October marks Menopause Awareness Month, a time to break the silence around a topic that has been considered taboo for far too long. For many women, menopause is a challenging transition, often faced alone and misunderstood. At DOUBL, we believe it’s time to change that. We’re here to provide the resources and support needed to empower women through this stage of life—and to inform those who want to better understand it. Let’s talk menopause openly, honestly, and without shame.
Debunking menopause myths
Myth #1: Menopause is just hot flashes.
Menopause is the stage in a women's life when the ovaries no longer produce hormones and ovulation stops. Hot flashes are by far the most talked about menopause symptom, however, the symptoms go far beyond that. Sleep disturbances and memory problems are common symptoms that come with the hormonal disturbances, sometimes resulting in emotional symptoms like mood swings and even depression.
Myth #2: Menopause happens at 50.
Menopause does typically occur between the ages of 45 and 55, however, this is not the case for all women. Some women experience menopausal symptoms earlier in life, in their 40s or even late 30s, and some women don't experience menopause until late 50s. The timing of menopause is very unique to every woman, determined by genetics, overall health, lifestyle, and more.
Myth 3: Menopause only lasts a short time.
By definition, menopause is the absence of a menstrual cycle for 12 months. The stage before menopause, perimenopause, is in fact the strongest symptoms and can begin several years before menopause. Additionally, menopausal symptoms can continue up to seven years following your final period.
DOUBL's top menopause resources
In honour of Menopause Awareness Month, we've rounded up our top resources to help you through every stage or to simply expand your knowledge on women's midlife health:
Balance app: the Balance app was created by Dr Louise Newson with a mission to make menopause support inclusive and accessible to everyone. The app provides evidence-based perimenopause and menopause information to help you move through every stage.
Dr. Mary Claire: Author of The New Menopause, Dr. Mary Claire, is an amazing Instagram follow for tips & tricks on menopause, relatable content, and a community of women who get it.
The Midlife Truth Project: Julie Flakstad and Dr. Taz have created a new podcast to chat about the most explosive period in a woman's life that is not talked about enough. They discuss perimenopause and menopause to understand what's happening in our bodies, but also beyond that with topics of evolving friendships, changing family dynamics, aging parents, financial security, and what's next.