There’s a lot less to be afraid of than you might think.
Some of the things you hear about menopause are partly true and partly inaccurate—and some are just simply false. This is not your mother’s (or your grandmother’s) menopause. Let’s debunk the old wives’ tales about menopause and dive into the evidence-backed facts.
“Once you start missing periods, you can’t get pregnant.”
You haven’t reached menopause until you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. If you go 11 months and then have a period, the count starts again. Perimenopause is the time when your ovaries gradually make less estrogen and eventually stop releasing eggs. It usually starts eight to 10 years before menopause but may be much shorter than that. Your fertility will gradually decline, but as long as you have any periods you may still be able to get pregnant. If you don’t want to get pregnant, it’s important to keep using birth control until you reach menopause.
“There’s nothing you can do about hot flashes or other symptoms.”
About 85% of women experience some symptoms during the transition to menopause, but the frequency and intensity of symptoms vary. Some women suffer hot flashes and night sweats that disrupt their lives severely and may require medication to manage, while others are able to make lifestyle changes that help them alleviate symptoms. If perimenopause symptoms are making you miserable, consult your physician.
“Say goodbye to your waistline!”
It’s true that gaining weight is common after menopause. Studies with lab animals appear to show estrogen helps to control weight gain. However, many other factors also influence weight gain as we get older, including exercising less, losing muscle mass, and slowing metabolic rates. It may take more effort to maintain a normal weight or to lose weight, but it can be done! Eating a balanced diet and exercising can help prevent weight gain and improve sleep disruption and other menopause symptoms.
“Menopause starts at age 50.”
The average age people go through menopause in the US is 51. But this average is part of a range; some women become menopausal between 40 and 45, which is known as early menopause. Premature menopause is entering perimenopause before age 40. This can happen due to surgery, family history, cancer treatment, an autoimmune disease, or even for no apparent reason.
“Your sex drive will disappear.”
Some perimenopause symptoms like vaginal dryness can make sex uncomfortable or painful. Some women lose interest in sex. Others feel freedom from periods and the need for birth control are sexy! It’s okay if you don’t want to have sex. If you do want to, products like vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can help, as can trying new positions, highlighting foreplay, and simply having sex more often. Hormone replacement therapy may also help make sex more comfortable.
“Menopause makes you depressed.”
Some studies have found that women are more vulnerable to depression during perimenopause and after menopause. Fluctuating hormone levels can put you on an emotional roller coaster. However, one study highlighted that stressful life events such as illness, problems in your marriage, and issues with children leaving home were associated with depression and anxiety during menopause. The researchers learned that a negative perception of menopause seemed to play “a significant role” in predicting anxiety and depression. Menopause may create a window of opportunity for depression, but it seems like your expectations and your life experiences are the significant predictors.
“Estrogen Replacement Therapy and Hormone Replacement Therapy are dangerous.”
For healthy women under age 60 or less than 10 years from menopause, the risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are low. An 18-year follow-up to the original study which caused a lot of fear around HRT found no increased risk of death from any cause for women who took HRT for five to seven years. The original study found elevated risks of heart disease and breast cancer, but the findings applied only to older women. HRT is not recommended for women with heart disease, a history of blood clots, liver disease, or some cancers.
“Menopause means I’m officially old.”
Some women feel that the end of their reproductive years is the beginning of old age. Maybe that was true in earlier centuries, when people didn’t live much past age 50. But for women today, menopause is a natural transition to a new phase of life that will last for decades. Being freed from childbearing and child raising opens up a lot of exciting possibilities. Staying healthy and active ensures you can have a happier, healthier future.
Have other questions about menopause? Let’s talk! WIN Nurse Care Advocates are experts in identifying menopause symptoms and can work with you to find a solution best suited for you.
Mythbusting Menopause
Subscribe to stay in the loop
Our newsletter delivers expert insights, practical benefit strategies, heart warming member
moments, and the latest in fertility and family-building news straight to your inbox.