Menopause is not a disease, yet for many women it becomes one of the most misunderstood and emotionally challenging stages of life. Too often, women reach midlife having received little structured education about what menopause truly is, how it affects the body and mind, and what evidence-based options exist to support health and quality of life. As a result, decisions are frequently driven by fear, myths, social media trends, or outdated information rather than by medical knowledge.

Self-education at menopause is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

Menopause: common, impactful, and often underestimated

Around 70% of women during perimenopause and early menopause experience symptoms that affect daily life. These symptoms may include hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, anxiety, cognitive complaints, joint pain, urogenital symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and changes in body composition.

Importantly, not all women experience menopause in the same way. For many, symptoms are mild and transient. However, approximately 30% of symptomatic women will require medical treatment, either hormonal (menopausal hormone therapy, MHT) or non-hormonal, to adequately control symptoms and protect quality of life.

Understanding where you fall on this spectrum is impossible without education.

Why informed women make better decisions

Menopause is often approached with a single oversimplified question:

“Should I take hormones or not?”

In reality, this is the wrong starting point.

The right questions are broader, deeper, and more personal. Every woman deserves to understand:

Who is eligible for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)?

MHT is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Eligibility depends on age, time since menopause, symptom severity, medical history, and individual risk profile.

For whom is MHT contraindicated?

Certain conditions make MHT unsafe or inappropriate. Knowing these contraindications is essential to protect health and avoid harm.

What happens if a woman chooses MHT?

Beyond symptom relief, MHT may influence sleep, mood, bone health, urogenital health, and overall well-being. It also requires monitoring, reassessment, and individualized dosing.

What happens if a woman chooses not to use MHT?

For some women, this is entirely appropriate. For others, untreated symptoms may persist for years and affect cardiovascular health, bone density, mental health, sexual well-being, and work productivity. Understanding this helps women make conscious, rather than passive, decisions.

What are the side effects of MHT?

Side effects are usually dose- and route-dependent and often manageable, but they must be anticipated and discussed openly.

What are the real risks of MHT?

Risks depend on timing, formulation, delivery route, and individual health profile. Modern evidence differs significantly from the fears rooted in outdated interpretations of older studies.

What are the side effects and risks of non-hormonal medications?

Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antihypertensives, and other non-hormonal options can be helpful—but they also have their own side effects, interactions, and limitations.

What about herbal products and supplements?

“Natural” does not mean safe or effective. Many herbal products lack standardization, robust evidence, and long-term safety data. Some interact with prescribed medications or carry hidden risks.

And these are only some of the questions. There are many, many others that every woman at midlife should know the answers to—before making decisions that affect her body and future health.

Education replaces fear with clarity

When women are not informed, menopause becomes something that “just happens” to them. When women are educated, menopause becomes something they actively manage.

Self-education allows women to:

• recognize symptoms early,
• seek appropriate medical assessment,
• distinguish evidence-based medicine from marketing,
• participate actively in shared decision-making with their doctor,
• and feel confident in whichever path they choose.
  There is no single “right” choice for all women—but there is a right choice for an informed woman.
  
  

This video series: a starting point

This video is the first part of my educational series about menopause and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). In it, I answer 11 essential questions that every woman should know at midlife—clearly, honestly, and based on current medical evidence.

The goal is not to persuade, but to educate.

Not to simplify menopause into slogans, but to explain it with nuance and respect.

Not to replace medical consultation, but to empower women to ask better questions.

Menopause marks a transition—not an ending. With knowledge, it can become a stage of clarity, strength, and informed self-care rather than confusion and fear.

This video is the first step.