We all hear scary stories about menopause and the symptoms that come with it. But is it really as terrible as people make it sound? Health experts have spent years trying to clear up some of the biggest myths around menopause and honestly a lot of women are worrying more than they need to.
As if women don’t already deal with enough in life menopause is another stage that naturally comes with ageing. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 though every woman’s body is different.
In the UK the average age for menopause is around 51 according to the NHS.
Women are born with a fixed number of eggs and over the years those eggs gradually reduce as ovulation happens month after month.
When the number of eggs becomes very low usually around 1,000 the body starts moving toward menopause. In simple words menopause happens when the ovaries slowly stop releasing eggs.
Most women experience menopause symptoms for several years before their periods completely stop
As this happens oestrogen levels begin to drop. The brain then keeps sending signals to the ovaries trying to make them release eggs and this hormonal change is what causes many of the well-known menopause symptoms.
For most women these symptoms can last for around five years before their final period. For some women though symptoms may continue for even longer sometimes up to ten years.
What’s interesting is that some women go through menopause with very few problems while others struggle with symptoms that seriously affect their daily life mood sleep and overall wellbeing.
Still there are many myths around menopause that make the whole experience sound much scarier than it actually is.
Health experts shared some facts to clear up a few of the most common menopause myths.
Myth #1 You’ll gain weight
Dr Sarah Brewer explains that menopause itself does not directly make women gain weight.
What actually happens is that after the age of 40 the body’s metabolism naturally slows down. This means your body needs fewer calories than it did in your twenties sometimes around 250 fewer calories per day.
That’s why many women notice weight gain during this stage of life.
Eating a balanced diet and staying active can really help reduce the chances of gaining extra weight during your forties and beyond.
Dr Brewer also recommends eating more fruits vegetables beans nuts and seeds because they contain antioxidants that may help support metabolism improve energy levels and encourage fat burning naturally.
Myth #2 You’ll leak
According to pelvic health physiotherapist Valentina Roffi around one in three women experiences bladder or continence issues during menopause.
As oestrogen levels drop the tissues around the vagina lose some elasticity and the lining of the urethra becomes thinner. Combined with weaker pelvic floor muscles this can lead to leaking or bladder problems.
Valentina says it’s important for women to speak to a specialist doctor if these issues happen because there are treatments and support available.
Anyone can work on strengthening their pelvic floor
She explains that pelvic health physiotherapists can help manage urinary problems with simple but effective methods like bladder training improving fluid habits and strengthening pelvic floor muscles.
Pelvic floor exercises can help almost anyone. The goal is to gently tighten the muscles around the front and back passage. If other muscles start moving too much you may not be targeting the right area.
Myth #3 Everything dries up
As oestrogen levels fall many parts of the body can become drier including the skin hair eyes nails and vagina.
A lot of women find relief through Hormone Replacement Therapy also known as HRT because it helps ease several menopause symptoms including dryness.
For women who don’t want or can’t take hormonal treatments there are other options too. Some supplements like soy isoflavones may help manage symptoms naturally.
Doctors can also prescribe vaginal oestrogen treatments that help reduce dryness and discomfort. Women can speak with their GP menopause nurse or menopause specialist to learn more about these treatments.
Many women also use intimate lubricants which can make sex feel comfortable and enjoyable again.
Some people also try sea buckthorn oil which has traditionally been used to help with intimate dryness.
Consultant gynaecologist Miss Tania Adib says there are now many modern treatments available for women dealing with menopause symptoms.
There are also newer non-surgical medical procedures that have shown positive results for dryness vaginal atrophy incontinence and painful conditions like vulvodynia.
Treatments like the MonaLisa Touch and other laser therapies are becoming more common and many women are finding them helpful.
The important thing for women to remember is that they do have options and menopause symptoms do not have to be silently suffered through anymore.
Myth #4 Everyone gets hot flushes
A lot of women do experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause but not everyone goes through it the same way. Recent research found that around 84 percent of peri-menopausal and menopausal women deal with these symptoms to some degree.
There has also been growing interest in natural remedies. A clinical trial published earlier this year found that sage may help reduce hot flushes and night sweats.
According to Alison Cullen from A. Vogel women who took a daily dose of Menoforce® Sage made with freshly harvested sage noticed their hot flushes became less frequent and less intense over time.
After four weeks around 60 percent of the women saw their hot flushes reduce by at least half. By eight weeks the symptoms had reduced even more and many women also said they felt calmer and more focused mentally.
READ MORE: From hot flushes to vaginal dryness – 6 top tips to ease menopause symptoms
Myth #5 You can’t get pregnant when taking HRT
Many people believe that taking HRT means pregnancy is no longer possible but that is not true.
Dr Anne Henderson explains that even though the chances of getting pregnant in your late forties or early fifties are quite low HRT is not a form of birth control.
If you want to avoid pregnancy it is still important to use protection like condoms or a non hormonal option. Some women also choose the Mirena Coil because it can work as contraception while also helping with menopause symptoms.
She also points out that women who are trying to get pregnant should not take HRT because it is designed for women who have already completed their families.
Myth #6 Your sex life is over
Menopause does not mean intimacy has to end.
In fact some women feel even more confident and passionate during this stage of life. Lower oestrogen levels can sometimes make the small amount of testosterone in the body feel stronger and for many women there is also less stress about pregnancy which can feel freeing.
At the same time menopause symptoms like tiredness anxiety mood swings and vaginal dryness can affect sexual desire and comfort.
If changes in libido are starting to affect your relationship doctors suggest speaking openly with a healthcare professional because there are treatments and support options that can help.
READ MORE: Menopause symptoms making you miserable? These natural fixes will help
Myth #7 You can’t take HRT if you’ve had cancer
This is another common misunderstanding.
Dr Anne Henderson says there are different kinds of HRT and each woman’s situation needs to be looked at individually depending on her age health history and the type of cancer involved.
She also explains that lifestyle factors can sometimes increase risks more than HRT itself. For example being overweight and drinking alcohol regularly can raise the risk of breast cancer significantly even at moderate levels.
If someone has concerns about cancer risk and HRT the best step is to speak with a menopause specialist who can give proper advice based on personal medical history.
Myth #8 ‘Meno-middle’ will replace your waist
Weight gain during menopause is common for some women but it is not guaranteed.
What many women notice though is that extra weight tends to collect more around the stomach area. Researchers believe this happens partly because falling oestrogen levels affect how the body stores fat.
Dr Sarah Brewer explains that as oestrogen drops an enzyme linked to fat storage becomes more active especially around the middle.
To help manage this she recommends eating balanced meals watching portion sizes and cutting back on unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks.
Regular exercise also makes a huge difference. Cardio workouts combined with activities like yoga or Pilates can help keep the body strong and tone the stomach muscles.
READ MORE: Are you a pear apple or hourglass? These are the best diet and exercise choices for your body type
Myth #9 Your anxiety levels will soar
Anxiety can happen during menopause but it does not affect everyone the same way.
Psychologist Dr Meg Arroll says around one in four women report feeling anxious during menopause. At the same time anxiety has become more common in general life too with many people feeling more stressed than ever these days.
Treatments like HRT or antidepressants may help some women manage menopause related anxiety during peri-menopause.
She also recommends evidence based therapies like yoga massage reflexology and most importantly making time for self care rest and relaxation.
Myth #10 The menopause is a nightmare
Menopause is often talked about negatively but it does not have to be a terrible experience.
Dr Sarah Brewer says looking after your health eating well and taking the right vitamins for your age can help make this stage of life feel healthier and more enjoyable.
Charlotte Haigh also encourages women to see menopause differently not as an ending but as a new chapter.
She believes this stage of life can be empowering and that women should see themselves as experienced wise and full of value.
With people living longer than ever many women still have decades ahead of them to grow explore and enjoy life. Instead of fearing menopause it can be a time to think bigger and focus on what you truly want from the years ahead.
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