I am so sick of hearing about menopause

[haveyouheardthemenopauseisshit]

I get the menopause is a big deal for many women and the symptoms are not nice.

However, do we have to talk about it all the time? I feel like I am hearing about it multiple times a day. We have menopause awareness sessions and e-learning at work. I’m targeted by advertising every time I look at my phone for some new product / vitamin / book etc which is supposed to help with menopause symptoms. I feel like it’s constantly being mentioned on the radio, TV, by people I know.

If someone is forgetful, it’s the menopause. If they’re tired, it’s the menopause. If they’re angry, it’s the menopause. If they’re hot, it’s the menopause.

I’m 39 and I feel bombarded by all of this “THE MENOPAUSE IS COMING SOON AND IT WILL BE SHIT” messaging.

I am also a bit worried that it will make it even harder to be taken seriously as a woman in the workplace, since the prevailing message now seems to be that women over 45 are basically useless because of all the issues caused by their hormones.

I’m guessing I’ll be in the minority here and everyone else will think that the awareness raising is a good thing but I just find it quite depressing!

But you're on HRT. You're not supposed to feel that bad when on HRT, which is obviously working for you! It's doing it's job. Why would anyone begrudge you feeling good on HRT? I don't get it, truly I don't.

No she isn't.

They said struggle.

She said "menopause will be awful and render women functionally disabled".

Massive difference regardless of saying 'wait and see'.

That’s not a suggestion. There has been literally nothing I can do but endure it for 7 years.

Absolute crap! If it was “readily available” why were the likes of Davina McCall having to do documentaries about the massive scandoe which was how women were NOT being given HRT by Drs?

Well that is something you need to take up with them, if you are feeling unrepresentatived, i mean it is pretty well known that the glass ceiling affects all women and women who are middle aged are often overlooked for being "not capable" their health and well being issues being brought to light should hopefully benefit all women, but if you feel they are "wanging on" too much tell them, suggest something they could help you with.

My workplace has done workshops on women’s health issues at work like menopause, periods, endometriosis etc. They also have sessions and help available on returning after maternity leave or time off due to women’s health issues like hysterectomy. Also sexism and unconscious bias, mentoring for women specifically, lots of other things but I’d have to check my email.

My last company was similar.

This thread reminds me of my sister who was a nanny, thought she knew it all and used to tell me how I was doing parenting all wrong. 🤔
I couldn’t wait for her to have her own babies. She did not know what had hit her.

Exactly. And some women can’t take HRT.

Has the OP not returned? Shocking.

If someone really does suffer on five or ten years’ time, does that prove they were wrong in not wanting to talk and hear about it all the time? I don’t understand this argument.

If it’s going to be dreadful, what purpose does worrying about it in advance serve? And if it isn’t dreadful, what a waste of energy. Surely, the information we need is symptoms, idea of likely timelines and an idea of how to access help. None of which requires the obsessive focus on this topic that some of us don’t appreciate.

I find the idea of women in their twenties and thirties worrying about this really sad.

I’m here! I’ll be honest, I was scared to return and read the responses because I thought saying I’m fed up with hearing about the menopause would be unpopular.

I’m pleasantly surprised to find many people agree with me! Maybe this phase is reaching its peak.

Completely agree about all the attempts to monetise it as well. “Make women feel like shit and then try to sell them something to fix it”. That’s such a good summary of life as a woman!

I don’t really see how it’s similar at all 🤔 Sorry though if you thought I was telling you you’re doing menopause wrong (I’m not)

I don't know where you all work, but I work for an American software company and not a word mentioned on menopause anywhere. Even our benefits have excluded menopause cover even tough fertility cover is included.

Yes yes yes! This sums it up perfectly for me. We already know that women aren’t taken seriously when they’re in their childbearing years, and now it’s being extended to middle aged women too. So depressing.

I wish I'd known about peri menopause and endometriosis when I was 38/39 as I'd no idea what the heck was wrong with me all of a sudden. And all my weight gain was in my 30s in pregnancy/post partum.

Now I am 50 and actually menopausal I have hardly any symptoms at all, more of an absence of all that shite I had for ten years or more in my mid/ late 30s onwards.

This hasn’t been the case for me or any woman I know. I have had some adjustments made for peri by my company and recently got promoted. They realise the importance of staff retention.

@Yuasa
Do you find it sad that teenagers know about PMS do you find it worrying that women wanting to conceive know about pre natal vitamins ? foresight shouldn't be frightening atm yourself with as much information as possible do with it what you want but at least it is there if "they" need it, I have 20 and 30 something year old Dds we talk about stuff i talk to them about menopausal stuff. They arenot frightened they are far too busy negotiating painful periods and whatnot to worry about menopause.

I’ve just turned 50. Didn’t even know about peri menopause until reading about it a few years ago. I don’t think I have any symptoms as yet. My period is late for the first time this month. Maybe that’s a sign. But I feel pretty fine and normal. I don’t know whether to start HRT. I know it’s good for bones, but with the cancer risk and no current symptoms, should I do it?

I do agree it feels like a constant Meno bombardment these days.

Well, first, i didn't start taking it until 53 and hadn't had obvious symptoms without it. As I said, I took it as the long term health benefits seemed worthwhile. I should probably have started earlier, but it took a while to get round it it.

And second, if "you're supposed to feel that bad when on HRT" then why the fuss and doom and gloom about menopause? It's very very easy to stick a patch on twice a week and for a large majority of women the various long term benefits outweigh the various long term risks (quite apart from short run benefits addressing any symptoms). I understand that some women can't take it, but it's very few I think? So job (mostly) done and no need for the negativity.

I was well aware of PMS - and have more than experienced it! - but never heard anything like the amount of information about it as I do (peri)menopause.

It’s all very well saying foresight shouldn’t be frightening but the number of younger women on here worrying about or dreading it speaks for itself. As a worrier myself, I’m glad this wasn’t on my radar in my thirties.

With the frightening amount of misinformation on the post about HRT, it looks like we need to be talking about it even more 😂

I agree with you, OP. Some information and awareness and women being taken seriously and given the medication they need = really important. But it being used as a default explanation for literally everything that happens between the ages of 40 and 60 is tiresome. It annoys me in the way that it used to annoy me when women with babies said 'baby brain' every time they forgot something. It all contributes to a culture of women being taken less seriously.

Yes, the menopause causes some women serious symptoms and those need to be dealt with and supported by workplaces, families and friends. But women my age going 'menopause brain' at work every time they forget something... like, do you actually want to be taken as seriously as men or do you not? Men don't talk about erectile dysfunction or prostate issues in the office, but I would still hope they are getting all the support and information they need to help them deal with these things.

I am now 48 and dealing with some minor menopause symptoms. If they reach the point where they impact my work, I'll tell my boss/HR if needed but otherwise I will not be shouting about them in the office, just as I never share about period pains when I have them.

@Czerwonitz , there is much you can do. Look at your diet, strength train, jump! There is so much information out there that you shouldn’t need to suffer with vaginal atrophy.
Up to you though but the time to act IS now.

Nailed it.

Yes still having normal, monthly periods.