- Women Struggle with Open Discussion Regarding Menopause
Tackling the Elephant in the Room: Menopause - Breaking the Silence
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Sweat drips down Sybille Müller’s forehead as she fans herself. "Blimey, it's like a sauna in here!", she quips, her shoulder-length blonde locks cascading over her black blazer. Menopause might have taken its toll, but Müller - with her subtle gold jewelry and polished demeanor - looks far from troubled. Nevertheless, her body rebels, tormented by hot flashes that have haunted her for years and only recently subdued by hormone patches.
A veritable multitude of women in Germany, including Müller, struggle in silence with the invisible battles they face during menopause. With cessation of ovary-produced hormones estrogen and progesterone, some women endure severe symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, depressive moodswings, vaginal dryness, concentration problems, and debilitating hot flashes. Around thirty percent of women experience mere inconveniences, but a whopping fifty percent are hit harder by the storm.
Silent Struggles – A Social Reality
Given the magnitude of affected women, one might wonder why the topic remains a mechanical elephant in the room. Has society evolved enough to open up about menopause, or are those battling the battles shy and reticent to broach the subject?
"The sheer number of women I speak with who find it challenging to discuss their struggles illuminates the continuing stigma surrounding it,"says Mandy Mangler, chief physician at Vivantes Auguste-Viktoria Clinics in Berlin. "It's a taboo topic, partially because it brings to the forefront the inevitability of aging, of closed doors." She acknowledges, however, that "society is tiptoeing towards accepting the discussion in the media and discourse."
Menopause traditionally sets in around the age of 45, as recounted by Thomas Strowitzki from Heidelberg University Hospital. For Sybille Müller, sleep disturbances insidiously encroached upon her life around age 40, while the infernal onslaught of hot flashes began two years later. Müller initially sought solace from her gynecologist, only to be dismissed with a perfunctory examination and hollow promises that her lab results were normal.
The Aging Conundrum
One must ponder why women find it so difficult to voice their woes and seek help when faced with the realities of menopause. Social critic Katrin Schaudig, president of the German Menopause Society, unabashedly states, "The cessation of menstruation marks a turning point in life, a symbol of our mortality. Fertility is now extinct." Such connotations, linked to aging and societal criticism thereof, may curb open discussions about menopause. Additionally, there exists a pervasive, ill-advised notion among women, "Don't fuss, don't draw attention to yourself" – essentially, abstain from complaining about the trials and tribulations.
But fret not, as the tide is slowly turning...
Breaking the Stigma – The Quest for Change
"Women are growing more confident in this era," Schaudig emphasizes, "making it part of a broader, feminist consciousness." This transformation encompasses not just menopause but extends to issues like wage equality and rectification of gender stereotypes.
Over nine million women in Germany are in the thick of their menopausal experiences. Schaudig adamantly suggests, "I don't believe that these menopausal women should be treated delicately, but they deserve respect and understanding."
Many companies today offer counseling services specifically tailored to menopausal women, a testament to the shifting societal landscape. Strowitzki – Medical Director of the Heidelberg Clinic for Gynecological Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders – also notes the upsurge of companies acknowledging this issue. At the University Hospital, task forces collaborate to design workplaces accommodating the needs of affected women, including providing regular breaks.
Natural Solutions for Relief
Strowitzki stresses that several options outside hormone therapy can help alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as exercise, a balanced diet, and Kneipps – with a particular focus on controlling hot flashes. Various plant-based products, such as grapefruit seed extract, red clover, or soy, might additionally provide relief.
Though hormones can prove beneficial, their usage always requires weighing the pros and cons, as prolonged usage beyond five years may heighten the risk of breast cancer, according to the German Cancer Society. On the flip side, hormones are beneficial in preserving bone health, alludes Strowitzki.
Rosy Aspects – Embracing the Change
As our conversation concludes, and Müller's hot flashes subside, she discusses her candidness with friends about her menopausal battles. "When you bring up the subject," she shares, "four more women admit, 'Yeah, me too!' and 'I take this.' And suddenly, it’s a topic of great interest."
Mangler underscores the positive aspects of menopause, including freedom from worrying about contraception and menstrual discomfort. "Women take on less out of obligation," she explains, "often deciding to seize control over their sexuality."
There's hope on the horizon that attitudes towards the female reproductive cycle will normalize irrespective of the phase of life, and that women will be respected for their potential and resilience, not maligned for the unavoidable process of aging.
In light of the ongoing struggles experienced by numerous women during menopause, it could be beneficial to integrate a comprehensive community policy that offers resources and support, such as vocational training, tailored to menopausal women, as they navigate this tumultuous phase of life. Additionally, delving into the realm of science, research on plant-based remedies like grapefruit seed extract, red clover, or soy could potentially offer natural alternatives for alleviating menopausal symptoms, thereby contributing to social and physical well-being in both the health-and-wellness and women's-health sectors.
