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!

Not forgetting that the 'peri ' menopause then 'post' menopause is to come . I agree with you 💯

Years ago it was just called ‘getting older’ now everything is down to peri, or menopause. It’s actually quite dangerous implying that ever symptom is caused by menopause…..a lot of symptoms could actually be something else.

I am pleased it’s talked about more but I like to think it’s ‘getting older’ rather than ‘menopause’, my bones ache more….because I am getting older, I am more forgetful…..because I am getting older. Yes things change as you get older and some of those things are hard to except, but maybe we should be working on women embracing those changes rather than moaning about them?

Thats nice dear but
We Do No Care Much Anymore

I love that woman.

maybe we should be working on women embracing those changes rather than moaning about them?

Absolutely, my dried up nether regions which cause constant pelvic pain and UTIs are just one of those things. I just need to get on with it. FFS. 🙄

Yep it’s massively being targeted as a marketing trend. We don’t need oral collagen, we don’t need ten zillion supplements, it’s all gonna be seen as a total scam in a few years time I’m sure of it. And I say this as someone who’s really gone through it as well (in chemical menopause after having breast cancer). Almost everything being sold to me is bollocks!

I’m at that very weird age where many of my friends have newborns or ttc but also could be menopausal apparently! I have older kids .
There was a thread recently where the op was asked at 46 if she had grandchildren and she was surprised but on mumsnet everyone jumped on it saying she was being completely unreasonable and it was a standard question to ask at her age this was a completely normal age to be a grandparent….
But awareness is good of course but I agree some posters delight in it . There was a 32 year old poster with night sweats and irregular periods recently and it was peri menopause all the way for her at 32…..

But that's part of the point of all this knowledge. Being over 50 is the biggest risk factor. We know the statistics and should all be using them to harangue the HCPs into ordering dexascans. They're cheap, fast and non invasive and could save the NHS millions by identifying risk before there's a fracture.

maybe we should be working on women embracing those changes rather than moaning about them?

I think most women are pretty happy to embrace not having periods any more. Perhaps you could go and look at a list of the other menopause symptoms and see which ones you think we can 'work on getting women to embrace'? And maybe at the same time consider whether men would be told to 'embrace' unpleasant and sometimes debilitating symptoms of something, just because it's part of a 'natural process'.

And if your bone density is bad but you can't have HRT what happens tgen?

There are dietary changes you can make, forms of exercise that can help, and, if necessary, medications to try.

That's why it's beneficial to find out an an early stage and is information every woman should know.

Lots of treatments for osteoporosis beyond HRT. Bisphosphonates, Denusomab, etc etc.

That's a good point. I feel I do have some risk factors, but was dismissed by my GP when I raised the issue. The scan I had 10 years ago was done privately and I got the impression the GP thought that the advice to have another scan post menopause was just private health care trying to make money.

I am 55, quite low weight, have had (overuse) stress fractures, 1/2 Asian.
There are no hip fractures in the family and I don't drink a lot or smoke.

I saw a statistic quoted by HMRC the other day that said menopause is the leading reason for middle aged women leaving the workforce - right when they should be a the top of their careers and earning capacity. It's yet another thing that disadvantages us (like childcare, etc) and it was something that affected blokes it would have been sorted decades ago. It doesn't affect all women the same, so just like childbirth, every woman's own experience is valid.

If a woman wants to talk about her menopause, she has every right to, it's a massive moment in her life.

Wait till your in the thick of it like I am and feel absolutely the worst you’ve ever felt 🥲

Why say that. The OP may not feel like that. I and many others didnt@

I guess not I’m sorry. It’s just how it’s making me feel

That wasn't very helpful.
Lots of women don't suffer like that.

But how about the ones that do ?

We are all different. I know very well that many women have a bad time. I am adding balance to say that many women don't.

The gloom mongers on this thread don't like being told that not everyone suffers.

I absolutely agree that not everyone suffers I really do. And I’m sorry if I’ve offended anyone.

Well we hear about about that all the time. It's when other women say it wasn't so bad then they just get shut down

I'm sorry, who on this thread have I accused of having a personality defect?

I so agree! I don't know why women go on about childbirth, i had 3 babies with no assistance and no pain relief, plus none of my babies had issues breastfeeding or sleeping through. I don't know what all the fuss is about, it was a breeze for me! Why do we have to hear all the stories of nearly dying, or how some women need tonnes of support to get through the early years, surely that distorts how easy it actually is for many of us?