Menopause is an umbrella term.
And menopause is one day.
One of the reasons menopause remains an umbrella term is because the term perimenopause was only coined in 1996.
And many continue to refer to postmenopause (every day after menopause for the rest of our lives) as being “in” menopause. I don't. Here's why:
- Saying someone is “in" menopause is inaccurate. Menopause is technically one day; the 12-month anniversary of your final period.
- It's also confusing. Women in perimenopause who still have a period, who are experiencing irregular bleeding or have not yet gone 12 consecutive period-free months are confused by the phrase “in menopause."
- Telling women they are “in” menopause implies that they will also be “OUT” of it one day. This leads to too many women putting their health concerns and symptoms of hormone imbalance on the back burner under the assumption they “just need to get through.” This is also inaccurate, misleading and not true.
It is essential to understand the distinction between perimenopause and postmenopause because the common experiences in each phase are VERY unique and different from each other.
We can't say "menopause" and assume our health team will know what we mean because it is a word that is so charged with negativity, confusion, myths and stereotypes.
Here's just one example of how common experiences differ between perimenopause and postmenopause:
- During perimenopause, generally speaking, progesterone is low(er) which can lead to changes in mood, sleep and bleeding…
- But in postmenopause, estrogen goes for a steep decline--and this can lead to #vaginaldryness, recoccurring #UTIs and #incontinence.
Sometimes women in their 40s do not understand the role of progesterone and can assume that because of they still have a period, it is not perimenopause or "menopause."
Other members of the
Menopause Chicks Community will tell me they sailed through perimenopause only to be surprised by how estrogen decline would impact their health (vaginal dryness, as an example.)
I also want you to be able to recognize when marketers, media and even the medical community get it wrong.
- Menopause is a noun. It is one day. It is the 12 month anniversary of your final period. (Similar to the day a girl gets her period, but at the other end of our hormone teeter totter.)
- This is important because the word menopause is commonly manipulated and twisted as an adjective.
- Some examples: menopause brain, menopause belly, menopause bars, menopause doctor, menopause symptoms, eating for menopause, full-blown menopause and moving for menopause. One way to know if a message is coming from an informed place is to ask yourself: "Does this message matter if I have my period or not not?"
"Menopause symptoms" is a tricky phrase because the phrase is so engrained in our culture.
In reality, there are symptoms of hormone fluctuations and symptoms of hormone decline. There are also symptoms of iron deficiency and thyroid conditions to consider. But because perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause are not diseases, they do not get a diagnosis (When did you ever hear “symptoms of puberty?”) And not every woman suffers…nor are we meant to suffer…so be wary of any marketing that tries to convince you otherwise!
The other key consideration:
I invite you to investigate all adverse health concerns and find out if it is related to progesterone or estrogen, or importantly, something else. Why is this so important? Because the very last thing we need is women (or their health team) to shrug a health concerns off as "just menopause" and miss the opportunity to investigate and treat things like
#burnout,
#insomnia,
#irondeficiency,
#vitaminDdeficiency or a
#thyroid condition.
Talking about menopause can quickly lead to conversations about symptoms. But this journey is about so much more than that. Women on both sides of menopause are currently running new businesses, running marathons and running for office. Some of us are running away from outdated relationships and towards new horizons. We are caring for families, aging parents, ourselves while holding up the world.
There's a lot to celebrate…including investing in our health for the next 3-5 decades!
Thank you for being curious.
[You deserve to] FEEL AMAZING.
