Busted! 5 Myths About Menopause

October 18, 2026, is World Menopause Day.

We spent decades knowing nothing about you and now you’re everywhere. Like our own little Timothée Chalamet.

Don’t get us wrong — the more talk about menopause, the better. For too long, women have had to white-knuckle it through brain fog, mood swings and furnaces for bodies without saying a word.

Now, the conversation surrounding menopause is louder than ever and proof we have the ability to change the narrative and the way we approach this completely natural time in life that all women go through.

In fact, about 1.3 million people in the U.S. will reach menopause this year alone. But considering less than half of women ages 50 to 64 haven’t been told by their clinician what to expect during menopause, it’s easy to see why misinformation still exists.

Here, we’re debunking some common myths about menopause and giving you the facts all people who menstruate need to know.

1. “Menopause happens when you turn 50.”

If only it were that simple. The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 52, but symptoms of menopause can start eight years or more before that fateful day when you’ve gone 12 months without a period, which is technically menopause. Every day after that day is considered postmenopause.

2. “Menopause means the end of your sex life.”

Perhaps the most cringe-y falsehood of menopause is that women “dry up” and hate sex. Like one day, we’re sporting a wet-n-wild water park down there and the next it's Death Valley.

The truth is that vaginal changes like dryness and the thinning of delicate tissues, also known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), do happen, but they happen over time, and there are steps you can take to help prevent and treat GSM.

Treatment options for GSM, including hormone therapy, vaginal estrogen therapy, moisturizers, lubricants, non-estrogen treatments and laser therapy can help your vagina stay healthy and comfortable in and out of the bedroom.

It’s also true that hormonal changes during menopause can directly affect your libido. So, if you’re not feeling like your amorous self, talk to your clinician. There are prescription medication options that may help.

Read: 9 Ways Menopause Can Give Your Sex Drive a Boost >>

3. “Hot flashes are the only symptom of menopause.”

We’d happily put our heads in the freezer a few times a day if hot flashes were the only symptom of menopause. But there are a lot of symptoms. And symptoms of menopause don’t just affect your body — they can affect your mind and well-being in ways you may not necessarily even associate with menopause.

In addition to hot flashes, symptoms of menopause can include:

Night sweats
Sleep problems
Vaginal dryness
Depression and anxiety
Mood changes
Urinary incontinence
Brain fog
Changes in libido
Irregular periods

4. “Menopause weight gain is unavoidable.”

Research shows that most women gain 4 to 5 pounds in midlife over a three-year period, but there are things you can do to help keep weight gain at bay — especially belly fat that tends to show up during menopause.

Healthy lifestyle changes can include:

Adding fiber to your eating plan
Avoiding sugar and ultraprocessed foods
Following a Mediterranean diet
Eating enough protein
Reducing stress
Exercising for 150 minutes a week combining high-intensity interval training and resistance training

Keep in mind that your metabolism slows down and you lose muscle mass as you age. The best way to boost your calorie-burning potential is to maintain and build muscle. Tip: Keep a few dumbbells around the house and do reps whenever you see one.

Read: Menopause Belly Is Real, and It’s Time to Change the Way You Think About It >>

5. “Hormone therapy for symptoms of menopause isn’t safe.”

Sigh. This myth is harder to shake off than a Taylor Swift song.

But hear us loud and clear: Hormone therapy (estrogen and progesterone) is safe for most women to use. And hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for symptoms of menopause.

The lingering doubt about hormone therapy stems from the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study that indicated that women taking estrogen and progesterone had an increased risk of developing breast cancer. But thanks to more research, we now know that hormone therapy is not associated with increased risk of breast cancer for most women.

That said, hormone therapy isn’t right for everyone, and it’s not recommended for people who: