Myths of Menopause

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less.” Marie Curie

Distractions of social media Sirens
Odysseus had to navigate many challenges on his epic 10-year journey home from the Trojan War. He had to resist the tempting, enchanting song of the Sirens, who lured sailors off course to shipwreck on the rocky shoreline. Odysseus ordered his sailors to lash him to the mast and to block their ears.
As women navigate the female hormone odyssey, alluring misinformation disseminated on social media can lead many astray. This act outlines the nature of the transition to menopause and beyond, seeking to dispel the misconceptions and misunderstandings that resonate around this stage of a woman’s journey through life.

• Scene 1 What is menopause? Dr Nicky Keay
• Scene 2 Mythology in women’s midlife – what’s in a name? Professor Jerilynn Prior
• Scene 3 What has progesterone got to do with menopause? Lara Briden

Pandora’s box
When Pandora opened a box left in her care by the gods, it unleashed many negative things. However, hope remained in the box.
Approaching menopause can feel like opening Pandora’s box, igniting a multitude of unrelated troublesome symptoms that can impact overall quality of life. The crucial thing to remember is menopause is not an illness or disease. Knowledge of the underlying cause provides a guide to the best way forward. Hope remains in Pandora’s box, waiting to be engaged.

• Scene 1 Myths of menopausal ‘symptoms’ Dr Nicky Keay
• Scene 2 “Sleep no more!?” Dr Zoe Schaedel
• Scene 3 Myths of menopausal health Dr Nicky Keay
• Scene 4 Don’t let sticks, stones or falls break your bones! Rebekah Rotstein
• Scene 5 Menopause mix: metabolic and mental health Dr Anne Latz

The metamorphosis of Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Ancient Greek goddess of love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion and procreation. In the Iliad, the Trojan War began after Paris, the prince of Troy, chose Aphrodite as the fairest of three goddesses competing to win the golden apple. After the ensuing turmoil, the Odyssey describes the many challenges a more mature Odysseus overcame on his 10-year journey home, driven by the enduring love he shared with his wife, Penelope.
During her life, every woman experiences a metamorphosis in her personal Aphrodite. Although the element of procreation dwindles during menopause, many aspects remain. Platonic love and physical love endure and transform. The hormonal changes intertwined with this transition can present some physical and psychological challenges. This Act explores the important aspects of menopausal health, focusing on pelvic and sexual health.

• Scene 1 No sex after menopause?! Dr Shema Tariq
• Scene 2 Goodbye to pelvic health after menopause?! Dr Gillian Campbell and Christien Bird

How to navigate the female hormone odyssey?
Homer’s poem of the odyssey demonstrates how perseverance and determination are vital in navigating an epic journey. Fortunately, during the female hormone odyssey we are not at the mercy of capricious gods. Rather, we are in control of our own destiny. This chapter explores the key lifestyle strategies of nutrition, exercise and sleep to master the menopause, dispelling myths that might divert us away from mastering our personal female hormone odyssey.
“If we could each individual just the right amount of exercise and nourishment, not too little and not too much, we would have found the surest way to health.” Hippocrates

• Scene 1 The menopause diet? Renee McGregor
• Scene 2 Where do I start with exercise? Ally Atkins
• Scene 3 Demystifying the myths of exercise Dr Alyssa Olenick

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
At a key point in his epic journey, Odysseus had to navigate a passage between the six-headed monster, Scylla, and the perilous whirlpool, Charybdis.
An apparently similar dilemma faces those deciding whether to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), with proponents expressing strong views, both for and against.
The choice of HRT is a personal decision. The best approach is to gather all the information necessary to make an informed judgement. It is important to dispel myths and lay out the facts about HRT, to help women make the best personal choice, fearing neither Scylla nor Charybdis.

• Scylla and Charybdis Dr Nicky Keay

Terpsichore Ancient Greek muse of dance
The hormone dance of life
As you progress through the female hormone odyssey, the hormones that drive adaptation to physical activity change. The internal hormone dance has variations. You can continue to derive the health benefits of exercise by embracing new activities, to remain in synchrony with internal hormone changes. Have you considered tapping into your inner Terpsichore, the Ancient Greek muse of dance? Whether you are a regular dancer or newcomer, all are welcome to the menopause dance.

• Scene 1 Dancing through menopause Tiffany Stott
• Scene 2 Gracefully ageing (we hope) forever swans Astrid Sherman
• Scene 3 Menopause flamenco! Nikki Crane
• Scene 4 Everyone leaks?! Dinah Hampson and Dr Brooke Winder

Orpheus and Eurydice
In this Greek myth, Orpheus is a talented musician who manages to overpower the Sirens with his own music when sailing with the Argonauts. On his return, he marries Eurydice and they are very happy together until Eurydice is mortally bitten by a snake. Stricken with grief, Orpheus takes the perilous journey to the underworld to plead for his wife’s return to the world of the living by playing music to the king and queen of the underworld, Hades and Penelope. They agree that Eurydice can return to the land of the living by being rowed across the river Styx by the ferryman Charon, provided Orpheus does not look back to check if Eurydice is following him. Unfortunately, Orpheus could not resist a glance back. So, Eurydice stays in the underworld.

• Scene 1 Relative energy deficiency in sport only happens in young exercisers?! Dr Nicky Keay
• Scene 2 Can I maintain athletic effort and performance? Tenille Hoogland
• Scene 3 Not always an injury?! Nicole Oh
• Scene 4 Strength training for performance and health Dr Richard C Blagrove

Discord and harmony
Navigating menopause can feel like being in the realm of Eris, the goddess of discord and strife. You can feel dissonant not only with yourself but with those around you, out of step with colleagues, friends and even family. This is a challenging time of adjustment as you search for the way of Harmonia, to rediscover harmony with yourself and others.
This act explores why society has been reluctant to discuss menopause, even within close-knit families. Experts in this field discuss how our individual life experiences and backgrounds influence the way we experience our female hormone odyssey, with particular focus on the graduation to menopause and beyond.

• Scene 1 Am I losing my mind? Professor Aimee Spector
• Scene 2 Why do each of us experience menopause differently? Dr Helen Donovan, Professor Myra Hunter, Nora Bahhar, Professor Aimee Spector
• Scene 3 Don’t mention the ‘M’ word! Dr Meena Khatwa
• Scene 4 Can we pass the baton from sport? Anna Allerton

• Collaboratively removing barriers for sustainable person-centred system support Dr Marzena Nieroda, Dr Abdul Seckam, Dr Dania Posso, Dr Rodrigo Rodriguez-Fernandez, Dr Orlanda Allen, Professor Andre Couthino, Thalia Anagnostopoulou, Professor Joyce Harper, Dr Nicky Keay

The wisdom of Athena
Athena guided Odysseus through trials and obstacles. Navigating the female hormone odyssey presents many challenges, culminating in graduation to menopause and beyond. Every woman’s experience is different, but each of us must draw on our own inner Athena to progress through the hormone dance of life.

• Terpsichore and Menopause Dr Tamara Dragadze