FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE®: Menopause Info You Can Trust

Ever feel like you're drowning in menopause information and still coming up empty? You're not alone - I've been there, too! 

In this episode, I share a bit of my mid-40s experience - I wish I had known about The Menopause Society (menopause.org) back then! I also share a few gut checks you can use as menopause-related algorithms send content your way. 

You deserve trustworthy information and a care team that helps you live your healthiest midlife and beyond. Tune in to hear my take on both.

xo Karli

P.S. Visit menopause.org to explore the Patient Education section and Find a Practitioner directory.

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Transcript

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I knew very little about what to expect as I approached my mid-forties. Juggling my career and family took up most of my time and I was clueless about perimenopause. I don't recall ever hearing that word until I was close to 50. Turns out the night sweats I had for years, the brain fog that had me convinced I was experiencing dementia and the vertigo I experienced were all big clues that I was in the throes of it. I didn't piece all of that together until my early fifties, and apparently neither did any of the doctors I saw. What was I expecting? Hot flashes, which I never had until after my final period, and of course the end of my period, which didn't happen for six and a half years after a doctor told me 'it won't be long now.' I knew about two physiological impacts. I never even considered the emotional and spiritual elements. Looking back, it's easy to feel a bit feisty about all of this, but I have gratitude for how much has changed. In the past decade. Gen X women have started a public conversation and the menopausal transition is becoming less mysterious. With that, however, comes a flood of a misinformation and sales pitches. It can be a game changer to have reliable resources at the ready. I'm Karli Newman, your favorite Gen X dealer of positive vibes, Life and Wellness Coach, and founder of FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE®, a community for women in midlife and beyond. I love it when you carve out a few minutes for yourself and join me for an episode or two. After all, this show is about finding space for you in a season of life that sometimes feels like an out of body experience. My work as a Life and Wellness Coach for women in midlife and beyond means I'm always on the lookout for information, resources, and tools that I can share with integrity. You and I both know the internet is a glorious place for finding information... until it isn't. Whether it's contradictory advice, marketing disguised as articles, or just the sheer volume of content related to what you're looking for, it can be confusing and definitely overwhelming. One resource I recommend more than any other as a Life and Wellness Coach is the Menopause Society, which you can find at menopause.org. I pulled this from their website."Founded in 1989, the Menopause Society is a nonprofit organization with the mission of empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources they need to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond. It serves as the definitive, independent and evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals and the public, providing accurate information about menopause and midlife women's health." I cannot encourage you strongly enough to visit, browse, and bookmark the patient education page. While you're browsing, don't miss the tips for finding a practitioner as well as a directory listing of Menopause Society Certified Practitioners in your area. You may not realize that the majority of healthcare providers, yep, even OB-GYNs, don't receive in-depth training around the menopause transition. Additional training is available for those who seek it out, however, and that's where the Menopause Society comes in. A practitioner who receives additional training and passes an exam may earn the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, that's abbreviated MSCP, credential. Once certified, they must meet continuing education requirements to stay certified. These are providers who have put in real extra effort to understand this stage of life. And those providers are who show up in the directory on menopause.org. I know you're coming across a nonstop flow of content surrounding peri- and post- menopause. I thought it would be helpful to share a few gut checks you can use as filters to tell if what you come across is reliable. First, who created it? Look for content created or reviewed by actual medical professionals with credentials in women's health or menopause specifically. Always consider the professional ethics and code of conduct of the creator. Should a wellness blogger be giving advice on hormone therapy? No, no, no. Oh, it frustrates me. Please, my friend. If you're going to listen to advice, be sure it comes from someone who is qualified to give it. The next gut check is, is it trying to sell you something? There's nothing wrong with a product recommendation or some mentions or an open acknowledgement that they have affiliate links and they're gonna earn some money if you click on them. If the content only exists to funnel you toward a purchase, however, this information is really just marketing. Be aware. Notice that and see it for what it is. And the last gut check, when was it published? Menopause research has evolved significantly in the past decade and even more recently for hormone therapy related information. So anything more than a few years old may be working from outdated science. The Menopause Society has that information for patients and providers. Before I wrap this episode, I wanna share one more thing that I'm very passionate about and that is related to your circle of care. Midlife and beyond is a wonderful time to evaluate who is on the team that helps you live your healthiest life. It's up to you to advocate for yourself with all members of your care team. So be clear on what you want and communicate that to your provider. Whether it's a massage therapist, your OB/GYN, a menopause specialist if you're seeing one, you are your own best advocate. Be clear on what you want, communicate that, keep a list of running questions and concerns and bring them to your appointments. And never feel guilty for seeking a second opinion, standing up for a decision that was made without enough of your input or finding a different provider. For the providers who are helping you through the menopause transition specifically, ask how they approach menopause management. Find out what they know about current guidelines on hormone therapy. Ask how they feel about shared decision-making. This allows you to assess if they are dismissive or attentive, literate on current guidance, and whether they'll act as a gatekeeper or a partner in your care. You get to decide who is on your team and ensure, my friend, that they feel like a fit for you. Thanks again for joining me here today. I'd love to know your thoughts about this episode and what you learned on menopause.org. Reach out to me at karli@flipsideofmidlife.com to share. Join me right here on Wednesdays for more bite-sized episodes you can apply to your midlife and beyond and every other Sunday for guided meditations and visualizations. I look forward to meeting you here for all of it. Take care and be well, my friend.