The top 10 menopause myths

Are these common menopause myths affecting your health?

With so many negative myths swirling around about menopause, we aren’t surprised when our patients and Members start to feel upset about this time in their life — sometimes even before they’ve experienced any problematic symptoms. Unfortunately, we also see first-hand how many women’s choices are influenced by these myths — which tend to oversimplify both symptoms and solutions.

The reality is that menopause may have its challenges. But we believe when you understand menopause and the hormonal changes in your body, you can overcome distressing symptoms and feel your best.

At Women to Women, we’ve helped thousands of women make decisions that are right for their individual health.

We’re here to help you understand the realities of menopause with this slideshow and comprehensive articles by our women’s health experts — who are women, too!

Myth #1: Menopause begins at 50

Menopause begins at 50…or 44…or 38…or 62. While the average age for menopause is 52, you may start your transition anywhere from your late 30’s to your early 60’s. You’ll officially be in menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 months.

Women often tell us they didn’t realize they could begin to experience symptoms long before official menopause. They’re surprised by fatigue, hot flashes, irritability, and weight gain — even when they still have their period.

If this is happening to you, you could be in perimenopause — the transition leading up to menopause. Perimenopause can last a few months or up to 13 years before menopause. And you may experience more symptoms during perimenopause than menopause because this is the time when your sex hormones — estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — naturally fluctuate more.

You can learn more in Perimenopause — a time of change.

Myth #2: Weight gain is inevitable in menopause

We won’t lie. Unexpected weight gain is common in menopause — but you don’t have to accept it!

After gaining 100 pounds in perimenopause, Katie joined our Personal Program for Hormonal Imbalance and lost 20 pounds. This is because the reasons for weight gain are more complicated than “calories in, calories out.” As you enter perimenopause and menopause, your ovaries produce fewer sex hormones, and you may experience hormonal imbalance. Your body may try to protect itself by storing fat — especially around the waist, hips, and thighs. Fat tissue in these areas also produces estrogen, which in turn, leads to more fat production.

Even with these changes taking place in your body, you can achieve a healthy weight. One of the most important things you can do is eat! We’ve seen again and again how good nutrition helps women balance their hormones and heal naturally.

Katie told us, “I get to eat and feel satisfied! I’m almost down 20 pounds from my all-time high, and as I feel better and can exercise more, the weight is coming off faster. It’s complete rejuvenation!”

What can you do to maintain a healthy weight in menopause? Learn more in Perimenopause weight gain — causes and solutions.

Myth #3: There’s no difference between natural menopause and
surgical menopause

We think it’s very important that women understand that natural menopause and surgical menopause are very different.

With surgical menopause — via total hysterectomy — you’ll experience an immediate and significant change in hormonal balance, rather than the more gradual transition of natural menopause. Removing your uterus and cervix, along with your ovaries and fallopian tubes, drastically affects blood flow and hormone production. For example, women who have had their ovaries removed have double the chance of low testosterone, which affects sexual desire and enjoyment.

With a partial hysterectomy — when only the uterus is removed — changes may be less extreme but are still not predictable. Some women immediately suffer from severe menopausal symptoms, some may notice very few, while still others feel improvements.

We know there are many questions about surgical menopause — both before and after the surgery. We answer many of them with Frequently asked questions on hysterectomy and hormonal balance in women.

Myth #4: Menopause makes your bones fragile

Your bones are ever-adapting — even in menopause. While many women are prescribed bone drugs, we remind our patients that they can build and rebuild bone naturally.

One of the first steps we recommend is to become more aware of your risk factors. Some may surprise you:

• Do you weigh less than 120 pounds? Thin women may have increased risks.
• Do you worry or feel anxious a lot? Worry and fear can affect bone health.
• Do you drink more than one soda a day? Acidifying food and drinks weaken bone, while more alkalizing choices (such as vegetables or lemon and water) build bone.

Only about 20% of your skeletal health is determined by fixed factors. You can control the rest — naturally, without drugs. Our free bone profile offers a comprehensive assessment of risk factors plus recommendations for improving your bone health.

“With all the anxiety and pressure today, women need to be concerned about what their doctors are giving them and how it may be affecting their body,” says Deborah, 67, a Personal Program Member. Read more of Deborah’s story.

Myth #5: Sex drive will decrease around menopause

Sex can be fun and healthy at any age! But we hear from women that they’ve been told — even by their doctors — that decreased desire is a “normal” part of growing older. As women in our 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s — that doesn’t sound normal to us!

Decreased sex drive is often a signal of hormonal imbalance, which can lead to both physical and emotional symptoms that affect your sex life. For example, approximately 50% of post-menopausal women will experience vaginal dryness which can make sex uncomfortable. And if sex hurts, you’ll probably see a drop in your libido, too. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

Changes in your hormonal health can be difficult to talk about. The information in Hormonal imbalance and low libido may help you get started.

Myth #6: The first sign of menopause is hot flashes

Menopause = hot flashes? Sometimes. But despite the fact that menopause and hot flashes are almost synonymous in the media, your first sign of menopause could be any of the following:

• Fatigue
• Irregular periods
• Irritability, mood swings, depression and/or anxiety
• Weight gain
• Hair loss
• Cravings
• Fuzzy thinking
• Low libido

With such a wide range of possible symptoms, it’s no wonder women may not connect them to perimenopausal hormonal imbalance.

Listen to Linda as she describes her extreme fatigue — wondering if she could continue to work. It took searching the internet for “anything that was a clue” to lead her in a different direction. You can find relief too, starting with Menopause symptoms? Get relief — naturally.

Myth #7: After menopause, your body doesn’t produce hormones

No matter how far beyond menopause you may be, rest assured that you still have hormones! Some reproductive hormones — mainly estrogen and progesterone — do decline once your reproductive years end because they’re needed less. But that doesn’t mean they’re not needed at all — so you still make them, just in lower amounts.

For some women, symptoms of hormonal imbalance disappear post-menopause. For others, symptoms continue and may include vaginal dryness, hot flashes, urinary incontinence, and weight gain.

All women can benefit by being aware that the risks for osteoporosis and heart disease increase post-menopause, but by continuing to take good care of yourself, you can enjoy a long and healthy life.

Learn more about your hormones throughout your lifetime with An introduction to perimenopause, menopause, and menopausal symptoms, as well as our most popular articles.

Myth #8: The older you are when you get your period, the older you’ll be when you go through menopause

For many women, it’s just the opposite. If you started menstruating later than average, you may begin menopause earlier.

Predicting the age you’ll begin menopause is tricky, but here are some questions to think about:

• What was your mother’s age at menopause? When she stopped having periods is the best indicator of when you’ll stop too.
• Do you smoke? Smoking may mean earlier menopause.
• Do you drink? Drinking alcohol may mean later menopause.
• Have you been pregnant? More pregnancies suggest later menopause.

Whether you are months or many years away from menopause, there are steps you can take to support your body and reduce the likelihood of distressing symptoms. Find out what support you need with our free hormonal health profile.

Myth #9: Menopause only causes physical symptoms

Have you been feeling depressed? Do you describe yourself as a “raving maniac” sometimes? Has irritability become a problem?

You’re not alone. Many women experience unwelcome changes in emotions, memory, and concentration during perimenopause and menopause because of sudden shifts in hormones. Shifts of estrogen and progesterone may cause mood swings. Or drops in progesterone levels may cause irritability.

Also, be mindful that menopause is an important milestone in women’s health — we often refer to it as puberty in reverse. Many women begin to reflect on who they are and what they want to do with the rest of their life.

Learn more about how to improve both physical and emotional symptoms of hormonal imbalance with What’s hormonal imbalance got to do with it?

Myth #10: The best way to get through menopause is to take hormones

You always have choices when it comes to your body and to your health.

And considering your options is especially important when it comes to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because of potential risks and side effects.

We recommend starting with the natural approach. Our experience shows the most thorough and lasting way to manage symptoms of hormonal imbalance is to listen to your body and build a strong foundation through lifestyle and nutrition. You may also benefit from nutritional supplements and phytotherapy.

For most women, quality nutrition and herbal remedies are enough. Others may benefit by adding bioidentical hormones under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

We encourage you to explore your options! You may find that a natural approach works best for you, such as our Personal Program for Hormonal Imbalance.

We’ll help you make the best decisions for your individual health

You now know more about the reality about menopause — as well as your natural options for feeling better.

Want more information about menopause or other health issues that matter to women? Our website gives you free access to 1,100 articles and easy-to-use interactive tools.

Want to learn how our Personal Program can help you feel better? You’ve seen how your symptoms are your body’s way of asking for more support — and we’re here to help with our unique, natural approach that has worked for thousands of women. See what some of these women have to say.

Want to get started now? To assess your symptoms, take our on-line Hormonal Health Profile. If you’re ready to get started, learn about our risk-free trial.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-800-798-7902. We’re here to listen and help.

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