5 questions about menopause you might be too embarrassed to ask

kAmtIA6C:6?465 H@C<6CD :? H@>6?’D 962=E9 >2J ?@E:46 E92E E96 BF6DE:@?D H@>6? 24EF2==J 92G6 23@FE >6?@A2FD6 2C6 C2C6=J E96 @?6D E96J 2D< @FE =@F5]k^Am

kAm%96J v@@8=6 E96> 2E >:5?:89E] %96J >6?E:@? E96> @7792?565=J 2E E96 6?5 @7 2 5@4E@C’D 2AA@:?E>6?E[ 2=C625J 92=7H2J @FE E96 5@@C] ~C E96J 5@?’E D2J 2?JE9:?8 2E 2== 2?5 ;FDE H@?56C :7 D@>6E9:?8 :D HC@?8 H:E9 E96>]k^Am

kAm%96C6’D ?@ 8@@5 C62D@? 7@C E9:D] |6?@A2FD6 27764ED 6G6CJ H@>2? H9@ =:G6D =@?8 6?@F89 E@ 6IA6C:6?46 :E] qFE 3642FD6 D@ >2?J @7 :ED DJ>AE@>D E@F49 @? E9:?8D H@>6? 92G6 366? 4@?5:E:@?65 E@ 7:?5 6>32CC2DD:?8 — E96:C 3@5:6D[ E96:C 6>@E:@?D[ E96:C D6?D6 @7 D6=7 — E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? DE2JD >FE65] p?5 H@>6? DF776C E9C@F89 EC62E23=6 DJ>AE@>D 7@C J62CD[ 2DDF>:?8 :E’D ;FDE A2CE @7 86EE:?8 @=56C]k^Am

kAmxE’D ?@E] w6C6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:G:>962=E9]4@>^QmxGí> w62=E9k^2m D92C6D E96 2?DH6CD E@ 7:G6 BF6DE:@?D H@>6? >2J 766= E@@ 6>32CC2DD65 E@ 2D<]k^Am

k9bm`] (9J :D >J H6:89E 8@:?8 FA H96? x 92G6?’E 492?865 2?JE9:?8nk^9bm

kAm*@F’C6 ?@E :>28:?:?8 :E[ 2?5 :E’D ?@E 2 H:==A@H6C AC@3=6>]k^Am

kAm%9:D :D 2 4@>>@? C67C2:? 7C@> H@>6? :? E96:C c_D 2?5 d_Di x’> 5@:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 E96 D2>6 2?5 >J 3@5J :D 5@:?8 D@>6E9:?8 5:776C6?E] %96 H6:89E :D D9@H:?8 FA :? >J 36==J] }@E9:?8 x FD65 E@ 5@ :D H@C<:?8 2?J>@C6]k^Am

kAm%96 9@C>@?2= D9:7ED @7 A6C:>6?@A2FD6 2?5 >6?@A2FD6 — 564=:?:?8 6DEC@86?[ 492?86D :? :?DF=:? D6?D:E:G:EJ[ D9:7ED :? 9@H 4@CE:D@= 3692G6D — 2=E6C 9@H E96 3@5J AC@46DD6D 2?5 DE@C6D 72E] (92E 492?865 :D?’E J@FC 677@CE] xE’D J@FC 3:@=@8J]k^Am

kAm%92E 5@6D?’E >62? H6:89E 492?86 :D :?6G:E23=6 @C A6C>2?6?E] qFE :E 5@6D >62? E96 2AAC@249 ?665D E@ >2E49 H96C6 J@FC A9JD:@=@8J 24EF2==J :D ?@H] |@C6 AC@E6:?[ DEC6?8E9 EC2:?:?8 E@ AC6D6CG6 >FD4=6[ C62= 2EE6?E:@? E@ D=66A BF2=:EJ[ 2?5 :? D@>6 42D6D[ >65:42= DFAA@CE] %CJ:?8 92C56C 2E D@>6E9:?8 E92E ?@ =@?86C 7:ED J@FC 3:@=@8J :D ?@E E96 2?DH6C] &?56CDE2?5:?8 H92E’D 24EF2==J 92AA6?:?8 :D]k^Am

k9bma] x D?2AA65 2E >J <:5D 7@C ?@ C62D@? 2?5 E96? 4C:65 :? E96 42C] p> x =@D:?8 :Enk^9bm

kAm}@] qFE :E’D F?56CDE2?523=6 H9J :E 766=D E92E H2J]k^Am

kAm%96 6>@E:@?2= DJ>AE@>D @7 A6C:>6?@A2FD6 2C6 C62=[ E96J’C6 3:@=@8:42=[ 2?5 E96J’C6 5C2>2E:42==J F?56C6DE:>2E65] |@@5 DH:?8D] p?I:6EJ E92E 2AA62CD @FE @7 ?@H96C6] xCC:E23:=:EJ E92E 766=D @FED:K65 2?5 @FE @7 492C24E6C] p <:?5 @7 6>@E:@?2= C2H?6DD E92E >2<6D J@F 766= =:<6 J@F 5@?’E C64@8?:K6 J@FCD6=7] qC2:? 7@8 E9:4< 6?@F89 E92E J@F =@D6 2 H@C5 >:5\D6?E6?46 2?5 DE2CE H@?56C:?8 :7 D@>6E9:?8 :D D6C:@FD=J HC@?8]k^Am

kAmtDEC@86? 92D 2 5:C64E 67764E @? D6C@E@?:? 2?5 @E96C ?6FC@EC2?D>:EE6CD] *@FC 3C2:? 92D 6DEC@86? C646AE@CD] (96? E9@D6 =6G6=D 7=F4EF2E6 — H9:49 E96J 5@[ D@>6E:>6D H:=5=J[ 5FC:?8 A6C:>6?@A2FD6 — J@FC >@@5 2?5 4@8?:E:@? 766= :E]k^Am

kAm~7E6?[ H@>6? 2C6 36:?8 E@=5 E9:D :D DEC6DD @C ;FDE 2 =@E 8@:?8 @?] $@>6E:>6D E92E’D ECF6] qFE :7 E96D6 DJ>AE@>D 2CC:G65 H:E9@FE 2? @3G:@FD EC:886C[ @C :?E6?D:7:65 2=@?8D:56 @E96C DJ>AE@>D @? E9:D =:DE[ E96 9@C>@?2= 6IA=2?2E:@? 56D6CG6D E@ 36 E2<6? D6C:@FD=J 367@C6 2?JE9:?8 6=D6]k^Am

kAm*@F’C6 ?@E =@D:?8 :E] *@FC 9@C>@?6D 2C6 D9:7E:?8[ 2?5 E92E D9:7E 92D 2 C62= 67764E @? 9@H J@F 766=]k^Am

k9bmb] |J A6C:@5D 2C6 2== @G6C E96 A=246[ 3FE x’> @?=J cc] r@F=5 E9:D 24EF2==J 36 >6?@A2FD6nk^9bm

kAm%9:D 4@F=5 46CE2:?=J 36 A6C:>6?@A2FD6] p?5 J6D[ cc :D H6== H:E9:? ?@C>2= C2?86]k^Am

kAm|6?@A2FD6 :ED6=7 :D 2 D:?8=6 >@>6?Ei %649?:42==J[ E96 `a\>@?E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 J@FC =2DE A6C:@5] qFE A6C:>6?@A2FD6 — E96 EC2?D:E:@? =625:?8 FA E@ :E — 42? =2DE 2?JH96C6 7C@> 7@FC E@ E6? J62CD[ 2?5 :E’D 5FC:?8 E9:D A92D6 E92E >@DE DJ>AE@>D 2AA62C] xCC68F=2C 4J4=6D 2C6 @7E6? @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE D:8?D] $@ 2C6 D=66A 5:DCFAE:@?[ >@@5 492?86D[ 2?5 E92E F?6IA=2:?65 235@>:?2= H6:89E 82:?] $J>AE@>D 4@>6 :? H2G6D] w@C>@?6 =6G6=D 7=F4EF2E6 5C2>2E:42==J[ D@>6E:>6D 52J E@ 52J[ H9:49 :D A2CE @7 H9J E96 H9@=6 6IA6C:6?46 766=D D@ :?4@?D:DE6?E]k^Am

kAm%96 4@?7FD:@? :D 4@>A@F?565 3J E96 724E E92E D6G6C2= @7 E96D6 DJ>AE@>D @G6C=2A H:E9 @E96C 4@?5:E:@?D] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 72E:8F6[ H6:89E 82:?[ 3C2:? 7@8[ 2?5 >@@5 492?86D 42? 2=D@ 36 D:8?D @7 E9JC@:5 5JD7F?4E:@?[ H9:49 364@>6D >@C6 4@>>@? :? >:5=:76 H@>6?] x7 J@F 92G6?’E 925 2 7F== E9JC@:5 A2?6= C646?E=J[ :E’D H@CE9 2D<:?8 7@C @?6]k^Am

kAmq=@@5 E6DED 42? @776C FD67F= 52E2[ E9@F89 E96J D9@F=5 36 :?E6CAC6E65 2=@?8D:56 J@FC DJ>AE@>D[ ?@E :? :D@=2E:@?] %96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E E9:?8 :D 7:?5:?8 2 AC@G:56C H9@ H:== =@@< 2E E96 7F== A:4EFC6] x7 J@FC 4FCC6?E 5@4E@C >2<6D J@F 766= =:<6 J@F’C6 4@>A=2:?:?8[ 7:?5 2 5:776C6?E 5@4E@C] %9:D :D ?@E 2 D>2== 492AE6C @7 J@FC =:76]k^Am

k9bmc] x’> H2<:?8 FA 2E b 2]>] 2?5 42?’E 86E 324< E@ D=66A] (:== x 6G6C D=66A E9C@F89 E96 ?:89E 282:?nk^9bm

kAm%9:D :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 4@>>@? 4@>A=2:?ED 7C@> H@>6? :? >:5=:76 — 3FE E9:D :D 7:I23=6[ 2?5 :E’D ?@E :? J@FC 9625]k^Am

kAm$=66A 5:DCFAE:@? :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE F?56C6DE:>2E65 DJ>AE@>D @7 A6C:>6?@A2FD6] (@>6? 56D4C:36 :E 2=>@DE :56?E:42==J 6G6CJ E:>6i %96J 72== 2D=66A 7:?6[ E96? H2<6 FA D@>6H96C6 36EH66? a 2]>] 2?5 c 2]>][ >:?5 8@:?8[ D@>6E:>6D 5C6?4965 :? DH62E[ 4@>A=6E6=J F?23=6 E@ 86E 324< E@ D=66A] %96J DA6?5 E96 ?6IE 52J 6I92FDE65 2?5 2DDF>6 E9:D :D ;FDE H92E 86EE:?8 @=56C 766=D =:<6]k^Am

kAmxE :D?’E] !C@86DE6C@?6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=:76DEJ=6>65:4:?6]DE2?7@C5]65F^D=66A\A6C:>6?@A2FD6^QmH9:49 564=:?6D 62C=J :? A6C:>6?@A2FD6k^2m[ 92D 2 ?2EFC2= 42=>:?8[ D=66A\AC@>@E:?8 67764E] (96? :E 5C@AD[ D=66A BF2=:EJ 5C@AD H:E9 :E] tDEC@86? =@DD 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ ?:89E DH62ED E92E 7C28>6?E D=66A 6G6? H96? J@F 5@?’E 7F==J H2<6 FA] r@CE:D@= A2EE6C?D D9:7E E@@[ H9:49 :D A2CE @7 H9J E96 b 2]>] H2<6\FA 766=D D@ 4@?D:DE6?E C2E96C E92? C2?5@>]k^Am

kAm!@@C D=66A 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ H@CD6?65 >@@5[ 2446=6C2E65 H6:89E 82:?[ :>A2:C65 >6>@CJ[ 2?5 :?4C62D65 :?DF=:? C6D:DE2?46] (96? H@>6? D2J 6G6CJE9:?8 DE2CE65 72==:?8 2A2CE 2E @?46[ D=66A :D @7E6? 2 724E@C]k^Am

kAm%96 8@@5 ?6HDi %9:D C6DA@?5D H6== E@ EC62E>6?E] w@C>@?6 E96C2AJ 255C6DD6D E96 C@@E 42FD6 7@C >2?J H@>6?] u@C E9@D6 H9@ 42?’E @C 5@?’E H2?E 9@C>@?6D[ E96C6 2C6 ?@?\9@C>@?2= @AE:@?D H@CE9 2 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 2 AC@G:56C] *@F 5@?’E 92G6 E@ ;FDE 36 E:C65]k^Am

k9bmd] |J 92:C :D 4@>:?8 @FE :? E96 D9@H6C[ 2?5 >J D<:? =@@<D 4@>A=6E6=J 5:776C6?E] xD E9:D ;FDE … >6 ?@Hnk^9bm

kAm}@] p?5 E@@ >2?J H@>6? 2446AE E9:D 2D E96 AC:46 @7 86EE:?8 @=56C]k^Am

kAm%96 92:C E9:??:?8[ E96 5CJ?6DD[ E96 D<:? E92E D66>D E@ 92G6 =@DE D@>6E9:?8 — E96D6 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A>4]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^2CE:4=6D^!|raegdaeh^Qm:>A24E65 3J 564=:?:?8 9@C>@?6Dk^2m] tDEC@86? DFAA@CED 4@==286? AC@5F4E:@?[ D<:? >@:DEFC6[ 2?5 E96 92:C 8C@HE9 4J4=6] pD =6G6=D 564=:?6[ D<:? =@D6D E9:4<?6DD 2?5 6=2DE:4:EJ] w2:C 7@==:4=6D D9:7E 7C@> 8C@HE9 A92D6 E@ C6DE:?8 A92D6 72DE6C E92? E96J FD65 E@[ H9:49 :D H9J J@F’C6 D66:?8 >@C6 :? E96 5C2:? 2?5 =6DD @? J@FC 9625]k^Am

kAm%96D6 492?86D E6?5 E@ 36 8C25F2= 6?@F89 E92E H@>6? 252AE E@ E96> H:E9@FE C62=:K:?8 E96J 5@?’E 92G6 E@] qJ E96 E:>6 D@>6@?6 3C:?8D :E FA :? 2? 2AA@:?E>6?E[ E96J’G6 FDF2==J 366? 8C:6G:?8 :E 7@C 2 J62C @C EH@]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A>4]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^2CE:4=6D^!|r`abfcdfb^Qmw@C>@?6 E96C2AJ 42? D=@Hk^2m 2?5[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ A2CE:2==J C6G6CD6 E96D6 492?86D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J H96? DE2CE65 62C=:6C :? E96 EC2?D:E:@?] %@A:42= 6DEC@86?[ 4@==286?\DFAA@CE:?8 ?FEC:E:@?[ 2?5 E2C86E65 92:C =@DD EC62E>6?ED 2=D@ 92G6 C62= 6G:56?46 369:?5 E96>] %96 2AAC@249 56A6?5D @? J@FC 7F== A:4EFC6]k^Am

kAm%CJ E@ AFD9 324< @? E96 :?DE:?4E E@ HC:E6 :E @77] %96 H2J J@F =@@< 42? 27764E 9@H J@F 766=] %92E’D ?@E G2?:EJ] xE’D H@CE9 255C6DD:?8]k^Am

k9bmp 4=@D:?8 E9@F89Ek^9bm

kAm}@?6 @7 E96D6 BF6DE:@?D D9@F=5 766= 6>32CC2DD:?8] qFE :E’D F?56CDE2?523=6 H96? E96J 5@ — H@>6? 5@?’E 92G6 8C62E 4F=EFC2= D4C:AED 7@C E2=<:?8 23@FE 3@5:6D :? EC2?D:E:@?[ 6DA64:2==J H96? E96 DJ>AE@>D E@F49 @? E9:?8D E96J’C6 @7E6? 4@?5:E:@?65 E@ DE2J BF:6E 23@FE]k^Am

kAm%96 H@>6? H9@ 86E E96 2?DH6CD E96J D66<[ H9@ 7:?5 AC@G:56CD H9@ E2<6 E96> D6C:@FD=J[ 2?5 H9@ DE@A 2446AE:?8 5:D4@>7@CE 2D E96 5672F=E 4@?D:DE6?E=J D2J E96 D2>6 E9:?8i x H:D9 x’5 2D<65 D@@?6C] *@F 5@?’E 92G6 E@ H2:E]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:G:>962=E9]4@>^d\BF6DE:@?D\23@FE\>6?@A2FD6\J@F\>:89E\36\E@@\6>32CC2DD65\E@\2D<^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:G:>962=E9]4@>^Qmk6>mxGí> w62=E9k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am