The truth about menopause: Debunking 9 myths

Menopause is something every person who menstruates can expect to experience, yet it’s a topic that’s usually discussed in whispers, if at all. Menopause doesn’t have to be a mystery. Empower yourself with the truth about this life stage and the impact on your health.

It's important to understand the stages before and after menopause.

• Perimenopause is the transitional stage between one’s reproductive years and menopause. It can start in the late 30s or early 40s and is typically characterized by changes in your cycle length, flow and predictability. This stage can last anywhere from eight to ten years.

• Menopause is reached once you’ve gone 12 months since your final period, commonly between the ages of 45 and 55. The average age of menopause is 52, but that can fluctuate from person to person.

• Post menopause begins after you reach menopause and continues for the remainder of your life. Though your hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone specifically) will remain low, many symptoms you experienced during menopause will typically disappear or get milder. Due to significantly lower estrogen levels, you will not have a monthly period but you do have a higher risk of health issues including osteoporosis and heart disease.  

Educate yourself with these 9 facts about menopause

Menopause has faced many misconceptions across generations. Recently, because of more open conversations and new scientific data, information is now available to counter various myths.

Menopause isn’t something to fear and is simply a new stage of life. You can prepare by learning what changes your body will go through and understanding the truth about since-debunked myths.

Menopause is real

Myth: Menopause isn’t real. Menopause is a real physical change that takes place in anyone who menstruates. All stages of menopause will occur to some extent, though symptoms and their severity will vary person to person. You can’t do anything to stop or prevent menopause, but there are tips to lessen the symptoms.

Because menopause is a distinct change affecting your body’s hormones and mechanics, menstruation does not restart after menopause and any vaginal bleeding that you have in menopause should prompt a visit to your doctor

Symptoms are more than just hot flashes and night sweats

Myth: Menopause only causes hot flashes. Due to the decrease in estrogen, the stages of menopause can cause a myriad of physical and mental symptoms that are very real, including:

• irregular or missed periods
• hot flashes or night sweats
• brain fog
• vaginal dryness
• mood and energy changes
• body composition changes
• sleep disturbances
• increased risk of urinary tract infections

Menopause symptoms can last for years

Myth: Menopause only lasts a few years. During the years-long process of perimenopause and menopause, symptoms can last anywhere from two to eight years on average. This is because your body doesn’t immediately stop producing hormones. The process is drawn out as the body adjusts to its next stage and unfortunately some menopause symptoms can last for many years after menopause.

Hormone therapy for menopause is safe

Myth: Hormone therapy is dangerous. Menopause isn't just about estrogen. There are many hormones involved, including several types of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and pregnenolone.

However, the changes in hormone levels during menopause are not a sign of hormone imbalance. Menopause is not a state of imbalance; it is a state of bodily and hormonal change.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may have a role in helping some women by lessening symptoms of menopause. You should talk to your doctor to see if you are interested in HRT if you are a candidate.

HRT can take many forms including pills, patches, or vaginal creams. These prescriptions can be estrogen-only therapy, a combination of estrogen and progesterone, or even testosterone.

Many symptoms, even minor ones, can be treated

Myth: You have to live with your menopause symptoms. Symptoms of menopause can be life changing. But there is hope if you’re having brain fog, experiencing depression or not sleeping well due to disruptions or night sweats.

There are many dietary supplements such as black cohosh and vitex that will claim to alleviate hot flashes, anxiety and other symptoms, however, you should discuss starting any over the counter supplement with your doctor as many of these supplements do not have any scientific data to support their effectiveness and some can have dangerous side effects such as liver dysfunction. Menopause symptoms can also be treated with prescriptions or more holistic integrative therapies such as acupuncture, herbal preparations, mind-body techniques and more.

As with any health journey, make sure you eat healthy foods, avoid smoking and alcohol, and get enough exercise.

Talk to your provider if:

• Your symptoms are very disruptive and make you uncomfortable.
• Your symptoms are affecting your sleep, your work life or your relationships.
• You have tried addressing the symptoms on your own without success.
• You are not sure if your symptoms are related to menopause or to something else.

Pregnancy during menopause is unlikely, but possible

Myth: You can’t get pregnant during menopause. Until you’ve reached a full 12 months without a period, you can still become pregnant during perimenopause because your ovaries could still release eggs as your body adjusts to the hormone fluctuations. Because of the small chance, if you do not want to get pregnant, it’s important to remain on birth control for at least 12 months after your final period.

It is possible to test for menopause

Myth: There are no tests to diagnose menopause. These days, there are practitioners who specialize in menopause treatment and tests to help determine if you’re going through menopause.

A good first clue before testing is the date of your last period. You can also make assumptions based on your symptoms. However, your provider may recommend a small sample of blood to check your hormone levels. It is important to note, however, that hormone fluctuations during perimenopause can make testing of blood hormones unreliable and your doctor may rely more on your symptoms rather than hormonal tests.

Sex after menopause can be enjoyable

Myth: Sex after menopause is painful. As your estrogen levels fall during menopause, it can unfortunately lead to loss of libido or painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness.

However, if sex is uncomfortable during or after menopause, there are treatments available such as hormone replacement therapy, or vaginal estrogen cream. If you’re not interested in hormone therapy, you can use over-the-counter lubricants or new non-hormone prescriptions to help with vaginal symptoms of menopause.

Loss of libido can also occur due to self-esteem changes as your body, and mind, adjust to menopause. If you need help with the emotional side of menopause, talk to your primary care provider or reach out to a mental health practitioner.

Menopause changes the composition of your entire body

Myth: Menopause causes weight gain. Menopause can cause weight gain, but not just from an increase in fat percentage. It can change the overall distribution of your body fat and decrease muscle mass or even alter your bone density due to the changes your body goes through from lower hormone levels. It is important to realize that hormonal replacement therapy is not indicated for weight loss or replacement of lost muscle mass.