The Silent Struggle: Breaking the Taboo and Talking About Menopause
Menopause can be scary.
I’m in menopause now. While I initially approached it with trepidation, I thankfully don’t have to give it much thought anymore. I’ve found what works for me, and as long as everything continues as it has been I don’t see myself changing my routine.
Prior to menopause (or as the Brits say, “the menopause”) I honestly hadn’t given it much thought. Ironically, I actually had symptoms of perimenopause which I sought help for from a doctor of natural medicine, but I hadn’t thought much beyond that.
I’m not sure why I didn’t plan for it. I think it’s my nature to be more reactive rather than preventative. This is something I’m trying to change in all aspects of my life.
Why don’t we have more discussion and information readily available to us? Most women will go through this, but the resources just aren’t there. It’s a puzzle—but one I suspect is due to the fact that it's a woman’s issue.
I remember feeling a little bit of shock when I realized that this may be it for me!
I think I was in disbelief that it was happening. I’ve heard stories of very well educated women, some even in the medical field, having all the symptoms and not putting two and two together. They would seek help for their symptoms, and once they realize what’s happening, it seems so obvious!
Menopause means quite literally meno - menstruation; and pause - to put on hold. In this case, it is on hold forever.
There is an age range that this can occur. For instance, in Britain, the average age is fifty-one years old. That means you have had your last period at the age of fifty and you’ve gone one year without a period.
The definition of menopause is no period for 12 consecutive months.
There are also some different definitions of menopause. The United States seems to refer to the time of menopause as a transition. Transition into what? The transition into postmenopause.
I would like to just simplify this and say I’m in menopause—clear and thorough. I cannot reproduce any longer as my ovaries have stopped producing any more eggs.
According to the Cleveland Clinic:
Postmenopause: This is the name given to the time after you haven’t had a period for an entire year (or the rest of your life after menopause). During this stage, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, may get better. However, some people continue to experience menopausal symptoms for a decade or longer after the menopause transition. As a result of a lower estrogen level, people in the postmenopausal phase are at an increased risk for several health conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
So what is there to do to optimize our health during this stage of life?
I chose to go on hormone replacement therapy.
Since I was inadequately prepared for this stage of my life I went on a massive dive into researching this topic. The two women I found most helpful and still continue to reference when I have a question are Dr. Louise Newson and Barbara Taylor.
I want to replace the hormones that are lacking in my body, similar to what is done when there is a hormone deficiency such as diabetes or hypothyroid. We provide these people with hormones and we titrate the hormones specifically to that person's needs.
Signs and symptoms of menopause
Menstrual periods become further apart
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Insomnia
Fatigue
Forgetfulness
Mood swings
Irritability
Depression
Cravings for sweets, carbohydrates, alcohol
Breast pain
Joint stiffness & joint pain
Dry skin
Hair loss on the scalp
Hair growth in undesirable locations
Vaginal dryness
Urinary tract infections
Urinary incontinence
Weight gain
Decreased or increased sex drive
Acne
Headaches
Signs and symptoms of menapause can be very disruptive but that’s not all. These symptoms can also increase your chances of developing other conditions which can have even more dire consequences.
Increased risk for these diseases when in menopause
Heart disease
Osteoporosis
Alzheimers’
Urinary tract infections and incontinence
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in North America once you are over the age of fifty. If you look at all the literature available to us, there is an agreement that a lack of estrogen increases women’s risk for heart disease as well.
Heart disease is only one of the deadly killers of women. Osteoporosis is another one, which may seem like something not as risky—I mean, how do fragile bones kill you?
“The cumulative mortality after 1 year of a hip fracture occurrence ranges between 20 and 40% [3–7] with higher mortality rates in men than in women” Mortality after osteoporotic hip fracture: incidence, trends, and associated factors - PMC.
In conclusion, menopause can be a scary time for women, but it doesn't have to be. It's essential to be prepared, educate ourselves, and make informed decisions about our health. While menopause marks the end of menstruation, it's the beginning of a new phase of life, and with the right approach, it can be a positive one.
Understanding the symptoms and risks associated with menopause is crucial, as is taking steps to optimize our health and reduce our risk of disease. Whether it's hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle changes, or a combination of both, there are plenty of ways to ensure that menopause is a time of growth, self-discovery, and good health. So, let's break the silence around menopause, and support women in this important stage of life.