We are so over how some people talk about menopause.
As many readers know, menopause is the point at which a person has gone 12 consecutive months without a period, marking the end of their reproductive years. This process usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, and it’s a natural part of aging—but you wouldn’t know that from looking at some television shows and films.
Representations of this perfectly normal process in the media typically include older women fighting hot flashes in front of the fridge, sweating out of their clothes at brunch, losing their minds at work, knocking back concoctions to stave off symptoms, and even scrambling to push hormone-replacement pills through TSA (Sex and the City 2, anyone?). The images we see about menopause are often antiquated, inaccurate, and most of all, fear-inducing. Our fingers are crossed that we leave them in 2024.
Of course, this bodily change comes with real symptoms that you may have already heard about—but aging is an amazing process, and plenty of fantastic things happen during menopause and afterward. Don’t believe us? Keep reading to find out some incredible things that happen during and after menopause.
No more menstrual symptoms.
One of the most lauded benefits of menopause is the end of periods and all the less-than-pleasant symptoms that come with them. If you suffer from particularly painful periods, PMS, or critical pre-menstrual disorders like PMDD, menopause means a lot less monthly suffering. According to Dr. Leah Millheiser, the absence of periods is “one of the main things [her] patients like about menopause,” with many of them mentioning increased energy, the end of migraines, less stress and “guessing games” around when cycles will begin, and overall elevated moods.1
With that in mind, menopause doesn’t signify the end of a mental health journey. In fact, menopause and mental health have a distinct relationship that every woman should be aware of as her body grows and changes.
Redefining self-care.
It’s important to remember that menopause is not a sudden, two-month period in which you lose all control or your will to live. Menopause is different for everyone, but all experts agree that it’s a gradual process.
What that means is that you’ll have time to adjust to meet your body’s new needs and learn what works for you. So, look at this as a time to redefine and rebuild how you care for yourself. In a recent poll surrounding the positives of menopause, one participant wrote: “I finally own my body and life.” And that’s far from a bad thing.
Uterine fibroids shrink (or disappear).
Uterine fibroids, or non-cancerous tumors that grow within the walls of the uterus, affect approximately 26 million women in the United States.2 Though these tumors aren’t necessarily malignant, they can wreak plenty of havoc through side effects—including painful periods, incontinence, frequent urination, and anemia.
Now, here’s the great news: the menopausal era often means the end of uterine fibroids for many people. Not only do those fibroids decrease in size, they often disappear altogether. Why? During and following menopause, the body produces less estrogen and progesterone—two of the hormones that feed those fibroids. And in fact, experts consider it “extremely rare” to develop uterine fibroids at all following the end of the reproductive era.3
Sex still rocks.
One of the most common stereotypes about menopause is that it negatively impacts sex drives and more generally, sex lives. In fact, quite a few postmenopausal folks report an increased libido, and better sex in general.4
Yes, declining estrogen levels may affect your vagina’s lubrication and elasticity during this time, but that’s not the case for all. And some who have gone through it report success with additions like lubricant and vaginal moisture supplements.5
For those of you who may worry constantly about the risk of unplanned pregnancy or are on birth control methods they don’t enjoy, the end of your reproductive era means tossing those worries away. Of course, you’ll still want to prioritize having safe sex, as the risk of STIs is still very much alive—not to harsh your mellow.
And if you do happen to experience a change in your intimacy and arousal patterns, there are many things you can try, including increasing physical activity, improving your sleep quality, enjoying libido-enhancing foods, and reducing overall stress. If you’re looking for a supplement that can address your not-so-pleasant menopause symptoms, consider talking with your doctor about giving MENO a try.
You get to enjoy your life.
So quick reminder, in case you need it: you are still you—before, during, and after menopause. The end of your reproductive years does not mean the end of your expansive, full life.
For many folks, menopause often overlaps with an era marked by increased financial stability, well-established communities, friendship circles that have been built over years, and successful careers. Embrace what you’ve built for yourself thus far, because your life is far from over. As a matter of fact, you may be entering the very best part of it.
A note on sex and gender: Sex and gender exists on spectrums, and this article uses terms like “male” or “female” to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.
