I remember when I was a little girl; I dreamed of being like my sisters and becoming a woman. Sharing experiences of puberty with my classmates and other girls in my age group was always fun. We were all excited to talk about our body transformations, the appearance of breasts, our first periods, and our feelings. The one-hour weekly puberty talk in school was always animated with students’ questions and teachers’ answers on the topic. In addition, parental guidance and support were available to lighten our path.
Now, I’m wondering where that level of preparation for perimenopause is. In fact, puberty and perimenopause are both massive hormonal shifts that reshape our bodies, brains, and relationships. However, only one is treated as a natural rite of passage, while the other is ignored and dismissed. In nursing school, I learned about the different types of nursing care for various groups based on their needs. However, I never had a single hour of instruction on the “care of the perimenopausal woman.”
Imagine if it were different. If perimenopause were taught in nursing school and medical providers were trained to recognize symptoms early and guide these women appropriately. If we had a culture that viewed perimenopause not as a disease but as a biological transition, we would prepare women for it. If women felt free to speak openly about what’s changing and what they need. If they could receive the care and support, they deserve in their communities and workplaces, how great would that be?
It’s time to normalize the second hormonal transition and resource it the way we do the first. Let’s stop whispering about perimenopause in private chats. Let’s start speaking out because your need for education and support are normal. If we had real education around perimenopause, what would change for you?
