{"id":267517,"date":"2022-11-29T14:43:47","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T19:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/?post_type=article&p=267517"},"modified":"2025-06-11T11:31:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T15:31:17","slug":"3-big-menopause-myths","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/267517\/3-big-menopause-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"3 big menopause myths you don\u2019t need to stress about"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s a lot of information out there about menopause and \u2014 fortunately \u2014 a lot of it isn\u2019t true. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are three common menopause myths, along with the actual (much less alarming) facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. I\u2019ll have all the symptoms of menopause, from hot flashes to mood swings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The truth is that each woman\u2019s path to menopause is unique. Some go through with hardly a blip, and others have more noticeable symptoms. Most of us will see a few changes \u2014 experts estimate that 85 percent of women who\u2019ve been through menopause have had at least one menopause-related symptom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the first signs of perimenopause for most women is irregular periods. This is common and lasts until periods stop. (Once you\u2019ve gone a full year without a period, you\u2019ve reached menopause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hot flashes are another relatively common symptom \u2014 about 75 percent of women have them, and they can vary anywhere from short (10 seconds) and mild to longer (up to 10 minutes) and more intense. For 80 percent of women, the hot-flash phase lasts for just two years or less. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 23 percent of women experience mood changes during menopause. Some women also report disrupted sleep (sometimes hot flashes are the culprit, but the life stressors around midlife can also be a factor). Vaginal dryness, bladder changes, and weight gain can also happen with perimenopause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no sure way to predict what symptoms you\u2019ll have. But there is one sure thing to know: there are lots of ways to reduce or eliminate symptoms \u2014 you don\u2019t have to just gut it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some approaches are simple, like using an over-the-counter lubricant for vaginal dryness or wearing layers and sleeping with a fan to help with hot flashes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lifestyle changes, including eating well, exercising, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep, can also go a long way toward reducing symptoms and helping you feel well through perimenopause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are natural remedies (check with your doctor to find proven, safe ones) and hormone therapy that can make a big difference, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have symptoms that bother you, talk to your healthcare provider to find the treatments that are right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Menopause is the end of my sex life.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s true that, in general, libido decreases for both men and women as we age, menopause certainly doesn\u2019t have to be the end of your sex life. In fact, some women report an increase in sexual desire. After all, once you\u2019re through menopause, you don\u2019t have to worry about unwanted pregnancy anymore. And it\u2019s a time of life that might feel freer in general, with fewer obligations to care for others or prove yourself to the world. If you have kids who\u2019ve left home, the new privacy may feel like a real boost for your sex life, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But more than a third of women report some libido challenges, from lack of interest in sex to having a harder time reaching orgasm. This is often related to hormonal changes, including the decrease of estrogen in our bodies. Talk to your doctor about treatments, such as estrogen replacement or testosterone therapy. If you have vaginal dryness that\u2019s making sex uncomfortable, try a vaginal lubricant (available at most drug stores and grocery stores). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, decreased desire has as much to do with relationship strain as physical changes. If you\u2019re in a relationship that could use some support, consider couples therapy to help rekindle intimacy and desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And keep in mind that, since some change in libido is normal for everyone, now is a good time to talk with your partner. You might find that you are both evolving when it comes to your needs, desires, and what fulfilling intimacy means for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Menopause brain fog is my new reality.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s true that some women report cognitive changes during perimenopause, such as being forgetful or easily distracted. This \u201cbrain fog\u201d can have a lot of causes, from hormonal ups and downs, to disrupted sleep, and the high levels of stress many women experience around midlife. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re noticing mild symptoms, it\u2019s probably not anything to worry about. And it\u2019s temporary \u2014 studies show that cognitive function rebounds after menopause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, a few lifestyle changes \u2014 such as reducing stress, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep \u2014 may help your brain function its best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If cognitive changes worry you, come on suddenly, or put your safety at risk, talk with your healthcare provider about possible causes and treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n