We know too little about menopause, with the result that women who experience it don’t always understand what’s going on with them. This can lead to (mental) problems and misdiagnosis. Claudia and Remke can talk about it.
Hot flashes, but above all very violent mood swings. Looking back, Claudia Koehoorn knows: those were the first signs of the transition. But at the time, about 20 years ago, she had no idea.
Wrong diagnosis
He knew hot flashes were part of it, but he wasn’t aware of the mood swings associated with crying spells. Nobody told him. “I didn’t understand at all what was happening, I became insecure and didn’t dare say anything at work,” says Claudia.
Since she had suffered from depression in the past, her doctor concluded that she had returned. But the treatment she subsequently received for it didn’t help at all. “With today’s knowledge, this makes sense: I wasn’t depressed, I was going through menopause.”
Old gray women
Menopause, or the period around the latter period, is often associated with older women. But for many people it starts in the mid 40’s. Or earlier, for example, if you’ve had surgery for cervical cancer.
“In the images that accompany a story about menopause, we always see older, gray women,” says Eveline Bakker, founder of the Vuurvrouw Foundation, an interest group for menopausal women, to which about 15,000 women are affiliated. “Then don’t think about it at 40: soon it can start with me too”.
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Doctors don’t always see it
But this is the case and the fact that this is by no means known to everyone can guarantee that it will take years for women to realize that the symptoms they are experiencing are related to menopause. Think of muscle and joint pains, palpitations, forgetfulness and mood swings.
In addition, doctors are not always aware of the causes of the ailments: 1 in 10 postmenopausal women is misdiagnosed. Burnout, depression, slow thyroid, and stress are the most common misdiagnoses.
Unnecessary drug use
Nearly half of misdiagnosed women receive medications for their symptoms, such as antidepressants for depressive symptoms. This while the complaints are due to the fact that they are in menopause.
Increased awareness of menopause not only helps women who are affected, but society as a whole, says Bakker. “A lot of unnecessary visits to specialists and a lot of unnecessary drug use can be prevented.”
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Culture aimed at young people
“Menopause has been a black hole for a long time and there is still too little information available about it. For example, many people don’t know it starts long before their last menstrual period,” Bakker says. According to her, this is partly due to the fact that transition is still taboo in our society.
“Menopause is associated with aging, which obviously isn’t wrong at all,” he points out. “But Western culture is very focused on youth and vitality. On staying young and beautiful for as long as possible, especially if you are a woman.”
Talking to your mother
It has to be ready at some point, says Bakker. And which, as far as it is concerned, begins with education: “During biology classes in primary and secondary schools, too little attention is paid to the passage. Not to what goes on in your body, to why you complain, to what that can The same goes for menstruation, for example. “
In addition to schools there is also a task for parents, who should talk about it with their children so that they know what to expect from women, Claudia also thinks. “Eventually I started the conversation myself with my mother and then with my aunts and my elderly neighbor. I recognized so much of what they were saying. This helped me a lot.”
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Practical information
Remke Maris fully agrees on the importance of properly informing one’s children. She herself ended up going through menopause at the age of 35, after her ovaries were removed as a preventative measure. She tells everything about her to her three children: about tiredness, mood swings and everything that has bothered her and that she still has at times.
“I do this consciously so that they have the right information when they get to that point on their own, or from their partner at some point.” It’s very difficult if you don’t have this information, she knows too. “It quickly ends up on sites for older women or groups of sick companions. While I really wanted to find practical information on lifestyle, nutrition and treatment options.”
Hope for the new generation
Remke has high hopes for the new generation of menopausal women. “My daughter, who is in high school, has in-depth conversations with her friends about her periods. I haven’t had that with my friends in the past. The transition might even become a topic of conversation at some point.”
And, Claudia would like to point out: “Although you may suffer from it, the transition is also a beautiful and natural process. After all, it means nothing more than your body is moving on to the next stage. Let’s embrace it.”
In menopause?
How can you recognize in yourself that you are in menopause? “Although the symptoms differ for everyone, it always happens that at some point you feel different than before. You get the idea: I’m not myself anymore,” says Bakker of the Vuurvrouw Foundation.
He cites the example of a person who has always exercised a lot and without problems and who suddenly suffers injuries on the assembly line. And he describes his own experiences, when suddenly he started suffering from symptoms of panic, forgetfulness and a feeling of tension. “It’s something physical, but it can also play mentally and it can be difficult, you can feel like you’re no longer up to it.”
Common complaints: hot flashes, irregular periods, loss of urine, night sweats and more abundant periods.
Complaints that are often not recognized: insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, palpitations, weight gain and aching joints.
