For loved ones
What she's going through
can start in the 40s and its symptoms usually last 7 to 9 years.1 About 80% of people going through menopause get .2 Night sweats break up sleep, and mood swings, low mood, and trouble with memory and concentration are common.1,3 Vaginal dryness can make sex painful, and sex drive can drop.1 It often comes at a busy time of life, alongside work, children and aging parents.
What helps
- Take it seriously. These are physical changes driven by hormones, not a mood or an overreaction.
- Make room. Keep the bedroom cool, be flexible about plans after a bad night, and pick up more at home when sleep is poor.
- Encourage treatment. Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for , and there are non-hormone options too.3 Offer to go to the appointment.
- Talk about sex openly. Pain during sex from dryness is treatable with lubricants, moisturizers or local estrogen.3
- Learn about it. Reading these lessons helps you understand what she's describing.
What not to say
- "It's just your age." Symptoms can be treated, and she doesn't have to put up with them.
- Jokes about hot flashes or mood. They make it harder to talk about.
- "You don't look menopausal." can start years before periods stop, and it doesn't have a look.
Recap
- Perimenopause symptoms usually last 7 to 9 years and can affect sleep, mood, memory and sex.
- These are real, physical changes, and they can be treated.
- Help practically, and encourage her to see a doctor.
- Avoid jokes and "it's just your age."
Words to know 2
| hot flash | A sudden feeling of heat that rushes to the upper body and face. |
|---|---|
| perimenopause | The years before menopause, when estrogen levels rise and fall unevenly and periods change. |
Educational information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your health.