MENOPAUSE MYTHS

Think you know menopause? Read these common misconceptions and think again.

Menopause is an illness.

Menopause is a sex killer.

All hot flashes are created equal.

Weight gain during menopause is inevitable.

Sleep problems have nothing to do with menopause.

Menopause automatically starts at age 50.

Menopause brings on the blues.

If you missed a few periods, you’re in menopause.

No periods means no cramps.

“I think all women, when they begin to feel changes in their body, should get a thorough test of their hormones to see where they stand, and then begin improving them with some natural solutions that won’t cause side effects down the road.”

-Emily Spear

To help reduce menopause symptoms without medication (natural or otherwise), women can practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises; cool hot flashes by dressing in layers and having cool water on hand; and they can try to get more sleep (avoiding caffeine can help).

The most difficult part of deciding to get off the pill for Spear, was not knowing what type of symptoms she would face because she had taken the pill for so long. And not know what would help her going forward.

“Most women also struggle with their sex life because of all the changes and dryness and things like that, so I was very glad to find something that helped me feel back to normal within a year,” she said of the creams and vitamins that worked for her.

Asked about fears and concerns during menopause, Waller said they usually include the loss of the libido and the discomfort associated with intimacy. “The symptoms can have an effect on relationships,” he said. “The men don’t completely understand that it might be a hormonal issue and not that the wife doesn’t want to be with him. Our goal is to try and improve the relationship by helping the lady with the symptoms that she perceives are the most urgent ones: sleep disturbances, hot flashes, Vasomotor Symptoms. Some women literally have to get up and change clothes sometimes because they sweat so much.”

Rutledge said it is important for women to know they’re not alone. “We let them know that a lot of women experience these issues,” she said.