Navigating any life change is full of surprises. You’re bound to encounter the unexpected, as well as challenges. Sometimes, misconceptions can make the navigation part even more puzzling. Menopause is one of those life changes.
Declining hormones combined with the normal signs of aging make it difficult to separate fact from fiction. Not to mention, each person experiences menopause somewhat differently. Just because your mom and other female relatives have certain stories to tell doesn’t automatically mean you’ll relate. Here are four common misconceptions about menopause and the truths behind them.
1. Only Hormone Replacement Therapy Alleviates Symptoms
As you approach menopause, you may notice changes in your body. Symptoms like vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and night sweats are a few of those unpleasantries. These symptoms can be a little uncomfortable for some and unbearable for others. Less estrogen is the main culprit, although your progesterone levels also decrease during perimenopause.
Perimenopause is the transition to menopause. Hormonal shifts during this time are common, prompting some women to seek relief through hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. While hormone replacement therapy is a great option for hormonal balance, there are also other ways to alleviate your symptoms. A vaginal moisturizer can help with dryness. You can also discuss natural or herbal supplements for hot flashes with a doctor. These can likely be used in conjunction with HRT.
Hormone replacement therapy may be the go-to solution. However, it’s not ideal for everyone. You’ll want to consider your health history and discuss it with your doctor.
2. You’re Destined to Gain Weight
Aging comes with its fair share of added perks. You tend to gain wisdom about life, including what you want out of it. Nonetheless, more lbs on the scale isn’t a “gain” to look forward to. Weight gain is common as you approach menopause, but it’s not inevitable.
The average weight gain for women during their 50s is around 1.5 pounds per year. But dropping estrogen levels isn’t necessarily responsible for it. Instead, hormonal shifts change where your body stores extra weight. Those added lbs are more likely to settle around your stomach than your thighs and hips. In other words, your body composition becomes more “male-like” in terms of where it stores fat.
However, what’s behind weight gain as you approach menopause is a slowing metabolism. Muscle mass usually declines, resulting in a need for fewer calories. Your genetics and lifestyle also influence weight gain as you age. Reducing your calories, getting more exercise, and incorporating strength training can help you manage a healthy weight during menopause. Simply put, you won’t be able to get away with what you did in your 20s.
3. You’ll Enter Menopause When Your Mom Did
The median age for menopause in the U.S. is 51. It’s the age your mom may have experienced “the change.” Yet, there’s a bit of a variation in the age range. Natural menopause tends to happen between 45 and 56. Your genetics are a strong influence on timing, but it may not match up exactly with your mom’s.
It’s possible your timing will coincide more closely with the female relatives on your dad’s side. Other factors, such as whether you’re a smoker, can speed things up. About 5% of females experience menopause between 40 and 45 years of age. Another 1% enter menopause before 40 due to ovarian insufficiency. Their ovaries stop producing the female hormones responsible for the reproductive cycle.
Certain health conditions and treatments for them may also have an impact. Chemo, for example, can trigger menopause. Autoimmune diseases are another potential trigger. In some cases, early menopause isn’t associated with a known cause. It’s also possible your mom may have entered menopause earlier than you will.
4. Everyone Has the Same Symptoms
Your grandmother may tell you she had horrible night sweats. Meanwhile, your mom talks about how she had mood swings nearly every day. You might also hear about irritability, forgetfulness, and hot flashes during the most inconvenient times.
While you might experience these same symptoms, there’s also a chance you won’t experience any of them. Yes, it is possible to go through perimenopause and menopause with few, if any, signs. You might notice your periods are getting lighter and maybe you start to skip a month or two.
But as far as hot flashes and night sweats go, you don’t know what all the fuss is about. The timing, frequency, and severity of menopausal symptoms differ between individuals. How you’ll experience menopause won’t necessarily be tied to your family tree and your friends’ stories. Other factors like diet and exercise may play a role in what symptoms you have.
Menopause Misconceptions
Some people look forward to the later stages in life, including the changes they tend to bring. Others wish for their more youthful days because physical transformations can be difficult to face. Aging is a process that can mean making lifestyle changes and accepting differences in how one’s body looks or functions.
Menopause and the transition to it is a natural part of getting older. Nevertheless, menopause’s timing doesn’t always coincide with “old age.” It’s possible to enter it before your early 50s. You may experience severe symptoms or none at all. Genetics aren’t the only influencing factor and hormone replacement therapy isn’t the sole remedy.
While there are many myths about menopause, your experience will be unique. If you start to notice signs of change, it’s best to talk to a doctor about them. You don’t have to suffer in silence or attempt to navigate the shift alone.