In this brand-new blog series, we challenge some of the common myths and misconceptions around medical conditions and provide practical advice for employees and employers. In celebration of Menopause Awareness Month, we're debunking ten myths around the menopause.
Fact: The menopause will directly affect everyone who is assigned female at birth, so non-binary people and trans men will experience it too. Family members, friends and colleagues can also be affected vicariously, so it is important to ensure that if someone you spend time with is menopausal, you are clued up on the symptoms and take them into account. This blog is a great way to start!
Fact: Although this is largely true, for a very small percentage of people (around 1%), menopausal symptoms can start presenting before the age of 40. This is classed as premature menopause.
Fact: You actually only hit true menopause once you’ve not had a period for 12 months. Before this point, you’re classified as being in perimenopause – this means your periods are irregular and you could still get pregnant.
Fact: Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, can provide relief for debilitating symptoms such as hot flushes. To learn more about the options available, book an appointment with your GP or through your employer’s EAP. It should be noted though that HRT does not postpone the menopause, it will only improve your symptoms. There are also lots of things you can do to improve your symptoms naturally, such as maintaining a healthy sleep schedule and exercising regularly.
Fact: The journey from perimenopause all the way through to postmenopause generally lasts around 4 years, although it can be much longer, with symptoms sometimes persisting for over a decade.
Fact: Total or partial hysterectomies actually accelerate the menopause – if you have a ‘surgical menopause’, symptoms are likely to come on more rapidly due to a drastic shift in female hormone levels.
Fact: Although declining oestrogen levels can contribute to weight gain, it’s not the only culprit. Weight gain is more likely as you get older due to changes in your body, such as a slowing metabolism and a decrease in muscle mass.
Fact: The menopause (including the perimenopausal stage) has a range of mental and physical symptoms, from low mood and brain fog to heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping, and skin changes. View all the symptoms on the NHS site.
Fact: Although a reduced libido and vaginal dryness can be symptoms of the menopause, they vary from person to person and can be alleviated by everything from HRT to lubricant, to openly communicating with your partner and finding new ways to be intimate together.
Want to learn more about how you can use absence data to learn more about the health of your workforce and build informed wellbeing strategies? Book a meeting with our experts today.