There are many misconceptions and myths regarding menopause, and everyone wants to know what’s true and what’s not. But worry no more because we have found the 5 myths about menopause that everyone needs to debunk.
- Once you enter menopause, you can’t have sex anymore
Both men and women have this misconception that once a woman reaches menopause, they will not be able to have sex anymore.
Women are the most concerned about this because they have heard many people say it like that.
Or that they have seen one of their friends who have reached menopause being unable to enjoy sex to a point where she stops. But this is far from the truth. Remember cougars?
Many women assume that once they hit this phase of their lives, their sex drive would come to an end abruptly, and they no longer would they have any fulfilling sex life.
As per an article on the Healthline website, this assumption isn’t entirely correct. But the reality is much different.
Some women do indeed struggle with lubrication and libido after menopause. Certain symptoms like vaginal dryness may impact sexual enjoyment. But this is something that can be fixed with medication and supplements.
Also, daily habits like diet and lifestyle choices can affect the natural production of sex hormones. Menopausal women who don’t struggle with a lack of libido can still enjoy satisfying sex life.
It all depends on what you do for the sake of your sexual health.
- Misunderstanding of menopause and perimenopause
When talking about menopause symptoms, people often mistake them with perimenopause symptoms. You have heard about hot flashes, a general sense of confusion, feeling sick, weight gain, and even memory loss, right?
They sound so terrible and people say these things happen to you when you’re in menopause. But that is actually inaccurate.
Those symptoms can indeed happen after you are in menopause, but they appear mostly during perimenopause. Perimenopause is the period leading to menopause and this can take very many years.
Some women may even struggle with symptoms of perimenopause for 10 years. Although this sounds terrifying, these symptoms are manageable and there are professional treatments that can make your life easier during perimenopause.
Meanwhile, menopause itself is the period you are in after your last drop of menstrual blood. After you are in the menopause period and no longer have menstruations, the symptoms go down significantly.
- All women reach menopause once they are 50
It is true that the averagely measured menopausal age is around 51 and 52. But it would be inaccurate to think that all women go into their menopausal period once they reach this age.
Although these numbers are the average, in reality, all women go through their perimenopausal and menopausal periods differently.
By the way, perimenopause is the phase leading to menopause that usually carries a lot of physical symptoms that are unpleasant.
For a lot of women, perimenopause itself typically starts some 8 to 10 years before they actually reach menopause. But even this varies amongst all women, per an article posted on the WebMD publication.
So expect the onset of menopausal events during your 40s. But certain issues may instigate the symptoms to manifest much earlier.
Surgeries, medical issues, congenital conditions, and medications, can trigger early menopause. About 5% of women experience this syndrome before they hit 45 years and a similar proportion don’t experience it until late 50s.
Most women begin their perimenopause at around the age of 44 or later than that. But some women may have started their perimenopause phase when they enter their 30s.
If you are concerned about this and want to get clarity, you can always talk to your doctor.
- Menopause causes women to gain weight
Many women are under the impression that menopause causes them to gain extra weight really fast. In reality, this is not accurate because menopause is not the only thing causing this sudden weight gain.
Health experts suggest that weight gain after menopause has more to do with ageing and other genetic factors. On top of that, lifestyle also affects how fast a woman gains weight after reaching menopause.
In reality, due to the stress of perimenopause, many women may simply abandon the notion of a healthy lifestyle and turn to food for comfort. This in itself may just be what adds to the sudden weight gain.
However, it is also important to note that hormonal changes that occur throughout perimenopause and menopause do have a minor effect on weight gain.
With that said, it is important to be more careful about diet and lifestyle after menopause to prevent extreme weight gain.
- All women go through the same menopause symptoms
There are a few menopause symptoms that always get mentioned when talking about this thing. For that reason, many women are under the impression that all menopause symptoms are the same for all women.
Some of the most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, mood swings, memory loss, dizziness, and even weight gain. In practice, not all of those symptoms are going to be felt by all women.
Menopause is different for different women and no two women experience the same signs. The phase is described as having no periods for a year.
Still, some women continue to have irregular periods after they enter this phase of their sexual lives, as per a publication on the University of Vermont Medical Network website.
Some women only deal with one or two symptoms and this combination of symptoms can all differ from one woman to the next.
With that said, it is important that you know very clearly what your symptoms are and get proper medical support for the correct symptoms.
One woman’s experience is not necessarily another woman’s experience, so talk to your doctor to get a clear understanding of what you are currently dealing with.
Finally, myths about menopause need to be debunked, and people should stop trying to spread rumours about this severe issue. We are sure that knowing these myths can help you filter out facts about menopause in the future.
The Menopause: Facts And Misinformation
Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and reproductive years. It is a significant milestone in a woman’s life and can bring about physical, emotional, and psychological changes. Despite being a common experience for all women, there is a lot of misinformation surrounding menopause. This paper aims to debunk some of the myths and provide factual information about menopause.
Myth #1: Menopause happens at a specific age for all women.
Fact: The average age of menopause is 51, but it can occur between the ages of 40 and 58. Various factors can influence the timing of menopause, such as genetics, smoking, and certain medical conditions. Some women may experience early menopause due to surgical removal of the ovaries or chemotherapy, while others may have a late menopause due to hormonal imbalances or genetics.
Myth #2: Menopause is the same for all women.
Fact: Every woman’s menopause experience is unique. While some women may have mild symptoms that last for a short duration, others may have severe symptoms that last for years. The severity and duration of symptoms also vary from woman to woman. Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and overall health can influence the menopause experience.
Myth #3: Menopause is a disease.
Fact: Menopause is a natural biological process, not a disease. It is a normal part of a woman’s life, just like puberty. However, menopause can increase the risk of certain health conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Therefore, it is essential to manage menopause symptoms and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of these health conditions.
Myth #4: Menopause only affects a woman’s reproductive system.
Fact: Menopause affects the entire body, not just the reproductive system. The decrease in the production of estrogen and progesterone, the two primary female hormones, can cause a wide range of symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances. These hormonal changes can also lead to bone loss, increased risk of heart disease, and changes in skin and hair.
Myth #5: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the only treatment for menopause symptoms.
Fact: HRT is an effective treatment for menopause symptoms, but it is not the only option. There are various non-hormonal treatments available, such as lifestyle changes, herbal supplements, and alternative therapies like acupuncture and yoga. These treatments may not work for everyone, but they can provide relief for some women.
Myth #6: Menopause signifies the end of a woman’s sex life.
Fact: Menopause does not mean the end of a woman’s sex life. In fact, some women may experience an increase in sexual desire and pleasure after menopause due to a decrease in the risk of unwanted pregnancy. However, hormonal changes can lead to vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex, which can be managed with lubricants or hormone-based treatments.
Myth #7: Menopause only happens to women.
Fact: While it is true that menopause only happens to women, men also experience a similar process called andropause or male menopause. Andropause is a gradual decline in testosterone levels, usually occurring in men over 50. It can cause symptoms such as low libido, fatigue, and mood swings. However, unlike menopause, andropause does not involve the complete cessation of fertility.
Myth #8: Menopause is something to be ashamed of and should not be talked about.
Fact: Menopause is a natural part of life, and there is no shame in talking about it. In fact, discussing menopause openly can help break the stigma surrounding it and provide support for women going through the same experience. It is crucial to educate oneself about menopause and its symptoms to manage it effectively.
In conclusion, menopause is a natural and inevitable stage in a woman’s life. It is essential to separate fact from fiction and dispel the myths surrounding it. Every woman’s menopause experience is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing its symptoms. It is crucial to seek support from healthcare professionals, friends, and family to navigate through this significant life transition. Menopause should be talked about openly and without shame to promote awareness and understanding of this normal biological process.
