From hot flushes and night sweats to insomnia and painful sex, few women who have gone through menopause would describe it as a walk in the park. But for something that over half of the world’s population experience at some point, there’s still a lot we don’t know about this important life stage, and lots of menopause myths.
“We haven’t talked about menopause in the past. My mother didn’t discuss it with me – it was a bit of a taboo thing and it wasn’t something we discussed in polite company,” explains Dr Sarah White, CEO of Jean Hailes, a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the knowledge of women’s health.
This silence has created the perfect environment for misinformation to run rife, as well as the predatory marketing of dubious products promising to help with symptoms.
“A lot of people are now seeing dollars in menopause, trying to sell products and supplements on social media that might not do anything, or could even be harmful,” Dr White warns.
Of course, your first port of call should be your GP for individualised advice, but these are six of the biggest myths that women are bound to encounter
in navigating this phase.
Menopause myth 1: It only affects older women
Some think menopause only affects women in their 50s. However, it can happen in your 40s or even earlier. In Australia, the average age of menopause is 51 years, but it’s normal to enter menopause anywhere between 45 and 55 years – although some women have it at an earlier or later age.
“Women are often taken by surprise because they think it’s something that happens when you’re ‘old’, when it’s more midlife,” says Dr White. “We still have women today who come into the clinic and say I can’t have menopause symptoms, I’m not old, I’m only 47.”
According to the Australasian Menopause Society, early menopause affects around 12 out of 100 women between the ages of 40 to 45. Menopause occurring before the age of 40 is called premature menopause.
Menopause myth 2: All women experience severe symptoms
Not all women have severe symptoms. While some may experience hot flushes, mood swings and other symptoms, others may have mild or no symptoms.
According to recent research, about 20 per cent of women have no symptoms at all, while 60 per cent have mild to moderate symptoms. The remaining 20 per cent have severe symptoms that interfere with their daily life.
“Although most women will have symptoms of some kind, they are not always severe,” explains Dr Karen Magraith, a GP and past president of Australasian Menopause Society.
“There are several factors that can influence severity, including genetics, medical conditions, lifestyle factors and cultural expectations. But there is a lot we don’t know, and sometimes we don’t understand why some women have worse symptoms than others.”
Menopause myths 3: It means the end of sexual desire
It’s a false belief that your libido takes a nosedive as soon as you hit menopause. While some women experience changes in libido, many maintain a healthy sex drive post-menopause. “The proportion of women who have a complete loss of sexual desire is relatively low. We’re attracted to people on many different levels, it’s not just some chemical thing that happens when your hormones change,” explains Dr White.
Many things can affect your sex drive, including personal relationships as well as health and lifestyle factors. “Things like smoking, drinking too much alcohol, not eating well or being active can all affect libido. Hormones are just part of the picture,” confirms Dr Magraith.
“The proportion of women who have a complete loss of sexual desire is relatively low.”
Dr Sarah White, CEO of Jean Hailes
Menopause myths 4: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is dangerous
While HRT – also known as menopausal hormone therapy – does have some risks, it can be a safe and effective treatment for many women.
“Not all women can take HRT and, like any medicine, there are potential risks. But for most, HRT is safe and effective,” explains Dr White.
“In terms of benefits, it can stabilise many of those symptoms like mood swings, hot flushes and sleep issues that can make life pretty tricky. But this should be discussed with your healthcare provider.”
Some women turn to complementary or natural therapies like St John’s wort and acupuncture instead, but not all are scientifically proven to be effective. They may also interact with other medications and treatments.
Menopause myths 5: Weight gain is inevitable
Weight gain during menopause is common, but it’s not necessarily unavoidable.
“There is no easy answer to weight gain,” says Dr Magraith. “We must go back to basics. Try to focus more on making positive lifestyle changes rather than exactly what the scales are saying.”
That means sticking to appropriate portion sizes, eating enough protein and doing some physical activity, preferably weight-bearing exercises. According to Dr White, the key is flipping the script from how we look to how we feel.
“Our bodies are going to change as we age. And it’s not just women who put on weight around their middle at this time of life, men do too,” says Dr White.
“It’s about remaining well, not holding on to the bodies that we remember with great fondness from our 20s or 30s.”
Menopause myths 6: It only affects physical health
Beyond common physical symptoms, menopause can also impact mental and emotional health, leading to anxiety, depression or mood swings.
“A lot is going on for women at that point in time, from caring for children and elderly parents to reaching their career peak. Add hot flushes and difficulty sleeping on top and suddenly everything is a problem,” explains Dr White.
She says we need to look at the entire context of a woman’s life, not just menopause. “If it’s caring responsibilities, household duties and emotional labour that’s the issue, then sticking on an HRT patch is not necessarily going to help.”
Although on the upside, once women have been through menopause and are post-menopausal, mood swings may settle, says Dr Magraith.
“As women get older, they may have fewer mental health struggles than when they were younger, but there’s no ‘one size fits all’. If women are struggling with their mental health, they should seek out professional help.”
Find a menopause-friendly GP
To help you find a doctor who specialises in women’s health in midlife and menopause, Australasian Menopause Society has compiled a directory of GPs around the country. Visit menopause.org.au
