Menopause, often considered a sign of a woman’s aging, is actually a window that opens a new stage of life. This was the main message Médis left at the end of the meeting, which brought together several experts under the theme “Give menopause an ear and a voice”, in which the company sought to explore the positive aspects of this period and the importance of accepting it. with positivity and self-care.
The investigation continues with the study “Women’s health and well-being: the potential to be achieved”, carried out as part of the Médis Health Project and published in 2022.
The study, which ran from January 2022 to March 2024, involved more than 700 women, of whom 245 were aged between 45 and 60 years.
The findings warn of a profound lack of knowledge, lack of preparedness and the psychological and emotional impact women are experiencing. Menopause is often underestimated and under-discussed, including by healthcare professionals, according to research.
40% of a woman’s life
In Portugal today, about one million two hundred thousand women go through the process of menopause, equivalent to 12% of the population. This is the largest of all stages of a woman’s health, occupying on average 40% of her life. This is also the phase in which they suffer the most: about half of women experience discomfort at this stage, which is 140% higher compared to the discomfort experienced during puberty (20% of women), and compared to the discomfort shown in in the maternity ward (12% of women) this is 300% more. Statistics that highlight the importance of providing adequate support to women during this transition.
Maria Silveira, responsible for the strategic orchestration of the health ecosystem of the Ageas Portugal group, argues that menopause is not a disease, but a condition that affects each woman differently, that is, there are many menopauses, and each woman experiences them differently. way.
Women’s health is a topic that unites society, and awareness campaigns, workshops and educational materials can help demystify menopause and remove the stigma associated with it, the official said. “Therefore, listening to these women, guiding them and giving them a voice is in itself an excellent “cure”, in addition, of course, to comprehensive support (gynecology, psychology, nutrition, exercise),” says the person in charge.
Good Governance Can Bring Freedom
After listening to hundreds of women, Medis proposes a new “classification” of menopause that complements the existing one with a medical and scientific basis (which divides menopause into three phases: perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause). Thus, taking into account women’s vision and feelings (subjectivity), there are four “states of mind” associated with menopause: ignorance, suffering, control and liberation. In fact, menopause is a phase that is often neglected and under-discussed by both society at large and medical professionals. Women often don’t feel comfortable approaching this topic, either due to a lack of knowledge or social embarrassment. Lack of dialogue perpetuates the taboo and fear associated with menopause. According to a Médis survey, 52% of menopausal women report that they are poorly or moderately prepared for this stage of life.
Data shows that 72% of women aged 45 to 60 live in a state of constant stress, and 50% of them have experienced exhaustion or depression. These figures highlight suffering and the relationship between menopause and mental health.
In addition, there are more than 30 symptoms associated with menopause, varying in severity. Some of the most common discomforts include hot flashes (69%), joint pain (49%), night sweats and sleep disturbances (48%), anxiety (45%), vaginal dryness (42%) and decreased libido (37%). ). .
Moreover, 65% of women in this condition report discrimination in the workplace, and 22% are considering changing or leaving their job.
Although some symptoms may persist for more than ten years, most symptoms disappear over time. According to the study, only 20% of women report having symptoms for more than five years. This message of hope and freedom should reach all women as they are all going through or will go through this process.
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.