7 common misconceptions about menopause that are not true

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but that is incorrect. Menopause refers to the moment of your last menstrual period—a moment that can only be determined retrospectively. Only after you have gone a full year without menstruating can you say you have experienced menopause. It is not a period but a specific point in time. The average age at which women reach menopause is 51. The age at which your mother experienced menopause can be a predictive factor.

The transition, on the other hand, is the entire period during which your menstrual pattern changes, including the first years without menstruation when menopausal symptoms may still occur. The transition can last seven to ten years. This varies for every woman.

Of course, every woman goes through menopause; that’s how nature works. However, you don’t have to simply accept the symptoms. In addition to fluctuating hormones, there are several factors that contribute to these symptoms.

You have more control than you might think. With the right knowledge and adjustments, you can alleviate many symptoms and sometimes even prevent them.

It is important to identify the root causes of your symptoms. With a personalised lifestyle plan, you can restore hormonal balance.

There’s a lot you can do to prevent symptoms. The better balanced your body is at the start of menopause, the smoother this phase often goes.

Not every woman gains weight during menopause. This varies greatly from person to person. Some women report gaining significant weight despite no changes in their habits, while others gain only a few pounds, often around the abdomen.

Because your hormones can fluctuate wildly, the risk of weight gain increases. However, there are also other contributing factors. Many women experience poor sleep, which increases appetite, even at night. Naturally, this doesn’t help with weight management.

Additionally, muscle mass decreases, which means you burn less fat. You also become more sensitive to stress, and your body works hard to ensure sugar is readily available. The result? Cravings for sweets.

So why is it a myth that most women gain weight? Because there’s a lot you can do to prevent weight gain or shed the extra pounds. Is it easy? Often not. And it’s often harder than you’re used to. But by adopting new habits, it’s certainly possible. A healthy lifestyle is key!

Breaking unhealthy habits is always a good idea. Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take. Besides being harmful to your lungs, smoking can also cause you to enter menopause earlier.

Smoking reduces oestrogen production. The more you smoke, the faster this process occurs. Entering menopause earlier increases the risk of various conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis.

Smoking also leads to more hot flushes. This means poorer sleep quality and less energy during the day. It’s also likely to affect your weight. Your body craves energy, and where can you quickly get it? That’s right—sugars.

Hormone therapy can be a good option to take the edge off menopausal symptoms. That’s absolutely true. But it’s not the only way. Let us explain.

Nature intends for your sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, to decline. After all, you’re past the reproductive phase of your life, and menstruation requires a lot of energy from a woman’s body. Skipping it is a great energy saver as you age. This energy can then be used for other bodily functions.

Your body still needs oestrogen and progesterone, but in smaller amounts. After menopause, your adrenal glands take over much of this task. To support your body in this process, you can make many adjustments to your lifestyle and diet.

These adjustments form the foundation of good health. Every woman experiences different imbalances that you’ll want to identify first. Sure, these lifestyle and dietary changes don’t offer the quick results of hormone therapy, but they are more sustainable. And many women see (and feel) amazing results.

If, for some reason, these changes don’t yield the desired results, you can consult a doctor to consider hormone replacement therapy. This also applies to women with severe mental health issues. Hormone therapy often provides quick relief. Depending on the situation, you can also start making lifestyle adjustments, as these remain the foundation of good health.

How much interest you have in sex varies from person to person. If you experience a reduced desire for sex, there are several possible causes.

Many women gain weight during menopause, which can make them feel less comfortable in their own skin and less confident. Menopause is also a time when women reassess their lives. Are they still happy with their job? Are they in a fulfilling relationship? The latter can lead to less or no interest in sex with their partner.

Additionally, menopause can cause vaginal dryness (due to hormonal imbalances, reduced blood flow to the vagina, and/or thinning of the tissues). This can make sex more painful, which understandably reduces your desire.

Regardless of your age, every healthy woman can become sexually aroused and experience vaginal lubrication. Sexual arousal causes the blood vessels in the vagina to dilate, leading to lubrication. This process is entirely independent of the hormone oestrogen. However, you may need more time to become lubricated. Enjoying a longer foreplay is therefore not a luxury.

The first sign of menopause is often a change in your menstrual pattern. The time between periods may initially shorten, and then the intervals gradually lengthen until menstruation stops altogether. At this stage, most women don’t yet experience hot flushes.

But this isn’t always the case. Some women experience various menopausal symptoms, such as feelings of sadness, mood swings, weight gain, and fatigue, even while their periods are still regular.

From around the age of 35, sex hormones begin to fluctuate. By age 40, you often start to see the first effects. On average, women enter menopause at age 45. Around this age, hot flushes often begin, but not always. Some women never experience hot flushes, while others only start having them after menopause. And some women never notice any symptoms at all.

The takeaway here is: every woman’s experience of menopause is unique. What are your own beliefs about menopause? Let us know via a DM on Instagram.