There is so much interest in (peri) menopause in the media at the moment, which to me is both exciting and dreadful. I am excited that, finally, there is a dialogue and a space where women can begin to feel comfortable speaking of and through their experiences of perimenopause. But part of me is also dreading the indoctrination and control imparted by Western social expectations and, of course, the ever-pervasive impact of social media.
For so long, menopause has been characterised as a horrible milestone in a woman’s life – a time of aging, decline and invisibility. In Western culture, the conversation around perimenopause has been directed towards maintaining a youthful physical appearance, stopping the decline of hormones and maintaining femininity. But a more empowering story for women begins with reclaiming control of this transition, and allowing women to feel valued, respected and above all, well informed.
In this article, I will briefly touch on five of the guiding principles for shaping a more empowering narrative for women transitioning through menopause: personal agency, normalising diversity, acknowledging the inner journey, valuing wisdom and maturity, and providing equitable care.
Centre Personal Agency: Trust Women To Make Their Own Choices
I know, I know. You make your own choices, you are the decision maker. But how many of us rely too heavily on what others around us expect us to do? This push in the media for women to “replace the hormones that are missing”, and yes, I put that in quotations, because I see this push for replacing hormones as a common misconception; it’s not just about physiology, here, I’m talking about the philosophy of menopause. For more information on understanding where I am coming from, have a look at this article here: https://sundalahealth.com.au/menopause-management-hormone-therapy-vs-holistic-approaches/
For too long, conventional thinking has viewed perimenopause as a pathology, something to be managed or treated. Perimenopause has been categorised in a similar way to legitimate hormone imbalances such as insulin resistance, hypothyroidism and PCOS. Conventional medicine has canonised Menopause Hormone Treatment (previously known as HRT) as the ‘gold standard’ for the care of women transitioning through menopause. What if women had more information about, not just how to control symptoms with herbal medicine, mindfulness practices, nutritional guidance and lifestyle techniques, but also how to transition through with grace and ease?
Empowering menopause means deviating from prescriptive models for care to collaborative care models – creating a space where women can learn more about their bodies and ask questions without fear of judgment. When we centre personal agency, we give women the power to view menopause, not as a dreaded disorder needing hormone therapy, but a chapter in their life they have the power to shape.
Normalise Diversity: Honour Each Woman’s Unique Journey
While there is no single scripted journey of perimenopause, we are often fed a rigid narrative of decline and discomfort. Providing a one-size-fits-all prescription and a “you’re just going to have to grin and bear it” quip gives no credit to the emotional and spiritual transition that a woman goes through during perimenopause. Some women slip through perimenopause with what seems to be barely a scratch. In contrast, others might be bothered by all manner of symptoms, such as brain fog, joint pain, fatigue and anxiety. Let’s honour this journey and embrace the uniqueness of every woman fortunate enough to embark on this transformative part of life.
When we recognise the diversity of women’s genetics, medical history, past experiences, nutritional status, current and past relationships, then we can begin to understand that a single prescription isn’t going to guide a woman’s journey, through what may be 10-12 years of her life. This diversity in experiences of perimenopause yearns for personalised care, not uniformity in prescribing. It also invites a deeper compassion for ourselves and others, where we can begin to view the perimenopausal journey with curiosity and respect.
Include Emotional Wellbeing: Acknowledge The Inner Journey Of Perimenopause
While hot flushes and night sweats get most of the media attention around menopause, the often unacknowledged, and sometimes more impactful aspects of menopause are those that seem without a physical origin. That yearning and questioning that many women experience during their perimenopausal transition is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to transformation.
Perimenopause asks us to reflect on who we’ve been, who we’re becoming and what matters to us most. The emotional terrain of perimenopause pushes us to confront our beliefs and question our previous thinking. Too often, these inner experiences are pathologised, and we’re told to “get a grip” or “calm down”, but these feelings and emotions are signposts to mark awareness on our journey through perimenopause – ignoring them only brings greater frustration.
Prioritising emotional wellbeing during perimenopause means creating space for these feelings, and for welcoming the inner growth they propagate. It means supporting women by storytelling, with honest and open communication and above all, listening.
Value Wisdom And Maturity: Reclaim The Power Of Ageing
I’m just going to say it straight – Western culture puts too much emphasis on physical attributes and too little value on wisdom and experience. Our addiction to youthfulness and thinness begins to erode our perception of our experience and somewhere along the way, we have lost the perspective of what is most valuable at midlife.
The invisibility cloak of midlife can erode our ego, can have us feeling washed out and forgotten. But what if we use the cloak to secretly conceal our most powerful weapons in midlife, reclaim our power and reconnect with our wisdom? We have each weathered many storms, carry the scars of our past, and survived long enough on this planet to know we are all still students of this life. Character does not come from polished perfection; it comes from the patina of life experience.
When we value the wisdom that comes with maturity, we challenge the Western perception of midlife women being no longer of value. We then start celebrating clarity, creativity and courage. We learn more, we listen more and become more whole again.
Provide Equitable Care: Make Menopause Support Inclusive And Accessible
When there is only one voice in the media, and that voice has backing from pharmaceutical companies and is presented with celebrity endorsement, that voice will become the loudest and most influential voice around menopause. But not all women have access to information, or have the support and guidance of a wise elder, to teach us of the courage it takes to step into our own wisdom and sink into the wonder of being authentic and whole.
While conventional care for perimenopause is guided by gold standard prescribing, this kind of care may not suit a majority of women, and without community or support, we can struggle to find guidance for self-management. Equitable care means offering an alternative to the mainstream culture of prescriptive care and providing holistic support and community for women who choose their own path to wellbeing. While there are many ways to support women during midlife, we need to acknowledge that there is always another way to view and support a woman and her emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing through her menopausal transition.
The Story Begins with Us
Pioneering a new narrative for perimenopausal women of future generations begins with us. When we stop viewing perimenopause as a problem and start seeing it as a powerful invitation for growth, reconnection, wisdom, and empowerment, we can begin to shift the cultural awareness around perimenopause and midlife. It’s not just about managing symptoms and replacing hormones; it’s about rewriting a cultural script, replacing shame with celebration and replacing silence with conversation.
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