Women will spend more than 40% of their lives in menopause. Many women feel confused and underserved, without clear guidance on how to handle menopause. Today we are going to clarify the top 5 myths of menopause. This information is a collection of medical research written and translated by the physicians here at Second To None Health.

Menopause is defined as 12 consecutive months of absent menstrual cycles not attributed to any other cause. The average age of menopause is 51 years of age, but timing varies by individual and population. Menopausal symptoms include, but are certainly not limited to, hot flashes, night sweats, difficult sleeping, mood swings (anxiety, depression, irritability), cognitive difficulties (poor memory, difficulty concentrating), decreased libido, vaginal dryness, and painful intercourse.

Perimenopause is defined as the transition between having irregular menstrual cycles and other menopause-related symptoms—to the official arrival of menopause. For majority of women perimenopause will start at age 45 or older. For certain patients, perimenopause will arrive earlier.

There are many myths about menopause.

We hope to clarify some parts of menopause with this article. But there is much to discuss so be sure and schedule an appointment with a physician or send us a message and we would be happy to further educate you.

1. There are no Natural menopausal relief options
   
Is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) the only option for treating menopausal symptoms? Absolutely not! There are Natural menopausal relief options and functional wellness options that can greatly improve your symptoms without the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Many women do not prefer HRT, and many women do not need Hormone Therapy. Holistic options such as Black Cohosh and Ashwagandha can be effective at treating menopausal symptoms. There are also prescription medications that are hormone free such as Fezolinetant and Venlafaxine. All these options, even the holistic treatments, need followed by a provider. They can have negative interactions and side effects that may be unique to your health situation. Each treatment needs personalized for you! Not to mention the most natural way to treat and live with menopausal, functional wellness. Through changes in your diet, exercise, mental health, stress management, and sleep you can drastically improve your quality of life during menopause. By using functional wellness techniques, you will improve your overall health in all categories. Giving you an opportunity to live happier.

2. Weight loss is impossible after menopause

   Not true! Weight loss becomes more difficult in menopause, and you will face more adversity on your weight loss journey. With the proper support of a provider that formulates a unique diet and exercise plan to your needs, you will find great results over time. Your diet needs to concentrate on protein intake, fiber-rich foods, and healthy fats. Menopausal women can use menopause to their advantage! Energy needs decrease during menopause therefore calorie deficits do not need to be as extreme for weight loss to occur. Diets and exercise must keep in mind bone health in a menopausal woman. Safe resistance training that works around any ailments and previous injuries is key. GLP-1 medications are another great option for menopausal women that are looking to lose weight and reduce inflammation.

3. Brain fog is inevitable

   Cognitive difficulties such as poor memory and difficulty concentrating are common during menopause, but they are treatable! Decreased estrogen leads to decreased cerebral blood flow and neuroplasticity. The best way to reverse this is through a gentle exercise routine along with a nutrient-dense diet. This will increase cerebral blood flow and certain balanced based exercises will increase neuroplasticity. Some women may find improvements through Hormone Replacement Therapy also. It is important to remember that Brain Fog occurs for multiple reasons, our brain is not a simple machine, so full resolution will need to be evaluated by a provider.  

4. There is nothing I can do to help me during perimenopause
   
Perimenopause is the difficult transition period toward menopause. While perimenopause is detrimental untreated there are plenty of treatment options. The same treatment options that treat menopausal women can treat perimenopausal women. Typically, Hormone Replacement therapy is not used in the perimenopausal stage but there is a long list of non-hormonal options to treat women in perimenopause. It’s important for women suffering from perimenopause to see a provider early and stay ahead of their symptoms. This will improve their long-term outcomes. 

5. I’ll never sleep again
   
Sleep is vital to your overall health and is essential to living a happy menopausal life. Menopause is NOT the end of your quality sleep. Menopausal women are more likely to experience sleep disturbances that reduce their overall sleep. These can be treated with improved sleep hygiene, hormone replacement therapy, and natural supplements. Working with a provider on menopause related stress management that utilizes relaxation techniques can greatly improve your sleep. While this takes a thorough provider and a nightly effort, you will get the sleep you need!

We hope this brings some clarity to menopause and perimenopause for you. We understand that there is so much more to menopause. We’d be happy to help you!

Our physicians at Second To None are menopausal specialists.

We approach menopause in a holistic way that personalizes your needs with your lifestyle. For those women that want hormone replacement therapy, we use bioidentical hormones HRT. For those that want hormone free treatment we use natural menopausal relief options such as natural supplements and lifestyle changes. We personalize these natural treatments to fit your life and needs. We concentrate on self-care, mental health, stress management, and sleep to improve your menopausal symptoms. We promote functional wellness. All while keeping our treatment plans evidenced based.