We need to talk about menopause
After spending decades growing into yourself, you think you know your body. You’ve made hard-won peace with its curves, its folds, everything it’s been through. And then, one day, all that changes. You’re gaining weight out of nowhere, and losing it feels impossible. Whatever worked before isn’t working anymore. Menopause can bring many changes, but none feel as personal as what it does to our bodies. That doesn’t just mess with our sense of self, it also impacts our health: menopause increases our risk of overweight and obesitys. We’re here to say that none of this is inevitable—and if we normalize the struggles our bodies face during this time, we can more confidently navigate our lives inside them.
3 myths about menopause
#1
It can last years
Menopause itself is only a day. It occurs when you’ve gone without a menstrual period for exactly 12 months. But the lead-up to that moment, known as perimenopause, can last up to a decade, during which time ovarian hormones slowly decline. Anything after that menopause day is considered post-menopause.
#2
It’s basically just hot flashes
Hot flashes—a sudden, fleeting increase in body temperature—are considered the most common symptom of perimenopause and menopause, affecting up to 80% of women. But there are over 34 symptoms associated with menopause, many of which are both disruptive and warranting care, such as insomnia and depression.
#3
It’s only a reproductive issue
Menopause starts as a reproductive shift. Your ovaries stop producing eggs and your menstrual period ends. But that affects every part of the body, from your brain to your bones to your muscles and metabolism.
#1
It can last years
Menopause itself is only a day. It occurs when you’ve gone without a menstrual period for exactly 12 months. But the lead-up to that moment, known as perimenopause, can last up to a decade, during which time ovarian hormones slowly decline. Anything after that menopause day is considered post-menopause.
#2
It’s basically just hot flashes
Hot flashes—a sudden, fleeting increase in body temperature—are considered the most common symptom of perimenopause and menopause, affecting up to 80% of women. But there are over 34 symptoms associated with menopause, many of which are both disruptive and warranting care, such as insomnia and depression.
#3
It’s only a reproductive issue
Menopause starts as a reproductive shift. Your ovaries stop producing eggs and your menstrual period ends. But that affects every part of the body, from your brain to your bones to your muscles and metabolism.
Menopause health is weight health
Menopause can have a significant impact on weight and the health markers associated with it. And that makes it a pivotal time to make changes—to things like diet, exercise, and stress management—to set yourself up for long-term wellbeing.
Menopause 101
Learn more about menopause and the impact it can have on your body, your health, and your life.
