Menopause gets a bad rep.

Well, duh! Who likes hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood swings and vaginal dryness?

True, but there are things we can do to make it more manageable, and far less of a struggle, says Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopaedic surgeon and renowned expert in aging and longevity.

One of the problems is that many women enter perimenopause or menopause without knowing what to expect. Further, they sometimes feel dismissed by their healthcare provider when they bring up their concerns, explained Wright.

A second challenge is that, even though menopause affects half the population, research about menopause is “severely underfunded,” Wright said. This means physicians aren’t adequately trained about menopause, which “trickles down to patient care.”

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Four Key Takeaways from Wright

To help navigate menopause and reduce the struggle, Wright offered these four tips:

• Education: Wright recommends women start by reading The New Menopause by Dr Mary Claire Haver.
• Advocate for Yourself: If you’re feeling dismissed by your doctor, push. “Don’t settle,” Wright said, adding that it’s also worth shopping around for health practitioners who specialize in menopause. 
• Try New Things: When it comes to menopause symptoms, there are various treatments out there. Many women turn to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but it’s not for everyone. So it’s important to be open-minded to options.
• Don’t do it Alone: Many women feel “isolated in their struggles,” Wright explained. Oftentimes, talking about what you’re going through can make a big difference, either with friends or family members, or by seeking out other online communities or forums of women experiencing similar symptoms and emotions. “Your health journey matters, and you don’t have to go through it alone,” Wright said.

Not to toot our own horn (OK, maybe to toot our own horn a little bit), but Empower can also help make menopause more enjoyable. Or at least more manageable.

Not only does the Empower community offer a supportive place for women to connect with other women, and ask questions about what they’re doing through, but science also suggests fitness can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and might even help with those hot flashes and night sweats. That’s where our training programs come in: Designed by women for women. We got you.