

Menopause is a natural and normal part of women's aging. Yet, sadly it carries stigma largely because in the past it was considered taboo to openly discuss this life stage. This has resulted in people, including women and healthcare providers, not understanding this life stage and the impact it has on women's health and aging. In honor of World Menopause Day, I am resharing an article I was featured in this May on the My Menopause Transformation website. I graduated from their healthcare practitioner course and I am now a MyMT Certified Menopause Lifestyle Practitioner. Wendy Sweet, PhD., and My Menopause Transformation Founder, is shining a light on the relationship between fibromyalgia and menopause in her linked article, Menopause and Fibromyalgia. The article also includes some tips on functional foods for fibromyalgia management.
I became interested in menopause after my hysterectomy last year. Menopause can be challenging for many women and I am convinced that this may be especially true for women with fibromyalgia. I often meet women who say their fibromyalgia was in relatively good control until around the age of 50. I am curious to learn if menopause could be the reason, and if by taking steps to better manage menopause, can fibromyalgia symptoms return to their baseline? Only time will tell as I learn from my own health journey, and the women I help in my fibromyalgia coaching practice, Sharon Waldrop, NBC-HWC LLC. One of my clients who is struggling with menopause, TW, gave me permission to share that since coaching with me, her hot flashes are greatly diminished and she had the energy to handle the packing and unpacking in her recent move.
I hope there will be more research done in this area as research has already found that certain hormones serve to both increase and decrease fibromyalgia pain severity (Schertzinger et al, 2019). Additionally researchers have theorized hormones may be the reason fibromyalgia affects more women then men.
A study looking at 200,000 female military veterans found that many women are having a tough time in menopause, and those most affected by menopause symptoms were far more likely to have chronic pain. A WebMD article, The Link Between Menopause and Chronic Pain, delves into this study further and offers some tips. Perhaps one of the largest take aways is do not suffer in silence! Experiencing disabling symptoms is not "normal" and assistance from healthcare providers can greatly improve your life, functioning, and healthy aging.
The theme of World Menopause Day 2024 is Menopause and HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). In recognition of this day, the International Menopause Society (IMS) has published: Menopause and MHT in 2024: addressing the key controversies – an International Menopause Society White Paper. The paper's goal is to provide a well-balanced educational narrative of menopause and menopause hormone therapy (MHT) from IMS experts. According to the paper's authors, "Globally, there is a critical unmet need for easy access to evidence-based information and safe and effective treatment options for those needing treatment. Continued progress in the training of healthcare providers and the education of midlife women will optimize not only individual, but also societal, health and productivity, and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases which are a major health concern in the twenty-first century."
Author: Fibromyalgia Association President & Founder Sharon Waldrop, NBC-HWC. Sharon was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1996 at the age of 24. She was bed-ridden. Her photo in this article shows her at the Hoover Dam in 2024 on a family trip. She loves sharing travel photos as over the years she has gone from bed-ridden to rock climbing. She says living a full life with fibromyalgia is possible. Sharon is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach with certifications in Chronic Pain, Lifestyle Medicine, and Menopause.
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