By: John Glover (MBA)
How much do you actually know about women’s health? From periods, fertility, menopause, and postmenopause, there are so many different journeys a woman will go through in her life. It doesn’t just happen all at once; women will live almost their entire lives in one of these stages, and that’s why health education is so important. There is no current roadmap to help navigate women down these paths because women’s health is put on the back burner. For women to feel more confident in their bodies and be able to manage the symptoms that go along with each of these different phases, there needs to be more accessible and accurate information. Without it, women might find themselves lost on the journey of life.
When it comes to menopause, a lot of women are finding themselves with questions and concerns about their bodies. Research is now showing that 60% of women have taught themselves what menopause entails, and 75% of women want more answers and education surrounding the topic. These numbers show that there is a greater need for women’s health education because it is so lacking. Instead of women taking the time to teach themselves about menopause, both healthcare and educational institutions should invest in resources to help make this information more accessible.
The reason menopause education is so important is that women can spend decades without a period. The average life expectancy for women has surpassed 80 years, and perimenopause can start for some women in their 30s. This means that some women will spend nearly the majority of their lives in menopause and postmenopause. Right now, there is more of an emphasis on fertility, and that is definitely needed, but women who have gone past that stage are being left in the dark about their bodies. How can women prepare themselves for this journey if they do not have the tools to do so?
“Postmenopause is something that most women will experience for the majority of their lives, but unfortunately, many are not sure how their bodies will change. There is already not a lot of education surrounding women’s health, but women deserve to feel prepared and confident as they head into this next chapter,” says Proov CEO Amy Beckley.
There are so many complex feelings associated with women’s health and menopause specifically. For some women, it can be freeing to know their periods are over, but for others, it can leave them feeling isolated, alone, and confused. This lack of knowledge about how their bodies will change and what symptoms they might face can create more barriers in their paths. Making sure women’s health education is a priority can give women the space to feel heard and validated as they take steps down this path.
When peoples’ bodies change it can be scary, especially when they don’t know what it means. Women go through so many different changes throughout their lifetimes, that they might not even be able to identify that they are going through perimenopause. Education women on their bodies is providing them a service they need to take care of themselves in the healthiest way possible.
“There are positives and negatives when it comes to postmenopause. For many women, their sexuality is a huge part of how they identify themselves. Postmenopause can be tricky because women are no longer fertile and able to have children. They are also still dealing with hot flashes, night sweats, sleep issues, and other symptoms for a short time as their body adjusts to the lack of hormones being produced. However, it’s also good to remember that women do not have to go through menstruation anymore and endure those uncomfortable period pains. When one door gets closed, another one opens, and that’s a good way to think about this new transition,” Beckley says.
The roadmap to navigating menopause is currently left blank, and it’s time to fill in the spaces. Women are living a lot of their lives without a period, and a lot of them have questions and concerns about their bodies. Not having accessible and accurate health information is leaving them behind and their health at risk. Investing in women’s health will create a more universal path to healthcare.
Published by: Annie P.
