Menopause is no joke. It’s inevitable in a woman’s life. Yet still, we’re not talking about it nearly enough.
As I approach the age of 50, it’s a topic I’ve taken particular interest in. I’ve had conversations with female family members and friends older than me, and much to my surprise, most don’t have any advice.
Take, for instance, my mother. She’s 68. She suffered with heavy periods and uterine fibroids as a younger woman and had a full hysterectomy in her early 30’s! I didn’t have my first child until 42!
FROM KIMBERLY: It’s time for more women to have ‘the talk’
Think about how times have changed. My mother was forced into menopause because there were no options other than a hysterectomy to treat her fibroids. She has lived in menopause more than half her life. Same for her mother, my maternal grandmother.
I, too, suffered with heavy periods and uterine fibroids, but thanks to medical advancements since my mother’s and grandmother’s time, I had options other than a hysterectomy and forced menopause. Those options saved my fertility, and I was able to conceive my son through IVF. More on that in another blog. But my point is: So much has changed since my mother’s time, and yet, so much remains the same. It’s time we do better.
That’s why I wanted to take some time -- more time than what’s allocated in a typical TV news broadcast -- to talk about “the change” all women will experience if they live long enough.
I talked for an entire hour with a local doctor who’s completed specialized training in menopausal health, and she helped me understand so much about symptoms, hormone therapy, and how we got to this point where there are so many misconceptions about treatment and why the topic remains so taboo.
As far as symptoms, most women have no idea how to bring it up to their doctor. Some experience more common symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. But there are many lesser-known symptoms, such as heart palpitations, joint pain, and feeling like suddenly you can’t focus. These could all be symptoms of menopause.
Additionally, one of the most shocking things I learned is that medical students and OBGYN residents are not required to take any courses in menopause. As a result, many healthcare professionals lack the training and knowledge to confidently provide comprehensive care during this time that every woman will eventually experience.
How can it be this way in 2024? This gap in education can lead to misinformation, misdiagnosis, and inadequate treatment options. This period in a woman’s life is way too challenging to be navigating with insufficient support.
MORE: Women break silence to overcome the myths, stigma of Menopause
Doctors who want to become experts in menopausal health must take classes on their own time to become certified by NAMS, the North American Menopause Society. After the certification, they take refresher courses to stay up-to-date on the latest menopause treatment recommendations.
It is imperative that you find a doctor with this credential if you’re not getting the help you need, which brings me to my last point: Help is available. You don’t have to just suck it up and deal with it.
There’s so much to unpack about this important and complicated topic. That’s why I hope you’ll watch my special on Local 4+ called “The Talk,” which airs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12.
It’s time we do better.
Event details
Kimberly has an event coming up from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19.
You can click here to learn more and register online.