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macafem menopause awareness month 2016

5 Facts to Know during Menopause Awareness Month

September is National Menopause Awareness Month. Great strides over the past decade or so have been made to lift the taboo that has hindered open discussion about menopause and its symptoms for many years. Take a few minutes this month to learn some important facts about menopause and share them with other women in your life and those close to you.

1. Menopause Is a Natural Transition All Women Experience

Just like puberty, menopause is a natural part of every woman’s life. It is not a medical condition that needs to be treated or a process that can be stopped. Women in menopause do not have something “wrong with them.” Menopause symptoms, however, can be relieved naturally to improve quality of life.

2. The Average Age of Menopause in the U.S. is 51

Most women complete the menopause transition – meaning they have gone 12 straight months without a period – in their late forties or early fifties.

3. Your Doctor Can Help

Many women feel embarrassed to talk to their primary care physician or gynecologist about menopause or may think there’s nothing they can do. Not only can your medical practitioner order tests to help confirm that you are in the menopause transition, but they can also give you advice on ways to manage and treat your symptoms.

4. Menopause and Its Symptoms Stem from Hormonal Changes

Since the menstrual cycle is regulated by hormones like estrogen and progesterone, it makes sense that changes in these hormone levels would also bring menstruation to a close. However, estrogen and other hormones impact other processes in the body in addition to the reproductive system. This causes other symptoms, like hot flashes, mood swings, and memory lapses.

5. Each Woman’s Menopause Experience Is Unique

Not every woman goes through menopause at the same age, and not every woman has the same symptoms. In fact, some women don’t experience any symptoms at all, while others may have a multitude of severe symptoms. Despite these natural differences, women can still relate through support groups and menopause forums.

No woman should feel ashamed about this natural transition. There is no need to go through menopause alone or in silence. Keep the conversation going by sharing your menopause experience with us and other women on our Facebook page or with a tweet to us!

MenopauseAwarenessMonth.org. (n.d.). September is National Menopause Awareness Month. Retrieved August 25, 2016, from http://menopauseawarenessmonth.org/menopause101.html
National Institute on Aging. (2016). Menopause. Retrieved August 25, 2016, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/menopause
The North American Menopause Society. (n.d.). Menopause 101: A primer for the perimenopausal. Retrieved August 25, 2016, from http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal