Why are we not taught about menopause during sex education or at school

[Lardlizard]

I’m 42 and it’s like I don’t know what’s happening to me 😰
Had a night sweat last night woke up back scalp and chest drenched

Went to my dr once about it as I don’t know what it was and said do I need a test or something to see if going into menopause
She said no as you can get symptoms for ten years and have no further advice at all

I guess this is what’s happening to me
?
Am I Peri
menopausal ?
Should I keep a diary of how frequent this happens ?
Is there anything else I should be doing ?

I had obstetric Cholestasis so I was told no pill or hrt

I can't imagine that teenaged kids would be interested in the symptoms of the menopause , which might or might not happen to them when they are in their 40's or 50's. Sex education tells them what is happening to them now, which is a lot for them to absorb. Adding things which might happen in 30 years time, is probably a bit too much information .

Personally I see no reason for telling kids every little thing which may or may not happen to them , in many years time. If you have these symptoms, you can educate yourself very easily since there is abundant information on Google.

If you've got night sweats it might be a symptom of the menopause . There isn't really a test to see if you are menopausal - I think they just go by your individual symptoms. If the sweats are frequent and bothersome, ask your GP about going on HRT.

I am guessing the main idea of sex education is to teach about what is happing in teenage bodies. It is not too difficult to look up info on the menopause.

Maybe start here

www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/

It seems to have a good overview of what to except and when to seek medical advice.

Menopause can be really tough and there is help with oral and topical treatments that can really help. Hard to cover everything in the school curriculum. Even after one leaves school we should always be learning about our bodies and what to expect later on.

Yeah I get it could be information overload, but I can’t take hormonal medication incase it causes liver problems
Not sure if I can try herbal stuff?
Trying to google to find basic info
Any particular websites good ?
Guess I could start to log when this happens to see how frequent

Kids are not going to retain information for 25/35 years and by which point the medical advice will probably have changed. An adult can very easily find the information out.

I really really wish someone had told me about the menopause and I would have prepared for it by increasing fitness, losing weight and generally improving my health and starting on a programme of meditation.
You need to be a top athlete to be able to endure it.
I had 10 years of horrendous symptoms, a divorce because of it and everything turned upside down and inside out yet not even my mother had ever discussed it with me, it just happened out of the blue.
I did not deal with it well and have just come out of the other side with my entire life turned upside down thinking WTF happened there.
All the research shows exercise really improves symptoms so if you've ever fancied getting really fit start now, running, long walks, gym, whatever, it will also improve the mental health problems that come with it.
Menopause matters forum is very good although it is a bit HRT heavy there are sections for getting through it without.
Whatever you do don't allow yourself to turn into a pudding and drink too much like I did it makes everything 10 times worse.

No point in telling teens about menopause. Too long a lag, treatment ideas will change. More comprehensive information gathered in one place online would be nice, on the NHS website, for example.

Thanks for the advice one what sites to start on, I think I’m just a bit knocked over by this I’ll start doing some research about it all today
It’s just so fucking weird

I agree 100% that teenage girls should be way better informed about what pain is normal during periods to help stop and be aware of endometriosis, they should be told about the peri menopause and the menopause and the 5 cancers women can get than men can't, that 80% of women on the street can't even name.

It's disgusting the absolute lack of information given to women for checks and don't get me started on women not even being able to point and name their own body parts, this is down to governments and health departments not teachers.

Maybe a second batch of health education is needed.

The whole issue is you don't google something if you don't know what you are going through and the medical profession are absolutely dire at dealing with women health issues and Hormone related symptoms so the sooner women actually understand their own bodies the better.

I don't see that improving any time soon.

Moan over! 😬

I too have been having night sweats for couple if years and have now started hot flushes in the day time. I guess the GCSE syllabus could include mentioning that menopause happens but a lot of our health info we find out naturally through friends and family as we grow up. I will be doing more online research to help me, it's pretty scary.

Mad cat I feel just the same, just wish I knew a bit about it before starting to get symptoms
I feel quite stressed that the option of hrt is probably not possible for me so I thjnk that makes the fear worse
Sorry to hear it ruined your marriage
I can understand that and I bet that happens a lot

Liek what is this scalp sweating ? I can’t see info about that anywhere ? I guess it’s normal

Anyone who is struggling, I'd suggest Instagram and start to follow menopause dr there is a big community, and if you can pop to a menopause clinic, and get bloods done this will help up understand which hormones are dropping, you may even find that testosterone could help you.

It's not licences in the UK but a good clinic can advise and get it from Australia, women in the uk aren't seems to need it 😂 even though it boosts mood, libido and has many other health benefits, our levels just vanish in out 40s and cause a selection of issues one being a low mood.

Unless you have a great GP if you can go private, if you can't read lots and ask for what you'd like.

Menopause isn't taken seriously by the medical profession ( predominantly). It's not 'sex' is it? Sex education is to prevent pregnancy. And what 14 year old would be interested?

But I agree, there are many places you can research online to get info

Happy to pay and get bloods tested

I don't think there is any point in teaching children or teenagers about the menopause other than in the most basic terms - telling girls that one day they will get periods which means ... and that when they get older they will stop.

Where is our own responsibility for this? I remember my mother going through what she called 'the change of life'. My daughters know it happens and that I no longer have periods, though I haven't gone into all the details. Personally, as I approached my 50s I bought a couple of books and did some internet research on the pros and cons of HRT.

We all have different experiences of the menopause, as we do of childbirth and having periods. So I don't think it is helpful to suggest that you need to be a top athlete to endure the menopausal. I have every sympathy with women who have 10 years of horrendous symptoms, but I don't think that's every woman's experience. I didn't and despite being obese am managing perfectly well without HRT.

@Fifthtimelucky I think you are lucky in your experience. I am 62 and every single women in my family/social circle has had a hellish time with menopause. It's total shit tbh. I was suicidal

I’m 50 and DD is nearly 30. I have been going through peri for a couple of years now. So she knows from me some of the issues I’ve had. For balance I told her that some people don’t have any problems (my DSis periods just stopped one day and that was that!). But now she also knows what things she may experience when the time comes. Yes there is google etc but it’s good to talk it though with a real person.

I'm sure I'm lucky but I'm 59 but I'm not alone. I don't know a single woman who has had a hellish time!

I agree, that it would be pointless to say anything other than ''periods stop at some point''.

You sound like you're going through really extreme symptoms there. I'm 50 and have not experienced anything like what you describe. I would go to the doctor and get bloods checked and get something for those symptoms.

I sometimes wonder if I should be medicallising my menopause a bit more but the drugs exist for people who have symptoms that really make them suffer.

I didn't watch it because I felt like what's the point obsessing over something, but there are several youtubers who talk about menopause, ''menopause barbie'' (barbie taylor)

Who is having extreme symptoms ? Me ? What night sweats ?

My peri-menopause was diagnosed from increasing gaps in periods.

My GP said to take evening primrose oil for sweats. I can't take HRT either.

Check out Dr Louise Newson. It very much sounds like Peri menopause or even early menopause and at 42 you may need HRT to protect your heart and brain and bones up until the normal average age of menopause which is 51. Menopause symptoms can be utterly debilitating. Often diagnosis is made on symptoms not blood tests. You might be able to try estrogen gel or patches rather than tablets.