Menopause
Not Your Mother’s Menopause: A Modern Approach to Caring For Your Health
Menopause is in the spotlight. As the American population is growing older, more and more women in the United States will be entering menopause. In fact, more than 1 million women go through menopause every year in the United States. Despite these statistics, for too long menopause has been stigmatized, perpetuated by a culture of shame around women and aging. As a result, many women don’t feel comfortable speaking out about the symptoms they’re experiencing with friends, family, or doctors.
While there is still much work to be done in order to shed the stigma of menopause, advocates like OB/GYN Dr. Jen Gunter, author of the “The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism”, are helping to shed light on the realities of menopause and empowering women to take charge of their health by better understanding their bodies.
Here, we’re sharing some of the top menopause truths from Dr. Gunter’s book:
- The one thing that’s predictable about menopause is that it’s unpredictable. It’s true that not every woman will experience menopause the same. And while it is time of transition, it shouldn’t be feared. While some women may experience more extreme symptoms than others, many of them are treatable. Generally, we know that menopause is experienced between the ages of 40 and 58. However, some women can reach this phase earlier or later in life. Gunter dispels the myth that there is any type of blood test to see where you are at in your menopause journey. There’s no way to predict when you will go through menopause, although genetics do seem to play a factor. For example, you may go through menopause the same time that your mother or sister did. It’s up to each of us to solve our “menopuzzle,” as Dr. Gunter describes it, by recognizing our symptoms and working with our doctor.
- The three easiest things you can do to help you during menopause are eating healthy, exercising, and not smoking. Sometimes the simplest things can have the greatest impact. Gunter encourages women to just get moving, noting that exercise doesn’t have to mean getting in 10,0000 steps every day. Taking a short stroll around the block can have physical and mental health benefits. Avoiding smoking can also help decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease during menopause. In addition, eating a balanced diet can help manage menopause symptoms. However, Gunter warns to be weary of foods that claim to act as superfoods in completely alleviating menopause symptoms. Foods with phytoestrogens like soy, whole grains, and nuts can act like a weak estrogen in the body but will not replace estrogen completely.
- There are more proven, effective treatments to address the symptoms of menopause than ever before. Over the past two decades, there has been a wealth of new medical research and treatments for menopause. First, there is hormone replacement therapy. During menopause, our bodies make less estrogen and progesterone, key hormones that can aid in our bone, heart, skin and vaginal health. Hormone replacement therapy can help restore the hormone levels and may help aid in reducing hot flashes, easing vaginal dryness, and preventing bone fractures caused by osteoporosis. While there has been much discussion about the safety of this treatment, experts now agree that if started before the age of 60, this treatment carries a low risk for side effects. Gunter advises steering clear of unregulated or untested therapies that market false claims or celebrity endorsements, and sticking to FDA-approved treatments.
- Having an open dialogue about menopause can make a difference. As Gunter states, so many of the symptoms of menopause — from hot flashes to mood swings and painful intercourse –have become the center of jokes. Therefore, women may be afraid to bring them up, even though they could indicate a larger health concern or significantly alter her quality of life. For example, hot flashes that keep you up at night can disrupt sleep and lead to greater health issues. In some cases, hot flashes can also indicate cardiovascular disease. Understanding that these symptoms can be serious, and not a laughing matter, is important and can empower you to feel comfortable addressing them with your doctor.
Menopause doesn’t have to be a mystery, nor does it have to mean you stop enjoying life. Through education and help from your Axia Women’s Health provider, you can both understand and prepare for the transition so you can continue to enjoy this next chapter of your life!
In honor of #WorldMenopauseMonth, we`re here to help spread awareness and support the many women navigating the big change. It`s time to smash the taboo around menopause and aging, and offer women the support we deserve. If you want help managing your menopause symptoms, your Axia Women`s Health provider can help! From lifestyle modifications to medical treatments, there are a host of options available to meet your unique needs.
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#menopausehealth #menopause #menopausematters #menopausesupport #womenshealth
75% of women experience hot flashes during menopause...can you relate? Menopause can certainly be a frustrating and confusing time with all of the physical and emotional changes. But, if you know what to expect and know the tools to help, it can feel a lot less daunting. Visit link in bio to learn more about how to navigate the big change.
#worldmenopausemonth #menopausematters #hotflashes #menopause #menopauserelief #menopausesupport
Join us next Thursday, May 26 at 12pm ET for a real talk about women`s mental health. Megan Lobsinger, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor at Axia Women`s Health, will be sharing advice on navigating emotions around infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Have a question you want addressed? Comment below or DM us privately.
#IGLive #mentalhealthmonth #womensmentalhealth
Given recent events, we felt it important to address the topic of hair loss. For more than 50% of women who experience hair loss during menopause, it is not a joke. Swipe to learn more about how to manage this type of hair loss. Visit our link in bio to read our full blog post on the topic.
#hairloss #menopause #menopausehairloss #over50 #hairlosstreatment
For women who are just beginning to feel the effects of the change of life, menopause can be mystifying, but it doesn’t have to be. Menopause expert, Dr. Joann Richichi with Axia Women`s Health, offers advice in an interview with Better Nutrition.
#menopausesupport #hormonesupport #hormonalhealth #hotflashes #aging #fiftyplus #perimenopause #menopause #over50 #50andfabulous
Hot flashes, sleep apnea, and stress are just a few of the factors that can affect our sleep/wake cycle during our midlife stage. Fortunately, there are things you can do to rest easier!
-Adjust your thermostat between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit at night
-Avoid diet-related triggers like alcohol, caffeine, or spicy foods close to bedtime
-Opt for breathable pajamas with natural fabrics like cotton
-Talk to your Axia Women`s Health provider about treatments that may be able to help
Visit link in bio for our latest blog post on sleep and menopause.
Drops in hormone levels can lead to many frustrating symptoms during menopause. One symptom we don`t talk about enough...vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy (vaginal dryness and thinning of the vaginal tissue) is a common concern affecting up to 40% of women during menopause. In our latest blog post, we explore how this affects sexual function and what women can do to take back control of their health!
Visit link in bio to read our interview on "Getting Intimate After Menopause" with Dr. Joann Richichi.
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#menopause #menopausesymptoms #menopausesupport #hormonebalance #hormonesupport #hormonetherapy #worldmenopausemonth
Menopause can be a time of uncertainty as you navigate the many physical and emotional changes. Fortunately, you don`t have to go it alone!
In honor of #WorldMenopauseDay, we`re here to raise awareness and offer support. Axia Women`s Health providers understand that every woman`s experience is unique and are here to guide you through the transition!
Visit link in bio for a few of our recent blog articles on menopause.
For additional resources, check out these informational and empowering IG accounts:
- @menopause_society
- @menopause_made_modern
- @feistymenopause
Next up in our Healthy Hormone series, we’re focusing on progesterone - a key player during pregnancy and menopause. Swipe right to learn more about progesterone and how it impacts your health!
The answer is….true. Research shows a drop in a woman`s estrogen after menopause may contribute to higher amounts of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol. High cholesterol is one of the leading risk factors of heart disease. High cholesterol usually has no symptoms. Fortunately, a simple blood test can screen for high cholesterol and can help you stay in control of your health!
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.#cholesterolawareness #cholesteroleducationmonth #knowyournumbers❤️ #hearthealth #heartdisease
