BUSTING SOME MENOPAUSE MYTHS

There are many myths, and some strange ideas, about perimenopause and menopause and sometimes it can be hard to tell fact from fiction. I’ve come across some fairly common ones that I think need to be cleared up. Life can be complicated enough so we don’t need any false ‘facts’ making things difficult.

MENOPAUSE MYTH 1

‘You Will Start The Menopause At 50’

This isn’t true

The age a woman starts her journey through perimenopause on the road to menopause itself varies. Although the average age is between 45 and 55 some women will start a little earlier and others will start a bit later.

The age you start your journey will be as individual as you are.

MENOPAUSE MYTH 2

‘The Menopause Will  Make You Fat’

Hormonal changes during perimenopause and the lower hormone levels in menopause can affect your metabolism making you more likely to put on weight.

HOWEVER

Think about how your lifestyle may have changed in recent years. As we get older we tend to be less physically active. We’re also often guilty of eating more ‘naughty’ treats and snacks or having that extra glass of wine.

SO

A few simple changes to your diet, combined with a conscious effort to include a bit more exercise into your daily routine, can help to prevent those extra pounds from piling on.

YOU CAN STILL LOOK MARVELOUS IN MENOPAUSE!

MENOPAUSE MYTH 3

‘You Will Lose Your Sex Drive’

The drop in your hormone levels can have a negative effect on your sex drive.

HOWEVER

There are other things that can make you lose interest when you’re in your middle years. Other menopause symptoms like night sweats and fatigue, vaginal dryness and low mood, are all likely to cool your passion.

DON’T DESPAIR THOUGH

Not all women experience a loss in sex drive. Women who do find they’ve lost interest during perimenopause often find it returns when they reach menopause and their hormones and symptoms have levelled out.

For some of us ladies our passion returns with a renewed vigour!

MENOPAUSE MYTH 4

‘A Hot Flush Will Be The First Symptom You Will Get’

The hot flush is probably considered the most common symptom for women starting their journey through the menopause. This is understandable as around 75% of women do experience hot flushes.

BUT

That doesn’t mean that a hot flush will be the first sign you get. In fact you might never have a hot flush at all.

MENOPAUSE MYTH 5

‘The Age You Start Your Periods Determines Whether Your Menopause Will Be Earlier Or Later’

This isn’t true.

Just because you were the first girl in the class to start your periods doesn’t mean you’ll be the first to reach menopause.

The same goes for girls who started their periods later. They won’t necessarily reach menopause at an older age.

The reason for this is the amount of eggs you were born with. If you were born with fewer eggs you will reach menopause sooner. If you were born with more eggs you will reach menopause later.

As none of us have any idea how many eggs were were born with there is no way of predicting if our menopause is likely to be earlier or later.

MENOPAUSE MYTH 6

‘When a Woman Reaches Menopause Her Life Is Ruined’

Definitely Not True!

It can feel like a long rocky road on the journey through to menopause. But life at the end of that journey is so worth while.

Be prepared for a new and exciting phase of your life.

• Your symptoms will ease off or stop altogether
• You’re free from monthly bleeds and worry about unplanned pregnancy
• Your family is more self-reliant or your children may have left home, giving you more freedom, time and energy for yourself.
• You’re more confident, more assertive and more likely to make changes and to take chances.
• You can reinvent yourself or do all those things that you never got to do earlier.

You’ve got many, happy and fulfilling years ahead of you yet.

SO GO FOR IT LADIES!

MENOPAUSE MYTH 7

‘All Women Suffer Terrible Physical And Psychological Symptoms’

No all women suffer severe menopause symptoms, either physical or psychological. In fact most women only get relatively minor, if varied, symptoms and go through perimenopause into menopause without any major problems.

Some women don’t experience any adverse symptoms at all

MENOPAUSE MYTH 8

‘You Don’t Need Contraception When You’re In Perimenopause’

This is dangerous thinking!

In perimenopause your periods will fluctuate from their usual pattern. You may not have one for months at a time.

BUT

That doesn’t mean that you can’t get pregnant during perimenopause. You need to have reached menopause itself before you no longer need to use contraception. You are generally considered to be in menopause if you haven’t had a period for 1 year or more if you are over 50, or 2 years or more if you are under 50.

Before deciding whether or not to stop using contraception it’s a good idea to see your doctor first so that you can get medical conformation that you no longer need to worry about an unplanned pregnancy.

Then there’s the safe sex issue. For women who are embarking on a sexual relationship with a new partner the use of condoms is important even if unplanned pregnancy is no longer a concern.

NOW YOU’VE DONE SOME MYTH BUSTING take a look at my other articles that explain menopause symptoms and also give you some Tips and Tricks that can really help.