Close to 1 BILLION women globally will be dealing with menopause by 2025. With this in mind SheSpeaks and Tamsen Fadal, best-selling author and menopause advocate, collaborated on a survey to better understand the experiences of women during menopause and perimenopause (the time period just before menopause). Close to 4,000 women participated in the study and there are some very interesting findings.
KEY FINDINGS:
The perceived distinction between perimenopause and menopause is murky, and the actual definition of “menopause” appears to be unclear – or perhaps unimportant – to many women.
Frequently | Occasionally | At all | |
Irritability | 46.27% | 45.02% | 91.29% |
Brain fog | 52.34% | 35.76% | 88.10% |
Weight gain | 57.08% | 29.36% | 86.44% |
Hot flashes | 33.32% | 40.20% | 73.52% |
Night sweats | 34.41% | 43.22% | 77.63% |
Insomnia | 50.95% | 35.90% | 86.85% |
I’m 39 and had a hysterectomy leaving only one ovary and I have been having these symptoms as well …but I just felt it was something I just had to deal with
I am in menopause, its been about 30 months with no period. The hot flashes continue even while taking medication my doctor recommended. The brain fog and irritability come and go also. I do agree with the findings. I also think we are luckier than our mothers as we have more information available and I have a female gynecologist who is very open and easy to talk to.
I feel like I'm peri-menopause and I can't find a doctor to take me seriously. I'm trying to manage symptoms on my own. I find it very hard to manage.
I feel like I'm peri-menopause and I can't find a doctor to take me seriously. I'm trying to manage symptoms on my own. I find it very hard to mange.
This is so important for everyone to understand and support!!!
I am 47 and believe I might be peri. I sometimes will go a month or two before getting my period. My hormonal acne has increased on my chin. I think other symptoms may be due to a medication I am on.
I'm 40 years old and I've been thinking I'mve been perimenopausal for a couple years now. But everyone is telling me I'm too young. Yet I'm having all the symptoms. This menopause thing is very confusing...
I'm 40 years old and I've been thinking I'mve been perimenopausal for a couple years now. But everyone is telling me I'm too young. Yet I'm having all the symptoms. This menopause thing is very confusing...
I wish I had known the symptoms of perimenopause back when I was going through it. I was told that I was too young for perimenopause, so therefore that couldn't possibly be the reason for my symptoms. I have had an ovarectomy due to endometriosis which could have contributed to an earlier than average perimenopause, and I wound up doing a lot of things trying to address my symptoms that might have made it worse because I didn't know that it was just my time arriving. I am now in full menopause - no periods for several years - and I'm barely over fifty!
I know that menopause is a normal stage of life, but it?s not discussed in public nearly enough (although this has changed a bit recently), and I found it embarrassing. Admitting to being menopausal at work seemed to have some stigma attached to it at the time, and I worried a bit that my colleagues might think I was over the hill. My advice to other women is to realize that menopause isn?t just about hot flashes: hormonal changes can cause a wide range of symptoms. For me, this included anxiety, insomnia, loss of confidence, heart palpitations, and restless legs.
I was in peri-menopause before being thrown into (full, surgical) menopause at the age of 32. I have experienced most of these symptoms and feelings. I think one thing that isn't discussed enough would be the mental toll that menopause takes on a woman. The irrational irritability & brain fog makes you feel very "Off". I will also say that I have always told my daughter that you know your body better than anyone.. so, if something feels or seems wrong, find a Dr who listens to you. I agree with this articles' findings, and it is actually very enlightening.
I think I?m in perimenopause because of my symptoms but I'm not sure. After reading this article, it looks like most women don?t know if they are perimenopause and menopause but only guessing.
Yes and yes. I do have a good gyno who sits and looks at you and she asks questions and offers options d.
I?m in perimenopause right now. I talked with my doctor about my symptoms. She was so helpful and gave me the informationI needed to help me understand what was happening. I have most of the symptoms above but some are worse than others. I agree with some of the study. I do think it?s important to have someone who knows to talk to.
I think menopause is a confusing time because there are so many new treatments and claims out there that contribute to the lack of clarity. I think gynecologists need to do better at explaining it and companies should spend less time making unrealistic claims about it.