Menopause – more than hormones?

Whenever the menopause is mentioned, the same words appear: hormones, hot flushes, sleepless nights, a changing cycle. But that’s only part of the picture. For many women it begins more quietly, with subtle shifts rather than drama, names slipping away mid-sentence, moods that swing for no reason, a restlessness that won’t settle. Nothing that fits neatly into the familiar idea of “the menopause”. And that’s what makes it so unsettling.

It’s almost like an echo of something we’ve lived before. Once already, hormones turned our lives upside down: in puberty. Back then we were finding our way between dependence and freedom, between being a child and becoming an adult. Now the change returns, but without a clear direction. Instead of excitement there’s uncertainty. What’s happening to me? Why do I suddenly feel like a stranger in my own body?

That’s where the real challenge begins. Alongside the physical shifts come deeper questions. What role do I play in my relationship, in my work, in my own life? Who am I when the children have gone? What still holds me when the familiar rhythm of hormones fades away?

And then there’s the silence. We talk about puberty openly, even with humour, but the menopause is still spoken of in lowered voices. Myths, clichés and the tired idea of a “loss of femininity” linger on. That silence makes it heavier. When words are missing, uncertainty creeps in, and shame often follows.

Yet the menopause isn’t an ending. It’s a turning point. The body changes, yes, but it also offers a chance to question what no longer fits, to shed old weight, and to see life from a new angle.

That’s where my counselling begins. Not every hot flush needs a pill, and not every low mood needs a label. What really matters is understanding how hormones, emotions and life circumstances intertwine. And for that, we need space. A space where questions can be asked openly, doubts named and new perspectives found.

The last thing women need in this stage of life is silence. What we need most is to break the taboos — with science, insight and a wider view of life and culture.