We often talk about menstruation - starting it, managing it, breaking the stigma. But what about the other side of the cycle? The time when periods stop, but questions don’t? That phase is called menopause, and despite being a biological certainty for nearly half the population, it’s shrouded in silence, myths, and hesitation.
It’s time to start talking. Really talking.
Understanding Menopause - Not Just “The End”
Let’s get one thing straight - menopause isn’t a moment. It’s a transition. A recalibration. A long, winding bridge from what your body once did to what it’s learning to do now.
Medically, menopause means you’ve gone 12 straight months without a period. For most, this happens between ages 45 to 55. But symptoms can show up years before that - during perimenopause, when your hormones begin their slow waltz toward retirement.
What’s happening inside? Estrogen and progesterone - the dynamic duo that kept your menstrual cycle in check - begin to decline. And like a pebble dropped in a pond, that hormonal shift ripples across your whole system.
So no, menopause isn’t just about missing periods. It’s about recalibrating - physically, emotionally, socially. It’s not a disease. It’s not “the end of youth.” It’s not a failure of the body. It’s a new season - one that deserves as much attention and care as puberty or pregnancy.
Myth-Busting the Menopause Narrative
Let’s address some of the misinformation that has caused more damage than the symptoms themselves:
- "It only lasts a few months." False. Perimenopause can last 4–8 years, and some symptoms linger even post-menopause.
- "Hot flashes are the only symptom." Not even close. Mood swings, brain fog, insomnia, joint pain, dry skin, thinning hair, and decreased libido are just the beginning of a long list.
- "Menopause is only physical." The emotional and mental impact is huge. Hormonal shifts can increase anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues.
- "You should just bear it silently." Perhaps the most damaging myth. This transition deserves support, guidance, and sometimes medical intervention.
Menopause is not the enemy. Misinformation is.
The Silent Symptoms: What They Don’t Tell You
So much of the menopausal experience happens behind the scenes. Symptoms are often dismissed as “just aging” or worse, “in your head.” Here’s what’s actually going on:
- Hot flashes and night sweats are triggered by hormone imbalances affecting the brain’s temperature control center.
- Mood changes like anxiety, depression, or unexplained irritability are a result of fluctuating hormones affecting brain chemistry.
- Sleep disturbances like insomnia and restlessness are common, leading to fatigue that affects productivity and emotional balance.
- Physical changes like weight gain, joint stiffness, thinning hair, dry skin, and vaginal dryness can all occur.
- Cognitive symptoms like "brain fog," forgetfulness, or difficulty focusing can affect performance at work or confidence in daily life.
Women aren’t imagining things - they’re enduring a physiological transformation with little support and often, no language to even explain it.
Emotional Undercurrents: It's Not Just Hormones
Let’s talk about feelings. Not the “hormonal” ones people love to ridicule, but the deep, valid emotions that come with menopause. This isn’t just about hormones.
- It’s about grief - for the fertility you may have cherished, or never got to explore.
- It’s about fear - of aging, of irrelevance, of becoming invisible in a youth-obsessed world.
- It’s about frustration - at being unheard, unseen, and dismissed.
- It’s about identity - who are you now, when your body feels unfamiliar?
Menopause brings big emotions. Valid ones. Deep ones. And we owe it to each other to stop laughing them off or shoving them aside.
Many menstruators report feeling “invisible” during and after menopause. That’s not a symptom. That’s a societal failure.
Menopause and The Workplace: An Unspoken Struggle
Workplace policies, if they exist at all, rarely accommodate menopause. A 2023 survey found that nearly 1 in 10 menstruators left their jobs due to unmanaged menopausal symptoms. Think about that. Women walking away from careers they built for decades, just because their bodies are changing and their environment won’t budge.
At work, menopausal employees may feel invisible. In rural communities, where access to healthcare is already limited, menopausal health is barely on the radar. This silence is not just unfortunate-it’s dangerous. When we fail to talk about menopause, we fail to address early signs of chronic illness, mental health issues, and social isolation.
We have maternity leave policies. Why not menopausal health policies? Flexible hours, access to healthcare, and psychological support aren’t luxuries. They’re necessities.
The Healthcare Gap: Still Playing Catch-Up
Even among medical professionals, menopause is under-discussed. Most OB-GYNs receive less than 5 hours of menopause training in med school. That leaves millions of patients with vague advice, poor solutions, or unnecessary prescriptions.
And then there’s access. Rural areas and lower-income communities often have zero healthcare infrastructure for this transition. So not only is menopause dismissed - it’s entirely unreachable for some. It’s time we demanded better care. Not more pink brochures. Real, science-based, affordable support.
Cultural Silence: The Legacy We’re Breaking
In many cultures, menopause is treated as a taboo or worse - a punchline. From “drying up” jokes to dismissive comments about women becoming “crazy,” the shame around this natural process is rooted in patriarchy. In some parts of India, women are ostracized from rituals post-menopause, or told to stay quiet and “just tolerate it.”
It’s 2025. We can’t allow centuries of shame to write our stories anymore. Every menstruator deserves agency, dignity, and language to describe what’s happening to their body.
How to Cope (and Thrive)
Every menopausal journey is different. But knowledge, support, and small lifestyle adjustments can make the transition smoother. Here's how:
Nutrition & Hydration: Focus on calcium-rich foods (like dairy, tofu, leafy greens), vitamin D, and protein. Reduce processed sugars and caffeine. Stay hydrated to reduce fatigue and flush out toxins.
Movement & Exercise: Regular weight-bearing exercises like walking, yoga, or strength training improve bone density, boost mood, and help manage weight.
Mind-Body Practices: Mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Gentle yoga and tai chi are particularly effective.
Community and Conversations: Join support groups. Talk to friends going through the same phase. Even casual conversations help destigmatize the experience and remind us: we’re not alone.
Menopause ≠ End. It’s Evolution.
Let’s stop calling it “the end” - of periods, of femininity, of youth. It’s a beginning. Of power. Of confidence. Of life without cramps and contraceptives. Of self-discovery after decades of caretaking.
The world has taught menstruators to fear menopause. But what if we met it with celebration instead of silence?
Titli's Take
At Titli Foundation, we believe every transition deserves tenderness, truth, and trust. Just as the butterfly transforms through stillness and change, so too do menstruators as they move into menopause. We dream of a world where young girls learn about menopause before it happens, where mothers speak to daughters without shame, where healthcare providers treat it as essential-not optional-care.
It’s not the end of the book. It’s just a new chapter. And it deserves to be beautifully written.
