stages worth distinguishing

• Perimenopause: it can start up to 10 years earlier. Cycles become irregular and the first hot flashes and sleep changes appear. It is the longest stage and the worst explained.
• Menopause: the exact point of 12 months without a period.
• Postmenopause: everything that comes afterwards. Vasomotor symptoms usually ease off, but the changes in skin, bone and intimate tissue become more evident.

If you want the detail of the symptoms stage by stage, we go into it in what menopause causes you.

Why menopause shows so much in the skin and in the intimate tissue

Here is the fact that changes the conversation: estrogen receptors take part directly in collagen synthesis. When estrogen goes down, collagen production falls with it.

The scientific literature describes an approximate loss of 30% of the skin's collagen during the first five years after menopause, and afterwards around 2% per year. That explains why many women feel that "everything changed all at once" and not gradually.

The same phenomenon occurs in the vaginal mucosa, which is tissue rich in type I collagen. As it loses density and elasticity, dryness, a feeling of tightness and discomfort during intercourse appear. It is physiology, not a lack of desire, and it deserves to be explained that way. We cover it in depth in our guide to vaginal collagen and female intimate health.

Collagen in menopause: each route for what belongs to it

Not all collagen does the same thing nor arrives in the same way. The real difference lies in the route of administration, because how much actually reaches the tissue depends on it:

• Traditional capsule or powder: it passes through the digestive system and is absorbed at around 25%.
• Sublingual: it enters through the mucosa under the tongue and avoids the hepatic first pass. Absorption close to 80%.
• Vaginal route: applied directly onto the mucosa you want to work on, absorption reaches 99%.

That is why at The Everyday Lab we separate the two routes. The Liquid Collagen Boost —150 mg of hydrolyzed collagen per 1.5 mL serving (30 drops)— is sublingual collagen and works systemically: skin, hair, nails, joints. That combination (collagen hydrolyzed into small peptides + the sublingual route, which avoids digestion) is the reason for its 80% absorption, up to 3 times that of a capsule. The Ultimate Collagen Boost is vaginally applied collagen, formulated for the intimate tissue, which is where the dryness is felt. And for anyone who wants both, the Collagen Bundle combines them.

In both cases the realistic framework is the same: visible results usually appear at around 6 weeks of constant use. Consistency matters more than the dose. The absorption data for each format is broken down on our science and bioavailability page.

Beyond collagen: what else helps at this stage

• Strength, not just cardio. Resistance training protects muscle mass and bone density, which is what is most compromised after menopause.
• Enough protein. Requirements go up, not down.
• Vitamin D and calcium. In Mexico vitamin D deficiency is more common than assumed, even with sun.
• Sleep. Night sweats fragment rest and that amplifies everything else.
• Daily sun protection. With less collagen, UV damage accumulates faster.

If your problem is sustaining the routine rather than choosing it, we wrote about that in how to build a wellness routine you will actually use.

Frequently asked questions about World Menopause Day and collagen

At what age is it a good idea to start taking collagen?

Your own production starts to drop at around age 25, close to 1% per year. Starting in perimenopause —not waiting for declared menopause— is the most reasonable thing to do.

Does collagen replace hormone therapy?

No. They are different things and they do not compete. Hormone therapy is a clinical decision made with your doctor; collagen is a supplement that provides the raw material of connective tissue.

Is collagen applied to the skin like a cream?

No. The molecule is too large to cross the skin barrier. Collagen is taken sublingually or applied vaginally depending on the product; each active by the route that corresponds to it.

How long until I notice something?

Around 6 weeks of constant use. Before that the change happens at the tissue level, but it is not yet visible in the mirror.

Important clarification: this content is informational and does not replace medical consultation. If you have bleeding after menopause, hot flashes that interfere with your daily life, pain during intercourse or persistent mood symptoms, see your gynecologist: there are options and you do not have to put up with it.

About The Everyday Lab: discover the story, the absorption technology and the complete range of products in our media coverage.