Supplementation during menopause was one of the topics that focused the discussion at ASISA WeLIfe Menopausia A Coruña. PHOTO: Salomé García Gómez.
ASISA WeLife Menopausia A Coruña
Our talk about the changes in women reached A Coruña with Marta Masi, Diana López Freire, Lola Ibáñez and María Rey.
By Salomé García Gómez
June 15, 2026 / 08:19
«Quiero recuperar a la mujer que era». Con esta frase de una paciente concluía su ponencia en ASISA WeLife Menopausia A Coruña la ginecóloga Diana López Freire, especialista adjunta en el Servicio de Ginecología y Obstetricia del Hospital Ribera Povisa de Vigo. «Es un momento en el que el cuerpo cambia, hay cansancio, niebla mental, menos libido… Es normal que la mujer no se reconozca en su propio cuerpo y que no entienda qué tiene que ver todo eso con la caída de los estrógenos».
Dr. Freire, member of the Spanish Association for the Study of Menopause (AEEM), was one of the invited guests to a new edition of this major event organized by WeLife and La Voz de Galicia, with ASISA as main partner, to dispel myths and bring science around everything that happens when menopause arrives. The Meliá María Pita Hotel in A Coruña was the chosen venue to host the event.
The worst, the transition phase
The hormonal changes in this stage, responsible for many of the disorders and health complications suffered by many women, centered the gynecologist’s talk. “The worst stage is the transition because there the fluctuations in hormone levels are enormous. That’s why many of the symptoms, such as hot flashes or insomnia, are more pronounced in these years. When the woman definitively enters postmenopause, those levels stabilize and those symptoms also ease considerably,” explained Dr. López Freire.
It is at that moment that the advisability of hormone therapy should be considered. “We call it the window of opportunity because in the first 10 years after menopause is when we will achieve the greatest health benefits for women.”
Before concluding, she stressed that “hormone therapy is a woman’s right to improve her quality of life and reduce cardiovascular risk, which is the main cause of death at this stage of a woman’s life. All doctors should stay updated and assess the advisability of personalizing treatment for each woman.”
Breathing to control anxiety
The day had begun with a session of conscious breathing techniques led by María Rey, owner and teacher at the Mukta Yoga center in A Coruña. “Stop for a moment and focus on breathing; it is a fabulous tool to contain stress,” she explained.
Techniques such as the 4-4-4-4 breathing are very effective for relaxation. “It is also known as square breathing. It goes in 4 counts: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4, and pause for another 4. It works very well in moments of acute anxiety,” she noted while guiding the attendees in this workshop.
Supplements with a sensible approach
Upon menopause, and, in general, aging, some vital processes begin to weaken. It is a natural process that can be attenuated by optimizing the diet. “But the nutrients we can ingest in a normal diet throughout the day are not always enough,” noted the pharmacist and communicator Marta Masi.
Even with a healthy and balanced diet, the necessary intakes are often so high that they are unfeasible. “For example, we need omega-3 to improve brain performance and control the rise in cholesterol. There is omega-3 in eggs, but we would have to eat more than 20 a day. The same goes for calcium: you would need more than a liter or three servings of dairy. And that is not always achievable,” she stressed.
Collagen, magnesium, calcium, vitamins D and K, and creatine are the supplements Masi recommends as basic at this stage. “They should not be taken daily, except magnesium, because it participates in more than 300 chemical reactions in the body and gets consumed. For the others we can establish breaks.”
Care and enjoy at the same time
The pelvic floor physiotherapist Lola Ibáñez emphasized the importance of knowing this region of our anatomy without fear. “The good thing about taking care of it is that it is a very grateful musculature. It responds well and quickly to stimulation,” she explained. And yes, orgasm is excellent for rejuvenating this area. “How could it not be if each orgasm triggers between 9 and 12 involuntary contractions of the muscles?” she asked amid the laughter of the attendees.
«Ideally, at least once a week. We can achieve it with our partner or on our own. Sex toys also help. With lubricant, please, because at this stage the mucosa is drier and, if we don’t lubricate, it can be more uncomfortable or painful”.
Conversation and snacks
At ASISA WeLife Menopausia A Coruña, all attendees received a goodie bag with a thermos cup, a makeup bag and a fan from ASISA; a bottle of collagen Woman from Marta Masi; and a flyer with a gift from nutritionist Sandra Moñino.
After the projection of an ASISA video about how to take care of ourselves, there was a networking cocktail where attendees could chat animatedly with the speakers.
