If you were born with ovaries, your hormone levels—specifically estrogen and progesterone—will eventually decline. This process typically begins naturally in your mid- to late 40s, but it can occur earlier or later, depending on your body and overall health. After a few years, around age 52 on average, this transition leads to the end of your menstrual cycle, a life phase known as menopause.
Menopause, along with the years leading up to it, can bring about a range of frustrating symptoms. Despite being a shared experience (approximately one million people go through menopause at any given time, according to the National Institute on Aging), it remains poorly understood.
A July 2023 online survey conducted in the U.K. and reported in BMC Women’s Health revealed that only 47% of respondents at various stages of menopause felt knowledgeable about managing their symptoms.
This lack of understanding often leads to the spread of menopause myths.
Below, I dispel five misconceptions about menopause.
Myth 1: It's All in Your Head
While not ALL women experience symptoms, 85% of all women report experiencing symptoms of varying types and severity.
Dismissing symptoms is not okay. Doctors/friends/partners may diminish the severity of symptoms and/or may not recognize lesser-known symptoms such as anxiety and sleep disruption.
Don’t let anyone gaslight you!
Myth 2: You're Too Young
A U.S. survey found that only one in five obstetrics and gynecology residents received formal training in menopause medicine. As a result, many doctors feel unprepared to treat women in perimenopause and menopause.
Perimenopause can start as early as the 30s and may last from a few months to several YEARS, often with significant symptoms.
If your symptoms are disruptive, you deserve treatment!
Myth 3: Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) is Dangerous
This may be the most concerning myth!
Many folks (including doctors) are stuck on outdated information from the 2002 Women's Health Initiative Study.
For many women, hormone therapy is a safe and effective way to manage menopause symptoms, including prescription pills, patches, and low-dose vaginal estrogen.
The 2022 guidelines from the North American Menopause Society recommend the lowest effective dose of MHT for women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause for optimal symptom relief.
If you're healthy and have no contraindications, such as a history of stroke, blood clots, or breast cancer, the benefits of hormone therapy generally outweigh the risks.
Myth 4: Menopause Only Affects Women
Whether you identify as a cisgender woman, genderqueer, or a trans man, if you were born with ovaries, you will go through some form of menopause transition.
The experience will differ from person to person, particularly for those who receive gender-affirming care, but everyone will undergo this transition regardless of their gender identity.
Myth 5: It's Downhill From Here
Menopause can be among the best times in life!
You don’t have to worry about contraception anymore, and if you were troubled by heavy periods or PMS, menopause cures that problem!
It can offer greater clarity about priorities, stronger relationships, more financial stability, the freedom to pursue personal passions, and the ability to let go of societal expectations that may have previously held you back, allowing for a more authentic life experience.
I always think of the Carry Bradshaw quote from Sex in the City: "Your 20s are for mistakes, your 30s are for the lessons, and your 40s are to buy the drinks."
And I would add that your 50s are for giving zero f*cks!
Embrace the F*ckery
Menopause is unavoidable, but suffering is avoidable!
While menopause brings physical and emotional changes, it can also be a time for newfound freedom and empowerment.
I know that sounds corny, but it's true!
It is vital to foster open discussions, educate ourselves, and support one another. Seeking help from a certified menopause medical practitioner or an expert like me can offer valuable resources and insights for successfully navigating menopause.
You deserve to feel your best at every age. I'm rooting for you!
Comments