How much do you know about menopause? If you really think about it, do you feel like you truly understand how your body might change? For many women, they feel there is a lack of education surrounding women’s health in general, especially when it comes to menopause. It’s interesting to think about because menopause is one of the longest chapters of their lives, but there is so little education and understanding to help them feel ready to take it head on.
Studies show that 80% of women 40 years old and younger have very little or no knowledge at all when it comes to menopause. They felt angered and frustrated at the lack of education surrounding the topic, even among older age groups. These statistics signify the need for more extensive research and education on menopause, because women want to know how their bodies will change in advance, instead of it just happening on day and figuring it out on the fly.
Menopause is especially important now that the average life expectancy for women has surpassed 80 years. This means that the majority of women will live almost half of their lives postmenopausal, so you think there would be more education to help women stay informed. Unfortunately, menopause topics are frequently put on the backburner to make room for things related to fertility and menstruation. Those are important things to talk about, but menopause should not be forgotten. There should be equal talk on all things women’s health so they can be prepared for whatever comes their way.
“Postmenopause is something that most women will experience for the majority of their lives, but unfortunately many are not sure how their bodies will change. There is already not a lot of education surrounding women’s health, but women deserve to feel prepared and confident as they head into this next chapter,” says Proov CEO Amy Beckley.
This lack of knowledge not only creates inequalities in the women’s healthcare system, but it makes women feel isolated and confused. Menopause and postmenopause are vulnerable times in women’s lives. No longer having a period and identifying with that part of their sexuality can be difficult, and is almost a time for women to grieve a part of themselves they knew for so long. The feelings associated with postmenopause are complex, and having an open conversation about it can help women feel more validated and comfortable in their own skin. Health is not always just physical, but mental too.
“There are positives and negatives when it comes to postmenopause. For many women, their sexuality is a huge part of how they identify themselves. Postmenopause can be tricky because women are no longer fertile and able to have children. They are also still dealing with hot flashes, night sweats, sleep issues and other symptoms for a short time as their body adjusts to the lack of hormones being produced. However, it’s also good to remember that women do not have to go through menstruation anymore and endure those uncomfortable period pains. When one door gets closed, another one opens and that’s a good way to think about this new transition,” Beckley says.
Instead of letting women ask questions themselves, people could benefit from a more proactive approach. Whether it’s highlighting women’s health education in schools or in the doctor’s office, it’s important to help women feel comfortable at every level. Giving women the space to understand their bodies and how they will change is the first step to making healthcare more accessible. Accurate information can be passed down through the generations, creating a chain reaction of education.
It’s time to talk about menopause no matter how scary and uncomfortable it may be. Not knowing and working through symptoms can be even worse for women. If women have to live most of their lives in postmenopause, then there should be a better manual to help walk them through this new chapter of life.
