Let’s talk about menopause…a topic that’s often brushed aside but affects millions of Americans every year. “The definition of menopause is one full year without a period in the absence of something else to explain it, like pregnancy,” explained Dr. Mary Jane Minkin of Yale Medicine. The tricky part? “You don’t know that’s your last period until a year later,” said Dr. Karen E. Adams from Stanford.
The average age for menopause in the U.S. is 52, and after that 12 months and one day milestone, “you’re in post-menopause… until you die,” Adams added. All this silence around menopause just adds confusion, stress, and discomfort and it’s time to open up the conversation…because knowledge here really is power. Here are six things to know about menopause:
- Menopause Symptoms Start During The Perimenopause Phase In Your 40’s: Perimenopause is the phase leading up to your final period cycle that mimics the symptoms of menopause. “Perimenopause, on average, lasts four to seven years, but it can be one to 10 years,” Adams said…and this happens at around 52-years-old but can start as early as your 40’s. Adams warns of perimenopause symptoms being easily mistaken for symptoms of other issues like a thyroid issue, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, or even long COVID. But Adams says “when you have them all together, it’s definitely important that people think, ‘Wow, this could be perimenopause.’”
- A Doctor Can’t Tell You Exactly When You’ll Start Menopause: If you’re wondering when perimenopause or menopause might hit, then keep wondering. There’s no exact timeline, but chatting with your mom or older sister can offer clues. “That’s helpful, certainly helpful, things tend to run in families,” said Minkin. Still, it’s not a guarantee…it could happen earlier or later for you, too. And as Adams pointed out, medical treatments like ovary removal or certain cancer therapies can trigger menopause as well.
- Prepare For Losing Bone Density: Menopause can lead to bone loss thanks to lower estrogen levels, and that can become a big deal later in life. “Falling and breaking a hip when you’re 80 or 85 is an absolute disaster because one in four of those women will die, and another one in four will be permanently disabled,” said Adams. The good news? “You can build more bone density by doing more weight-bearing exercise, paying attention to calcium and vitamin D,” she explained, so starting in your 20’s and 30’s really pays off.
- Hormone Therapy Isn’t As Scary As It Sounds: Hormone therapy, or estrogen replacement therapy, is a victim of bad PR. After an unproven and misinterpreted study linking hormone therapy to breast cancer, women stopped seeking menopause treatment and the docs are here to say hormone therapy is okay. Adams says “hormone therapy promotes heart health, promotes bone health and manages the symptoms…There’s a very, very effective, good treatment for all these symptoms and a lot of the diseases of aging, and many people are not taking advantage of it.” But with any medication there’s always risk, so talking to your doctor about potential risks from hormone therapy is the right way to go. “The risk of menopausal hormone therapy equates to the same relative risk…of having more than one drink a day of alcohol…So me, personally, when I counsel patients about this, I say that there’s still risk with hormone therapy, but there’s actual true benefit with hormone therapy, and alcohol cannot boast the same benefits,” says Dr. Ella Speichinger an OB-GYN at University of Missouri Health Care.
- Find A Doctor Who Understands YOU And All That Comes With Menopause: If you’re searching for a menopause-savvy doctor, the Menopause Society website is a great place to start. “Anybody who’s listed there is somebody who knows about menopause, likes to talk about menopause and can probably help you,” said Minkin. This phase of life can feel isolating, but it really doesn’t have to be…and support is out there.
- “Menopausal Zest” Is Real: Getting through menopause can be tough, but there’s light on the other side. “There is a real thing called menopausal zest,” said Adams, adding that many people feel “happier” in life, love, and work once they’re past the transition. “Menopause is not the end of something… it’s a new beginning,” she said. “Menopause is inevitable if you live long enough, but suffering is not inevitable, and you don’t have to suffer through it,” Adams said. “In fact, it can be quite liberating.”
Comments