Myths and Misconceptions About Menopause
Posted on Feb 16, 2010 under Hot Flashes, Menopause, Night sweats, cancer | No CommentA lot of things come to mind when a woman contemplates the idea of menopause, and unfortunately, some of those things are either old wives’ tales or completely out of date. Here’s a look at some of the common myths and misconceptions surrounding menopause.
Myth: Menopause is not natural but is a disease. This is one of the biggest fallacies about menopause. Menopause is a normal and healthy part of life that every woman goes through. This can be a very challenging and frightening period in a woman’s life. A woman needs to accept the changes that are taking place in her life and she also needs to be aware of the risks. If symptoms become too difficult to cope with she must be aware of what treatments are available.
Myth: Menopause and depression go hand in hand. One of the potential symptoms of menopause is depression but it is not the same as clinical depression. The many changes that a woman experiences during menopause can make her feel depressed, sad and slightly nostalgic. Some women are bothered by the fact that their child bearing days are behind them and grieve the passing of their youth. In most instances the depression is a mild one that will pass in time. In rare instances, a short course of antidepressants may be required.
Myth: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is dangerous and should be avoided. When HRT was first introduced, many women were excited about a treatment that could help relieve many of the unpleasant symptoms that accompany menopause. However the bubble burst shortly afterwards when a highly publicized research study revealed that HRT came with some serious potential risks to women’s health. HRT is still rather controversial although it can be an effective treatment for menopausal women who are experiencing hot flashes and vaginal dryness, among other symptoms. Many doctors are cautious when prescribing the treatment for their patients. Some of the potential risks of the therapy include an increase in rates of breast cancer, blood clots and stroke.
Menopausal women are no longer interested in intimate relations. Intimacy is still possible, and any tendency toward dryness can be handled with lubricants and other treatments. In fact, many women discover that they feel more interested than before, because they’ve reached a stage where they are confident and free. The kids are grown, so those exhausting child-raising duties are finished. And not having to watch for approaching menstrual periods or worry about getting pregnant? That is actually liberation for many women.
Do you think you might be experiencing early menopause? If so, you need to know what the symptoms are and how to manage them. Visit the Menopause Symptoms site for the advice you need to help you through this stressful time of life.