Unfiltered Insights: Menopause - The Unspoken Struggle
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Struggles in Discussion: Many Women Find It Challenging to Open Up About Menopause - Women tend to struggle with discussing menopause openly
Sybille, a 47-year-old woman, brow mops her face, tosses her hair behind her shoulder. "Blimey, it's like a bloody sauna in here. Is the air con bust?" she asks, her interview taking place at her doc's office. "Am I roasting? I'm sweating buckets now." Sybille - with her shoulder-length blonde locks, black tailored blazer, and subtle gold accessories - looks every bit the picture of good health. But she doesn't feel that way; she's plagued by hot flashes for years, but they've eased off since she started using hormone patches.
Sybille, a pseudonym she prefers, is one of countless women in Germany grappling with menopause. When the ovaries gradually cease producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, women may experience severe symptoms: hot flashes, sleep disturbances, depressive moods, vaginal dryness, cognitive difficulties. Approximately 30% of women in menopause experience mild problems, with 50% enduring more severe issues, according to Thomas Strowitzki from Heidelberg University Hospital.
Menopause – a tense topic for women to discuss
With millions affected, why is this topic still a taboo? Is society becoming more progressive, or are women reluctant to delve into this subject?
"I still hear from scores of women that they find it tough to speak about it," shares Mandy Mangler, chief physician at two Vivantes Auguste-Viktoria Clinics in Berlin. "It's incredibly taboo because it's about aging, about doors closing," Mangler points out, yet "society is evolving a bit." The conversation is becoming more prevalent in media outlets.
Menopause typically occurs around age 45
For most women, menopause sets in around age 45, according to Strowitzki. Sybille's commenced with sleep disturbances around age 40. Hot flashes cropped up at 43. She decided to visit her gynecologist – but she received little assistance from the doc, Sybille recalls.
"She didn't do a thing, not even draw any blood, check hormone levels." The physician conducted a physical exam and announced everything appeared normal. Sybille turned to Strowitzki instead, who prescribed hormones following a blood test. She tried a hormone gel first, then opted for patches, which she replaces every two to three days.
Our society scorns aging
Why do women still balk at addressing their menopause? "Menstruation's cessation is the first tricky hurdle in life, a reminder of our 'limitations'," says Katrin Schaudig, president of the German Menopause Society. "Fertility is now behind us." This connection to aging explains our society's negative attitude towards it, along with the pervasive mindset among women: "Don't make a fuss, don't put yourself first" – don't dwell on pain and difficulties.
Yet, there's a angle of destigmatization happening. "Ladies are becoming more self-assured in this world," says Schaudig. "One could call it a part of a feminist awareness." It's also about gender parity – diligent efforts to bridge the gender wage gap.
Nine million women in Germany are in menopause
A 64-year-old female doctor from Hamburg, who tackles problems associated with menopause such as increased belly fat in her podcast "Hormone-driven," is also part of the crusade "We are nine million." This campaign aims to de-stigmatize menopause and better the care provided to women.
Therefore, currently, nine million women in Germany are in this phase of their lives. "I think these menopausal women shouldn't be treated like delicate snowflakes, but they must be taken seriously and acknowledged."
Many businesses now offer women counseling on menopause. Dr. Strowitzki, Medical Director of the Heidelberg Clinic for Gynecological Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, also observes more companies acknowledging this issue. At the University Hospital, for instance, task forces have been established to ensure the workplace caters to the needs of affected women, such as offering breaks.
Plant-based products can also offer relief
The gynecologist stresses that women can boost their well-being during menopause without resorting to hormones, such as through regular exercise, a healthy diet, and Kneipp treatments, especially for hot flashes. There are also natural products that might aid, like grapefruit extract, red clover, or soy. However, sometimes women may require hormones, states the 66-year-old, but the advantages and disadvantages must always be evaluated; long-term hormone replacement therapy boosts the risk of breast cancer. Yet, hormones can also fortify bones, and it's always about the woman's "distress."
Menopause ushers in positives
Sybille's hot flash subsides during our chat. She shares a draft: the door and window near her are open. She confesses she chats candidly with her friends about her symptoms. "When you bring up the topic, suddenly four more voices speak up with 'Me too' and 'I'm taking this.' Suddenly, it's a biggie."
Dr. Mangler, a gynecologist, highlights that menopause has benefits, too, such as no longer having to worry about contraception or menstrual discomfort. "Women in this phase tend to cease doing things they used to do out of goodwill or obligation – because they wanted to please someone." They're more inclined to embrace their sexuality on their own terms, Mangler notes, and the 48-year-old hopes that the perception of women's cycles will normalize, regardless of life phase. "Let's not belittle women just because they're aging and entering this phase. Instead, let's acknowledge their potential and strength."
- Sybille, who is a part of the nine million women in Germany experiencing menopause, shares that she has found relief in vocational training related to health-and-wellness and women's health, specifically focusing on understanding menopause and the natural products that can alleviate symptoms.
- In an effort to destigmatize menopause and improve care for affected women, some businesses are now offering vocational training and counseling on menopause, while community policies are being updated to accommodate the needs of women in this phase of their lives.
