Today is World Menopause Day: Let’s bust some menopause myths

So you’ve arrived at the grand, sometimes sweaty, sometimes utterly baffling transition we know as perimenopause and menopause? Well, you’ve reached that point in your life where your body may decide to set its thermostat permanently to “volcano,” or your brain occasionally forgets where you parked five minutes ago. Honestly, the whole damned process is often ridiculous, so let’s laugh a little, shall we? So, on this World Menopause Day, let’s address some myths about perimenopause and menopause.

Read: Understanding perimenopause and menopause

Discover: What is Hormone Replacement Therapy and should you consider it?

If you’re anything like most women, you’ve been hearing whispers, rumors, and downright scary warnings about The Change™ for decades. Perhaps older family members have told you that menopause means RIP to your sex life, a one-way ticket to constant misery, and an inevitable forty-pound weight gain. It’s like a horror movie trailer with even more night sweats.

Stop right there. Much of what we hear about this life stage is just plain wrong — perpetuated by myths and old wives’ tales passed down through generations of confusion and silence. We’re here to bust those myths wide open, give you the real facts, and remind you that you’re entering a new Era (apologies to Taylor Swift), not reaching your expiration date. Let’s swap that misinformation for empowerment because the truth about menopause is far more manageable (and less dramatic) than Bridgerton or Game of Thrones.

Myth #1: Menopause is torture for every woman.

Let’s tackle the biggest myth first — the idea that menopause is an automatic ticket to a decade (or more) of suffering. Reality check: it’s not the same for every woman. According to Dr. Cintara Bradley, ND, resident physician at Sonoran University of Health Sciences, some women sail through with barely a blip; others experience a complex, varied set of symptoms.

Many other countries view perimenopause (the time leading up to menopause, which you reach when you’ve gone for an entire calendar year without a period) as a positive transition. “Other cultures view it as a time of celebration of life, renewal, and wisdom,” she said. “When viewed through a lens of joy and eager anticipation, menopause becomes a time of insight, introspection, and revelation.”

Shifting to positive thoughts about this natural reproductive transition won’t magically erase your symptoms, but it could potentially help you to have a better menopausal experience and quiet your anxieties about the process, said Dr. Bradley. It’s time to welcome and embrace your inner wise woman.

Myth #2: Menopause happens overnight

“A lot of people believe menopause just ‘arrives’ one day,” said Dr. Carlsen, obstetrician-gynecologist and founder of Drsono.com. “That’s false. Menopause is the gradual transition of perimenopause. Along the way, estrogen and progesterone [women’s two major hormones] fluctuate up and down. This fluctuation can cause the onset of hot flashes, irregular periods, and mood swings, but it doesn’t indicate that your body is broken. It’s just a part of growing older.”

Remember: Menopause is a milestone, not an event. It’s a date on the calendar when you officially hit that one-year mark of being period-free. But the process leading to it (perimenopause) is often a long, winding, and sometimes bumpy road that lasts an average of four to eight years.

Myth #3: You can’t get pregnant if you’re perimenopausal

Ever hear of a “change of life baby?” If you think erratic, unpredictable periods of perimenopause mean your fertility years have ended, think again. Even if your periods are infrequent or light, you can still get pregnant. One study even found that women in their 40s are the second most likely group (behind teenagers) to experience an unplanned pregnancy.

Pregnancy remains a very real possibility until you’ve officially crossed the finish line of perimenopause and gone a full year (12 consecutive months) without a period (assuming you don’t have another condition that affects your cycle). If you still get a period — even if it’s become unpredictable — keep using protection.

Myth #4: You can only manage menopause with hormone replacement therapy

When you hear “menopause treatment,” the first thing that may pop into your head is hormone therapy (HRT). While HRT is a standard, effective option for addressing those wild reproductive hormone fluctuations, it’s not the only tool in the shed. 

Dr. Bradley, a naturopathic physician, said, “I have seen constitutional hydrotherapy, botanical, nutraceutical, and nutritional recommendations work wonders for menopausal women. These interventions work synergistically to improve wellbeing and help women feel empowered.”

Myth #5: Hormone therapy is risky

Eden Health medical advisory board member Dr. Bronwyn Holmes, M.D., said, “Contrary to fear-driven narratives, HRT isn’t universally risky. Modern research has confirmed its safety for symptom relief when it’s tailored to individual women’s needs.”

Before 2002, HRT was often recommended as treatment for menopause symptoms. Then, a very publicized study highlighted a slight increase in the risks of breast cancer and blood clots for some women who’d been prescribed a specific combination of estrogen and progestin. Hormone use plummeted. But after further research, experts now agree that for women in their 40s and 50s experiencing disruptive symptoms, the benefits often outweigh the low risks.

HRT works wonders when relieving miserable symptoms like vaginal dryness and hot flashes, and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

Myth #6: HRT causes weight gain

According to Dr. Andrea Caamano, head of medical at The HRT Club and a physician with experience in internal medicine and endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, “Menopause causes weight gain… that stubborn gain around your midsection that seems to arrive suddenly and you can’t lose no matter how many calories you count or how much you exercise. Drops in hormone levels during menopause also slow your metabolism and reduce insulin sensitivity. HRT helps to minimize the fat redistribution to the belly and increase insulin sensitivity.”

Studies have shown that HRT doesn’t cause significant weight gain. In fact, by stabilizing hormones, some research suggests HRT may help prevent the abdominal fat accumulation often associated with menopause. Don’t let weight gain fear be the sole reason you avoid a therapy that could give you relief.

Myth #7: You can blame menopause for every symptom you experience in your 40s or 50s

It’s tempting, once you hit your mid-40s, to blame every ache, weird mood, or sudden inability to remember a celebrity’s name on menopause. Feel extra exhausted? Must be menopause. Sudden rage over a misplaced car key? Definitely menopause.

But menopause (and perimenopause) can’t always take all the blame for these symptoms. While HRT can help treat some of your symptoms, resist the urge to self-diagnose everything. Work with your primary care provider and gynecologist to get the appropriate blood work and diagnostics done. Sometimes, the cause of those worrisome symptoms — like crushing fatigue or heavy bleeding — is unrelated to your reproductive transition. Don’t assume; get the facts from your doctor.

Myth #8: Menopause ends all sexual activity and kills your libido

Dr. Caamano said, “While it’s true that hormonal shifts can cause a decreased sex drive and you might suddenly experience pain from vaginal dryness, menopause doesn’t have to mean the end of intimacy or pleasure.”

Lubricants can help with dryness. And if the dryness or lack of interest is a deeper problem, treatments like localized or systemic HRT can help alleviate both the physical discomfort and the emotional and interest-level aspects of intimacy. Menopause should mark the start of a wise, new chapter, not the closing of your bedroom door.

Final thoughts

Feeling like you still need a pep talk? As Dr. Carlsen said, menopause is nothing to be afraid of or embarrassed about. It’s just another life phase, like puberty or pregnancy. Every woman will experience it differently, and there’s no one “right” way to do it. The right knowledge, treatment, and encouragement can help you manage your symptoms and be the best you can be. You’re still physically strong, mentally alert, and your life can still be active and happy.

Menopause is the beginning of your life’s next chapter, not the ending. Put your health first, unapologetically, and embrace this new phase with courage and confidence.

More from Nifty50+

• 20 older baby names making a comeback – these vintage choices are popular again
• Tax Day: Study details how older Americans are planning to use Their Refund
• Gardening Tips & Tools for Your Bad Back
• Why More Seniors are Working Past Retirement Age