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It is imperative that we encourage women to examine their attitudes about menopause and openly discuss the prevalent myths and old wives' tales.
There are approximately 42 million women over the age of 50 in the United States today; a woman at age 50 has a life expectancy of at least 30 more years.1 This means that an ever-increasing number of women will be spending a greater proportion - one third to one half - of their fives after menopause. That fact is a good reason to help them plan for, not dread, this experience. Menopause is a single event in the gradual transition from functional reproduction to the end of a woman's childbearing capability.
It is said to have occurred after a woman experiences at least 12 months without a period.2 The entire period of abatement is called the climacteric, from the Greek word meaning "rung of the ladder." This transitional period spans a continuum from about 45 to 60 years of age.
For most women, the worst thing about menopause is not knowing what to expect,3 and nurses are in a strategic position to respond to this need. We can help by providing accurate and objeclive information, and promoting positive attitudes. Just as younger women prepare for childbirth, women approaching midlife need to prepare for the climacteric. Margaret Mead equated menopause with energy - a creative time in a woman's life. She stated that the most creative force in the world is a menopausal woman with zest!4 Nurses can assist women to achieve PMZ (post menopausal zest) and to fully appreciate and enjoy this phase of their lives. We can begin by dispelling myths and old wives' tales.
Menopause Myths and Their Origins
Although awareness of menopause is ancient, understanding has developed very slowly. The Bible and other ancient documents contained references to menopause and the subject was being discussed scientifically by the sixth century AD. Many of the myths about menopause probably originated from these early observations and commentaries. Despite their ancient origins, however, a number of these myths continue to exert a powerful influence upon today's attitudes.5
In order to understand the evolution of menopause myths, it is important to remember that female life expectancy has only recently reached the...