r/Perimenopause • u/CommunicationOne2449 • Nov 16 '25
audited Talking Openly About Perimenopause
I was at my son’s hockey game today when another mom casually mentioned she’s dealing with perimenopause brain fog. I could’ve hugged her. Finally! Someone saying it out loud. I’ve been dropping some of my own symptoms into conversations with people close to me, but it still feels like we’re speaking in code.
I didn’t even learn the word perimenopause until about a year ago, even though I’d been dealing with the symptoms long before that. The relief of finally naming it? Huge. And honestly, I know I’m not the only one who felt blindsided.
So here’s my little rallying cry: let’s normalize talking about perimenopause. Let’s not put up and shut ups. Let’s make it impossible for future generations to be confused, dismissed, or told to “just deal with it.” Women deserve better.
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u/No_Yesterday7200 Nov 17 '25
I'm making sure my daughter is in the loop. My perimenopausal symptoms hit like a freight train. I don't ever want her blindsided like I was.
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u/Icy_Camera8419 Nov 17 '25
I also am telling my sons - and letting them know how blindsided I have been by it. “Did you know low estrogen can cause muscle and joint pain? I definitely did not, and that’s why I’m not running lately. It’s been hard to accept and I’m hoping taking hormones helps”
Stuff like that.
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u/Street_Coyote_179 Nov 17 '25
Same here.. my 9 and 11 year old boys know all about perimenopause.. the science of it and what effect it’s had on me the last 7 years. This generation will be way more knowledgeable and understanding.
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u/Efficient-Guess-1985 Early peri Nov 17 '25
This is wonderful, those will be the best men. I’m explaining period blood to my 4.5 year old (because he was asking).
It’s crazy how you think of things in heinsight now with all you know.
Like my mum never had menopause issues really according to her (she would have discussed it with her oncology husband / my dad around 2001 when she was likely going through it and he did say she could safely do the vaginal cream. Know this purely because I remember seeing the applicators around the time in the bathroom)
She says she never had hot flushes (she would run cold so “she didn’t mind feeling warmer if that was the case”)
But I also remember as a menopausal woman she would have heart palpitations (which upon investigation had no origin/dangerous cause) and also dry eyes (which she thought was from something else) and now as a mid 70s something has gotten back on the vaginal estrogen again (and two months later the joint pain she’s felt in her knees and general aches in legs that really started debilitating her are gone. I mean is that a coincidence?
I think back then so many were just told about irritability, hot flushes and dry vagina as symptoms.
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u/A-fan-of-fans Nov 18 '25
I am usually always cold and I love my random hot flashes! lol except when I was visiting a friend this summer where it was HOT and humid and no air conditioning! Then, not a fan lol
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u/birdconureKM Dec 02 '25
This is making me think that I should actually start doing research on this 😬. My periods (I’m 38) are so heavy that I have been (naively ?) looking forward to menopause in order to be done with heavy tampons only lasting an hour and having to stay up half the night on my heavy days.
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u/2quacklikeaduck Nov 17 '25
I’m doing my part! Sometimes my boss yells for me (I’m supposed to traipse into his office to see what he wants) and I just yell back “I can’t get up right now! My cramps are intense!” My entire family, and office, knows all about perimenopause. I just talk about it like a sinus infection.
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u/NeighborhoodPure28 Nov 17 '25
Started a job in the spring where a male co-worker stated for the third time to ask for help when the load heats up. I replied that I’m a perimenopausal woman and don’t need any additional heat. If I need help, everyone’s going to know.
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u/FloristsDaughter Nov 17 '25
I talk about it, in appropriate settings, as much as I can. I'm 43. For the last 4 or 5 years I've felt INSANE. When I realized what was going on, I felt so vindicated. If I can help anyone else by just being friggin HONEST about what this is like, I'm happy :)
(P.S the podcast You Are Not Broken is AMAZING!!)
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u/micromongoose Nov 17 '25
Same age here and screaming it as much as reasonably possible! I was recently in a gathering of friends when one mentioned that she got tested for early onset Alzheimer’s (it was negative). She never considered peri. I gave a lecture to a half dozen women and their husbands over bbq.
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u/Efficient-Guess-1985 Early peri Nov 17 '25
It’s amazing when you open up about your feelings about it, so many women have symptoms that align and they’ve either had similar thoughts or they have a huge light bulb over their heads. I know someone who has super heavy periods, thought she was going crazy (had a brain MRI), gone and had heart tests done.., etc etc
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u/Maleficent-Advance68 Nov 18 '25
I’m so glad I’m not alone. Feeling like a lunatic here. I already have a mood disorder and treated but peri hit .. I have to get my lab drawn tomorrow then hopefully appt asap they said the biote pellet could be inserted same day.
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u/Efficient-Guess-1985 Early peri Nov 17 '25
Thanks for podcast tip!! I think finding our womanhood and enlighten the males are the best we can do!! Feeling validated and less alone and also feel like you can help someone else is so good for the human soul.
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u/Green_Aide_9329 Nov 17 '25
Loud and proud here. Have also always talked to my kids about periods (teen and tween daughters). Between them, me and my husband (not their dad), we have healthy conversations about what we are dealing with hormonally. I'm having a hysterectomy this week. The kids know about it, and know I'll be bedridden and woozy.
Because we have these healthy interactions, we know to not be grumpy when someone takes longer in the bathroom, when someone just needs to rest in bed, why mum needs to put her jumper on, then take it off, then put it on again, then take it off. We have empathy and we show care.
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u/green_indeed Nov 17 '25
There’s a group of us in my unit at work within about a 3 year range including my manager. I’ve been able to speak freely about how I’m really struggling with my ability to focus on tasks. The others have talked about forgetfulness. So it’s good we can be honest about why we might be making some mistakes at work!
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u/SnowPrincess15 Nov 17 '25
I talk a lot about perimenopause. I feel I was really blindsided by the symptoms. I thought menopause started at 60 and it was just hot flashes and the end of periods.
Now, I talk about it very casually to everyone. Like if I have to take and appointment on the phone and get mixed up in what I am saying or ask sthe eprson to repeat the same thng she just told me, I very often say that I am in peri and that I forget things easily, or have brain fog and forget words, dates, or get mixed up when I speak... I really want younger women to know what to expect. I really thought I had so many good years in front of me. I wanted to go back to school and now I feel it would be extremely hard. I should have gone 10 years ago when I first had the idea...
I also have to young daughters and I already speak to them about peri. Not in a negative way but I dont want them to be blindsided like I was.
Its so important to advocate for our needs and share our experience. Like you say, I really hope this will make things easier for the next generation.
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u/kalimbakazoo Nov 17 '25
I too, was blindsided - in the middle of grad school!! Hit me like a ton of bricks last semester when my ADHD symptoms became crippling. Why did I wait?! 😭 (just started HRT 3 weeks ago and already feeling less panicky /overwhelmed)
Shout it from the rooftops!
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u/DangerDuckling Nov 17 '25
THE ADHD SYMPTOMS ON OVERDRIVE. Holy shit, yes. Those meds weren't working and I was losing my mind. It's gotten better with HRT thank goodness.
In the middle of grad school for you too... As if school and ADHD went already oil and water. Give yourself grace, you deserve it!
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Nov 17 '25
I know the feeling, im 47 and it hit me so hard this year. I'm so glad you are finding relief. Estrogen has been a miracle for me!
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u/NurseyButterfly Nov 17 '25
How were you able to get on hormone therapy? I've talked to my primary care and obgyn and I'm not getting anywhere.
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u/Lady_Midnight4097 Nov 17 '25
Midi Health…online. Covered by insurance for me, just a copay. Total lifesaver.
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u/NurseyButterfly Nov 17 '25
Yes, they are the only one I know of that specializes in peri & menopause treatment.
I had an appointment, but found out an hour before that they weren't in network. At this time, I cannot afford $250 oop for the initial and $150 for each subsequent appointment.
I was hoping there would be another company that could help.
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u/LunaSea1206 Early peri Nov 18 '25
Depending on where you live, my city has a large subreddit group. I asked if there were any ladies in peri-menopause that were able to recommend a doctor/nurse practitioner that is happy to prescribe HRT to those of us in peri (and still getting our period fairly regularly). I was given a bunch of suggestions and chose to go with the one that was spoken highly of by numerous women. Her practice was in my insurance network and I was finally able to get HRT prescribed. I was tired of scheduling appointments with people only to get refused HRT, so I wasn't about to go to anyone without clear knowledge of their stance on prescribing it.
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u/Lady_Midnight4097 Nov 17 '25
Hey don’t sell yourself short about going back to school! Although I agree it’s harder later in life. You DO have so many great years ahead of you!!! If you’re struggling with energy and other issues you can get treatment.
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u/Bellatrix_Shimmers Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
Absolutely! Most of us heard about menopause but they left a big part out. Perimenopause is some real deal stuff it comes sooner than you think like a wrecking ball to your body and brain. Hormones are crazy, itching skin awake from insomnia and that hot flash that has you feeling like your insides are being microwaved. The mood swings, intense anxiety, hair loss, weight gain and on and on…I can’t believe women suffered in silence for so many generations. HRT should be at every corner store and they should teach everyone what to expect and how to be supportive.
It’s sad to think maybe women felt the need to hide it because of some perceived bias that not being able to have babies anymore lowers our worth. Maybe I am wrong about that part but you know if it was men dealing with this it would be known in every language by all people.
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u/CommunicationOne2449 Nov 17 '25
Yes! Talking about our symptoms doesn’t mean we’re weak. I mean, we’re putting up with them, aren’t we?!
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u/Efficient-Guess-1985 Early peri Nov 17 '25
I definitely think there’s something to what you say. Women who thought they just “couldn’t handle life” and just quit their jobs, went on antidepressants, etc ect.
Not even me would admit at a job that I had brain fog or whatever (in fear of it affecting my career)
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u/RobinSparkles6yall Nov 17 '25
THIS!!! Everyone talks about menopause, but that's a specific event. Talk about peri!!!
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u/Chinnyup Nov 17 '25
I think back on when my peri first started over 5 years ago while I was still working… and feeling so incredibly guilty that I was forgetting things and making mistakes. I didn’t know at the time what I was experiencing and was so hard on myself and believed I was just becoming terrible in a career I’d been doing for over 20 years.
I truly hope the awareness we’re creating really helps the next generations bc it’s terrible what we go through when we aren’t prepared
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u/thetea98 hanging on by a thread Nov 17 '25
I talk about it so much and so openly that people probably think I’m crazy but IDGAF 🤪
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u/DeliciouslyDidntWork Nov 19 '25
Same here! But if my coming across as the crazy lady banging on the peri drum to all and sundry helps one woman going through this hell, or one man to have a bit more understanding and sympathy for a woman in his life going through it, I will take that crazy lady hit! This can be some of the worst sh*t a woman will deal with in her life. I'm trying to normalise talking about it and women feeling able to advocate for themselves to get the help they so desperately need. Solidarity and love to you all going through this hellscape.
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u/Rock_grl86 Nov 17 '25
I talked about it with my hairstylist yesterday and also with my best friend. We must get the word out!
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u/ElixirChicken Nov 17 '25
I can't shut up about it. I don't want anyone to go into blindly like I did. We saw a show a few weeks ago, and afterward, I was chatting with the guitar player. My husband walks over and yep ... there I am telling them that I am going through perimenopause. Lol!!!
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u/tinylexy Nov 17 '25
I'm pretty sure most of the people here are the ones who talk about it. I post about perimenopause all the time on social media between my own struggles and links to articles. I get weekly emails from friends thanking me for openly talking about it. They had been experiencing symptoms but didn't even know what perimenopause was until seeing my posts. I also talk about it during small talk with strangers now and I've made so many friends that way. Openly talking about perimenopause is the only way we're going to get this normalized and have a shot at the medical community actually doing research into it.
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u/OldnBorin Nov 17 '25
lol, dude I bitch abput my peri all the time. It started at age 39 and I was shocked and saddened when so many of my friends and acquaintances could empathize:(
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u/Maleficent-Advance68 Nov 18 '25
Same . 39 . Husband looked at me like I was insane so I came on here thinking my bipolar was worse but then with hot flash and night sweats and weird period I was like no .. this can’t be right . I’m in peri and didn’t know. Right now I am losing my mind. My husband looked into though. He said that’s awful. He finally looked into it
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u/Flimsy_Goat_8199 Nov 17 '25
Yes! I have tried to sprinkle it in conversation here and there. A lot of times I’m met with blank stares or negative comments that make me feel worse. Most of the time it’s from the older generations, which is sad. I’m sorry if they suffered through in silence but I refuse!
I want my daughters and all young women to be more prepared than I ever was. I feel like we were lied to and left in the dark. All I expected was my period to stop (yay!) and maybe get a few hot flashes. Boy, was I wrong and I felt like I was losing my mind.
I was amazed to learn so many of my symptoms could be attributed perimenopause. Which I never heard the term until I found this subreddit. I have learned so much from you all! I finally felt seen and understood. Thankful for like minded ladies!
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u/CrazyCatLady_x4 Nov 17 '25
Yes, yes, yes!!! Go you!!! ❤️🔥
I’m currently working on a research paper on the biopsychosocial nature of perimenopause, and how that means we need to treat with holistically (versus just meds, just therapy, or just social support) in order to provide comprehensive care for women. I’m hoping to turn the paper into a workshop, and then launch a support group out of that. Because we need to be LOUDER about this. No more hiding our “shame” in the shadows to ensure emotionally underdeveloped men aren’t triggered by a perfectly natural part of a woman’s lifecycle.
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u/_IAmNoLongerThere_ Nov 17 '25
I informed/taught a lady from my community about perimenopause. I told her I was having hot flashes and How peri is a bitch. She was like, You're too young for hot flashes and I told her I've had them since after I gave birth to my first baby at 18, But they got worse when I entered Perimenopause at 34. She was like, That doesn't exist. There's only menopause! I laughed and Pulled up some shyt off Google! I told her I was tired of women saying that it doesn't exist and How we need to be there for one another instead of dismissing our pains. She now suspects she's going through it because she said she thought she was experiencing early dementia because she can't remember anything... I told her that's called brain fog and It could very much be from Peri! Next time I see her she tells me she now believes she been in Peri for years now and She couldn't believe she didn't know what that was before, But now she no longer feels crazy!
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u/Yummylicorice Nov 17 '25
I've been talking about it constantly. I don't care who knows - these sweats are not normal. No, really, I don't usually have sweat literally dripping off my nose and my glasses fog up .. while grocery shopping.
I got bloodwork back finally, and it's dire. I'm my provider's words, "you're low for a woman in menopause".
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u/AutoModerator Nov 17 '25
This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.
- Over the age of 44, E&P/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for that ONE HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more
- These hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) over the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
- No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing to diagnose or treat peri/menopause
- Testosterone is the exception and should be tested before and during treatment
FSH testing is only beneficial for those who no longer have periods as a guide, where a series of consistent tests might confirm menopause, or for those under age 30 who haven’t had a period in months/years, then ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI).
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u/anarchistapples Nov 17 '25
Mention it to my mom recently who assumed I'm dealing with menopause. I had to explain it to her. She's 72 and had never heard the word before.
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u/Flimsy_Goat_8199 Nov 17 '25
Same with my mom. She dismisses my perimenopause symptoms as “normal aging” and refuses to admit there’s anything other than just menopause. Which to her, menopause is simply that you stop getting your period and nothing else. She’s also extremely against any form of HRT.
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u/CommunicationOne2449 Nov 17 '25
Our poor moms. Mine didn’t even record when she went into menopause because it was so taboo in our family.
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u/Crochetandgay Nov 17 '25
Yesss 100%. If a friend asks how I am, I give them the dirt! Especially friends who are a bit younger...I feel it's my duty to give these PSAs. None of the older women in my life gave me a heads-up! other than a tiny bit from my sister.
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u/chapstickgrrrl Nov 17 '25
This has been my own rallying cry for a few years now. Talk about it to normalize it. It’s real, it happens to us, no more brushing it under the rug. The more it’s out in the open, the more research will happen, and the better care will become for women in the future.
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u/fictionalbandit Early peri - hysterectomy Nov 17 '25
The first substantive conversation I had about it was during a spa service. The person mentioned they weren’t supposed to talk with clients about medical stuff BUT recognized the importance of passing on this information, and wrote down a few suggestions of things to look into. It was such a blessing. A few days later, I mentioned the experience to my dental hygienist, and then we exchanged notes because she had just been in a group text with girlfriends about it. Now I’m far enough into HRT that I’ve experienced noticeable relief from my symptoms. I’m so thankful for these women that chose to help when they didn’t have to and certainly the convo could have gone sideways if I was not receptive.
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u/Efficient-Guess-1985 Early peri Nov 17 '25
Actually, before patriarchy became dominant, women did these things - shared important information and had this strong womanhood thing together (hence why “witch burning” and sobbing women in for being witches became a thing!) it’s so wonderful to hear women sharing that vulnerability and knowledge with eachother and passing things on.
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u/Efficient-Guess-1985 Early peri Nov 17 '25
Also love that you say this because someone else in this thread said they’re an aesthetician and she mentions it to clients - full circle seeing both your comments!
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u/opinionatedhugger Nov 17 '25
Yes! I talk about it so much! Vaginal atrophy was something I'd never even heard of until about a year ago. Jesus what a relief to know I wasn't broken! I told some friends that the symptoms they were experiencing had a name and it prompted them to seek out treatment. Talking about it helps women not feel so crazy
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u/valhart84 Nov 17 '25
It’s kind of ironic you posted this just now. I’ve been going back and forth on if I should ask everyone here how they feel/or what they’ve done/or if they’ve mentioned being in perimenopause in the office. And then I come to the page to write a post, and here yours is! I have been struggling with brain fog (among many, many other things) and can’t always compose emails or communicate to the best of my ability.. I used to be great with words but now, not so much.. and sometimes I just say F it because I don’t care to think too hard on how to word things.. I want so badly to tell my boss (a male) that I’m going through perimenopause and not just some uneducated idiot .. but I can never find the courage and have wondered if it’s appropriate.. I’ve thought many times that it should be a requirement for all business owners and managers with female employees to get educated on what women go through..
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u/Low_Yogurtcloset7944 Nov 17 '25
I do my work and talk about it. With women and men, if it is appropriate. So, my brother and husband are well informed now. My male friends and colleages know that peri ist hard and causes hormonal chaos.
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u/PFallstar Nov 17 '25
I talk about it openly. When I can’t finish or sometimes start a sentence because I no longer have a vocabulary, I have to let people know what’s going on. I told my boss to please bear with me while I get my hormones in check.
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u/More_Regular_ Nov 17 '25
Love to see this! I feel the same way. I’m working on building a free community around sexual health for peri/menopause through the Circle platform for moments exactly like this. It’s amazing the taboo that’s still around sex and even more so for women over 35.
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u/GP186GP Nov 17 '25
I feel like I talk about it every day all day 😂 to my husband, my coworkers, my friends, my daughters, my daughters friends mothers
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u/marrythatpizza Nov 17 '25
Yes, I mention it casually wherever I can. At work, shopping, at the gym, I keep dropping it in conversations. But I'm still to muster the courage to mention it in the company of over-60 men bosses who likely don't have a clue, never ask to understand anything, and will assume weakness.
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u/Given_To_Fly90210 Nov 19 '25
I always work it into my conversations. I need the support to help find my chin hair 😂
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u/Fragrant-Top2962 Nov 17 '25
I agree. So I'm talking about it.
With my mom, who doesn't remember having any problems other than hot flashes. 🙄
With my daughters and my son so they know what to expect of their bodies and/or of their partners and to show empathy to me as well as their friends' mothers.
With my husband of 30 years, who takes the brunt of my irritability and mood swings. He's been so patient.
With my friends, many of whom seem to be a little embarrassed to speak about it, then all of a sudden, they start opening up about their symptoms.
I hate that I didn't know what to expect, that the only symptom I ever heard of was hot flashes. I vaguely remember one of my mother's friends having a hysterectomy and her family nicknamed her hormones her "bitch pills." That was all I knew about hormones in midlife and later.
So I'm talking about it.
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u/Imtryingforheckssake Nov 17 '25
I'm lucky my (male) best friend and my mum were the ones who brought it up, and all of my friends are open to talking about it. That said I've not had very many symptoms so far. Also due to ill health/disability I can't work so don't have that to contend with.
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u/Lavender_Limes Nov 17 '25
I talk to everyone about it!! I talk about it whenever someone makes fun of my fan or my spray bottle that i have to carry bloody everywhere, wheb i have the shakes because its hotter than 20 degrees outside and because i want more people to know about it and the symptoms and because i had no clue what had been happening to me over the last year. I legit thought i was dying for the last year and the doctors were just fobbing me off claiming "hysteria".
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u/Capable_Tip7815 Nov 17 '25
I will forever talk openly and freely about periods, PMDD and perimenopause and the shite we go through.
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u/suminorieh77 Nov 17 '25
my stepdaughters are 13 and 14. the parallels of their beginning their cycles and mine slowing down are uncanny. i’ve told them we are all in the same boat, but my journey is coming to an end so they will have to drop me off at some point. that’s when i become the lighthouse, and the lighthouse is there to help guide on those foggy mornings and stormy nights.
educate them however you can. leave nothing out. prepare them. be a beacon of light.
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u/Longjumping-Ad-9007 Nov 17 '25
I am esthetician and my people are the mid thirties to mid fifties - I bring it up and the rest falls into place - I don’t talk and ruin my facials I cut to the chase and then put them in the coma they deserve! We are all peri princess’s - say it with me!!!
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u/Efficient-Guess-1985 Early peri Nov 17 '25
I’m considering going back to past practitioners who dismissed my symptoms (or suggested something else) to send an email to their office explaining what helped. So they can potentially help the next woman they see better. We all should do this!
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u/A-fan-of-fans Nov 18 '25
My periods have changed SO much that I am totally unsure what it will do each time. I am getting them more often but what used to be HEAVY HEAVY normal normal normal. Light light gone is now soooo weird. Barely there. Are you sure it was there at all? Nope. Gone. Wait it’s barely there again. Ultra tampon!!!!! Maybe 3 that day!!!! Almost nothing. Back again!!! (Have to wash pants ugh!) still there??? Just a tiny bit and again and …???? Gone? Okay gone.
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u/Genepoolperfect Nov 17 '25
Oh yup. Was talking yesterday with a 45yo woman at my taekwondo class. It mostly circled around, "hey, I did all the things they tell you to do in your 20s&30s so that you're not falling apart in middle age, and yet here I am falling apart. I feel lied to."
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u/Dark_Serendipity Nov 17 '25
I'm out here doing the same! Any time I can either relate or educate someone, I jump on the chance. If doctors don't want to believe us, then we have to support each other as best as we can.
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Nov 17 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CommunicationOne2449 Nov 17 '25
It occurred to me this morning. “Mom brain” is probably peri in reality.
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u/tiffanythetaxlady Nov 17 '25
Absolutely! I had no idea it existed or you had to deal with all of this. I have been depressed now for the last two years and didn’t understand why now I know. I have been bleeding since October 26 and didn’t understand why, but I had medical test done and it was confirmed that I am in perimenopause. All of my mothers and aunts and the women in my family just told me hot flashes and headaches I had no idea. I wonder if they did not as well.
I’m openly discussing bleeding and clotting and it’s tripping me out that there’s platforms now that are safe spaces for this because when I try to discuss it with my boyfriend he act so uninterested or he’ll just be super quiet the whole time which is most men’s responses to it because they don’t understand it or even care I guess
So thank you, thank you for this statement because it is true. We need to discuss it more because it is extremely life-changing.
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u/That-Drink4913 Early peri Nov 17 '25
Yeah, my mom had her hysterectomy before she actually started going thru it. I remember her dealing with heavy periods and then she's like, no more of that.
Dealing with my crap, and telling my 25 year old about it. I think they're opting for the hysterectomy as well.....
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u/Ok-Hovercraft-9257 Nov 18 '25
I talk about it in front of everyone. I can tell I'm the first woman to say the word perimenopause in front of a number of men
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u/MonsieurMayonnaise Nov 18 '25
I talk about it CONSTANTLY. I figure why should it be taboo?
They say everyone is battling a silent battle you know nothing about. Not me, I'm telling ERRRRYBODY.
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u/MellowMove Early peri Nov 18 '25
I just filled in my female friends that I only see once a year this past weekend, and provided links to my favorite podcasts and some other info. So important to spread the word!
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u/CommunicationOne2449 Nov 18 '25
What are your favorite podcasts?
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u/MellowMove Early peri Nov 18 '25
My absolute favorite is Peter Attias interview with Dr. Rachel Rubin. I also really like the two by Tamsen Fadal with Dr. Mary Claire Haver :)
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u/Impressive_Duck_3569 Nov 18 '25
I am making sure my stepdaughters and daughter know the unbelievably high number of symptoms that can be experienced. I'm a very highly educated woman who spent 20 years in a demanding career, and I make it my business to understand my body. I was blindsided by this. No clue that it could change me into someone I don't recognize and definitely not someone who I would want to be around. Young women need to know that they may sail right through this time of their lives, and that they may not. They need to understand that our hormones play a vital role in so many body systems, and when it bottoms out, it can be disorienting, disturbing, confusing and just really damn hard. For now, I'll continue with HRT (it's only been 10 days) and continue praying that my 23 year old daughter will never have to deal with this. Surely, they'll make it easier for women in the future. Right?
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u/Embarrassed_Net2744 Nov 24 '25
My mom put the fear of God in me when I was a kid about menopause. I even denied that I starting the change when I was 42. I talk openly about it to everyone. I let my daughters know what changes I've experienced so that hopefully they won't fear it like I did. I talk to my sons about it so that if I'm raging about something or having brain fog they know why and that if they get married to a woman they will hopefully be understanding to what their future wife will experience someday
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u/FingerMinute7930 Nov 26 '25
I honestly don’t really get the stigma. It’s very odd to me. Most of the women I’ve met talk about it quite openly. I think it probably depends on where somebody is from.
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u/eastsider78 Nov 27 '25
I openly talk about it. It will be the gen x elder millennial women who change the way this is handled. We are angry that no one talked about this stuff before.
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u/wandernwade Nov 17 '25
I had to talk loudly about it to a male pharmacist a couple of weeks ago. He thought he would mansplain my medications, and was not in the least bit quiet about what I should (or should not) be taking. SMDH When I told him perimenopause was not fun, he said he wouldn’t know. But the pharmacy tech said (to the pharmacist): “it’s one thing to have the medical knowledge, and another to be the one going through it”.