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| Again and again, we hear that people aren’t prepared for menopause when it arrives. In fact, this was true for some of our very own colleagues at Healthline who were generous enough to share their experiences in today’s newsletter. Read their words below. |
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Did you feel prepared for what menopause would be like? |
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“Not really. I worked on a large-scale study about menopause in my early 30s, so I knew a fair amount about it. Or should have. The most important takeaways were in support of the Margaret Mead, ‘menopausal zest’ idea that these years after the natural end of childbearing, raising, and having monthly periods actually had the potential to be a woman’s most powerful and fulfilling.
“All of that was great and empowering, but when it happened to me 20-something years later, I wouldn’t say I was prepared for the nitty-gritty.” — Lynn Prowitt, editorial director
“I thought so, until I entered perimenopause. It’s not that I didn’t understand what menopause was; I was just light on the details. I thought going through menopause would be like PMS plus hot flashes. That was woefully misguided. There’s a laundry list of symptoms that a person may experience, and perimenopause can last a long time.” — Heather Graham, senior director
“I was absolutely not prepared for menopause! It wasn’t on my radar at all, nor did I ever think I was nearing ‘that stage’ at any point. I think the fact that it happens at different ages and manifests in different ways creates a sort of disconnect. You don’t think about it or factor it into your life until it actually hits you one day: ‘Oh, it’s happening.’” — Rita Mauceri, senior director
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| Do you have a story to tell? We want to hear from you! Did you feel prepared for what menopause would be like? Let us know about your experience at menopause@healthline.com. (Note: Your response and first name may be featured in an upcoming edition of Unpaused.)
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| Stock up |
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| Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline’s or Optum Now’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health. |
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Healthline, Optum Now, and their respective logo(s) are trademarks of RVO Health, LLC.
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