There are only a few health concerns that are uniquely female and menopause is one of them. Menopause is a natural, common part of a woman’s lifetime reproductive cycle yet myths and misconceptions about menopause abound. It’s not always something that just happens to “old” people. (And, what’s considered “old” these days, anyway?)
Simply put, menopause defines a point in time when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Menopause usually occurs around age 52 but it can occur in women as young as age 40…or even younger. Even though menopause refers to the stage in time in which a woman no longer has her menstrual periods, the process of menopause actually occurs in three stages—perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.
∞ Perimenopause describes the roughly eight to ten years before menopause in which the ovaries produce less and less estrogen. Perimenopause can come with symptoms such as irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes or mood swings.
- Menopause is the point in time when a woman no longer has a menstrual period at all due to very low levels of estrogen and the ovaries no longer releasing eggs.
- Post menopause, as the name suggests, is the time after menopause, the stage women remain in for the rest of their life. Typically, symptoms of menopause dissipate in post menopause but this stage is when women are most vulnerable to osteoporosis and heart disease due to low levels of estrogen.
Even though menopause has been a natural part of women’s health since the beginning of time, quite literally, there are still so many myths about the transition. In addition to the myth that menopause is only for “old” people, other myths include:
- “Hot flashes are the only symptom of menopause.” Brain fog, insomnia, joint pain, mood changes, and reduced bone density are other hallmarks of menopause.
- “You cannot get pregnant during perimenopause.” While fertility chances do decrease during perimenopause, pregnancy is still possible.
- “Menopause only lasts a short while.” Symptoms can last from two to eight years!
- “Hormone therapy isn’t safe.” Hormone therapy can be an effective way to control symptoms if your doctor believes you are a good candidate for this protocol. Talk with your medical provider.
- “Weight gain during menopause is inevitable.” Metabolism does slow during menopause but lifestyle and dietary improvements can keep weight gain at bay.
- “Symptoms aren’t bad enough to see a doctor.” You do not have to suffer with symptoms that affect your quality of life. Meeting with a doctor to discuss treatment options and/or meeting with a mental health professional to discuss therapy, if needed, can help you navigate this stage of life.
The EWTF recently partnered with women’s health provider Progyny to help our female members and those who love them, navigate health challenges that are specific to women. Access to Progyny is there for the taking. Reaching out can help you navigate such issues as family planning, fertility, pregnancy, and, yes, menopause. Reach out to Progyny via email at education@progyny.com.
Stay Mentally Strong
Menopause is more than a physical change to a woman’s body; menopause can come with very real mental health challenges as well. Fluctuating hormone levels can trigger anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, and brain fog. When you combine hormonal shifts with the physical side effects of menopause that make many women feel less than their best, menopause can wreak mental havoc on a woman. Seeking out professional help, such as the services offered through the Revive and Thrive program with BHS, our employee assistance provider, can help take the edge off menopause.
You can register in the Revive & Thrive program by calling 800-327-2251 or visiting https://member.myrevive.health/selfsignup?code=IBEW. Use code IBEW. You can also download the Revive & Thrive app for your smartphone or tablet to explore all that the program can offer you. Just like the mental health services previously under BHS, Revive & Thrive is free of charge to all EWTF participants and maintains complete confidentiality. Mental health providers are also available 24 hours and day, seven days a week at 800-327-2251.
The EWTF recently partnered with women’s health provider Progyny to help our female members and those who love them, navigate health challenges that are specific to women. Access to Progyny is there for the taking. Reaching out can help you navigate such issues as family planning, fertility, pregnancy, and, yes, menopause. Reach out to Progyny via email at education@progyny.com.