Menopause is not a life-threatening condition, nor a chronic incurable illness. It’s a natural part of a woman’s life, but it does come with symptoms that can be disruptive. Nicole Doghor, MD, psychiatrist at The Menopause Center at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, frequently hears from women who waited longer than necessary to get medical help with their menopause symptoms due to some key misconceptions about menopause.
Myth: It’s no big deal
The effects of menopause on a woman’s life are frequently minimized and even mocked. Some women may internalize the ideas that menopause should be a small thing, that it shouldn’t interfere with other responsibilities or even that it’s a shameful sign of aging.
“That’s a common misconception, it’s just The Change and we should just ignore it. But a good conversation about healthy lifestyle changes and health risks at this time can be life-changing,” said Dr. Doghor.
Myth: It starts with hot flashes
For some women, the classic hot flashes are the first sign of menopause, but frequently more subtle signs may precede hot flashes, such as mood changes, sleep disturbance and memory issues. Talking with a health care professional early on can set the stage for a smoother transition into menopause through lifestyle changes or medications.
Myth: Menopause makes you crazy
For some women, mood changes associated with menopause may include greater sensitivity or irritability. Rather than ignoring these changes for the 5–10 years a woman is in menopausal transition, seeking professional help early can go a long way toward improving a person’s ability to cope with other symptoms of menopause.
“Women who’ve had a past history of depression or anxiety are much more likely to have difficulty with their emotions during the menopause transition, and so be aware that if you are in therapy or taking medications for your mood, these treatments might need to be boosted up during this time,” said Dr. Doghor.
Myth: It’s just a hormone change
Menopause starts when the amount of reproductive hormones, i.e. estrogen progesterone, testosterone in the blood decreases. Estrogen, one of these reproductive hormones however, has many effects on the body beyond regulating a woman’s menstrual cycle. As a result, menopause is more than a change in menstruation; it also comes with increased risks for conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
“Sometimes we see that the cholesterol becomes a little bit more elevated, or your blood pressure might rise, and you didn’t have that problem before because of the protective effect of estrogen. At the onset of menopause, your medical team can help you navigate cardiovascular health, obesity risk and blood sugar changes,” said Dr. Doghor.
Myth: Avoid hormone therapy as long as you can
The benefits of hormone therapy (HT) go beyond treating hot flashes and sexual dysfunction. HT during menopause can decrease the risk of several conditions, including osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. It can also help with other symptoms, such as mood changes and insomnia. The most beneficial time to start HT, however, is early in menopause.
Recent studies from the Women’s Health Initiative and other agencies have found that women who are younger than 60 receive the most protective benefits from taking HT. Women who are older than 60 on average have more side effects from HT, including blood clots
Myth: You’ll never feel good again
Dr. Doghor frequently hears women ask how long will this last, and when can I get back to myself again? Irritability and memory disturbances can be very distressing to women who, at this point in life, can be fielding many responsibilities, including work, raising children and caring for aging parents. Women who can accept the changes that come with aging, sometimes with the help of cognitive behavioral therapy, can recover their confidence.
“I use a term called radical acceptance, which just means that though I don’t like what’s happening, I recognize that the fight against it isn’t helping me, and I want to accept what I can and try to control what I can. But there’s some things that I know I can’t change,” said Dr. Doghor.
Myth: This is a personal problem
Many women try to hide or downplay the symptoms of menopause, even while those symptoms are affecting their ability to fulfill roles and responsibilities in every aspect of their lives. Being open with the people closest to you about the challenges you are facing and leaning on relevant medical professionals can help lessen the burden of menopause.
“I really encourage my patients to find support, educate your family about what you’re going through, bring them to a visit or join a support group,” said Dr. Doghor. “Outside of that, you can build a team that may just include your gynecologist, but at The Menopause Center we might also include a good nutritionist, a weight loss specialist, a psychiatrist or pelvic floor therapies.”
The goal of The Menopause Center at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women is to help women live well. When women seek out the support and medical care that they need to address the symptoms of menopause, they’re better able to enjoy their 50s and may receive treatment that will help them for decades to come.
“You deserve to have this be still the best time of your life, right? I think we as women look at aging so negatively, but women have so much more living to do and so much more wisdom to share, particularly at this stage of life. We want to help women feel that,” said Dr. Doghor.
To make an appointment at The Menopause Center at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, call 832-826-5281.