WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY
On October 18th, World Menopause Day raises awareness of menopause and for menopausal women to realize the support options available to improve their health and wellbeing.
If you are a woman, there is no escaping menopause. Every woman will reach a point in their life in which they no longer have their period. A woman reaches menopause after it’s been one year since their last period. For many women, reaching menopause stirs up various emotions. Women are happy to no longer have their menstrual cycle. However, this can be devastating as well as it means their childbearing years are over. This can be especially difficult for women who reach menopause early. Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. The average age is 51 years old. About 1 in 100 women reach menopause before the age of 40.
Menopause can be difficult for other reasons as well. The fluctuations in hormones cause symptoms that can be hard to manage. Some of these symptoms include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse
- Insomnia and other kinds of sleep disturbances
- Depression or anxiety
- Moodiness and irritability
Some women’s symptoms are so severe that they interfere with daily activities. To help manage their symptoms, women should stay active, drink enough water, and eat a healthy diet. Some women also choose hormone therapy. After a woman has reached menopause, they go through postmenopause. During this time, women are more vulnerable to certain health issues. These health issues include osteoporosis, heart disease, urinary tract infections, weight gain, and urinary incontinence.
Menopause can be a challenging time for women. For this reason, it’s important they reach out to their doctor for help. Finding a support system is also extremely beneficial.
HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldMenopauseDay
Many women’s health organizations and women’s groups organize conferences, seminars, webinars, special talks, and other programs. Women are also encouraged to share their personal stories and things that have helped them through menopause. To participate:
- Talk to the older women in your life to see what menopause was like for them.
- Read about celebrities that have spoken out about menopause, such as Emma Thompson, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Whoopi Goldberg.
- Listen to a podcast, like My Menopause Doctor, Menopause: Unmuted, or Mastering Menopause.
- Learn more about the symptoms of menopause and how to best manage them.
Share this day on social media with #WorldMenopauseDay
WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY HISTORY
The International Menopause Society (IMS) has held a World Menopause Day since 2009. The day has always been observed on October 18th. Every year, the IMS chooses a specific theme on which they focus. Recent themes have included:
2021: Bone Health
2020: Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
2019: Testosterone for Women at Midlife
2018: Sexual Wellbeing after Menopause
2017: Perimenopausal Bleeding