Menopause is having a moment online.
For years, many women felt like no one was talking about what happens during perimenopause and menopause. Now, the pendulum has swung in the other direction. Social media feeds are filled with advice about hormones, supplements, sleep, weight, nutrition and hormone therapy. There are podcasts, influencers, wellness programs and products promising to help with almost every symptom imaginable.
More conversation is a good thing. Women deserve better information about this stage of life. But having more information doesn’t necessarily make it easier to know what to believe.
So how do you separate useful health information from a convincing Instagram Reel?
Start With Who Is Giving the Advice
Before taking health advice seriously, look at where it’s coming from.
What qualifications does the person have? Are those qualifications relevant to the subject they’re discussing? Are they explaining where their information comes from, or simply presenting an opinion as fact?
Personal experiences can be valuable, especially when they help women feel less alone. But someone’s experience with menopause isn’t evidence that the same approach will work for everyone.
Before taking health advice seriously, look at where it’s coming from.
What qualifications does the person have? Are those qualifications relevant to the subject they’re discussing? Are they explaining where their information comes from, or simply presenting an opinion as fact?
Personal experiences can be valuable, especially when they help women feel less alone. But someone’s experience with menopause isn’t evidence that the same approach will work for everyone.
This becomes particularly important when the conversation moves from everyday wellness habits into medical decisions such as hormone therapy. Those decisions should be based on credible information and your individual health circumstances, not someone else’s before-and-after story.
Be Wary of Advice That Applies to “Everyone”
Menopause can look very different from one woman to another.
Some experience significant changes in sleep, mood or hot flashes. Others have relatively few symptoms. Experiences can also change throughout the transition.
That should make sweeping claims a reason to stop and look more closely.
Statements suggesting that every woman over a certain age needs the same supplement, diet, test or treatment leave very little room for individual health history or circumstances.
Credible health information usually has some nuance. It acknowledges that there may be benefits, risks, limitations and situations where different approaches are appropriate.
Look Beyond the Headline
Health information doesn’t always fit neatly into a 30-second video.
A dramatic headline might say a certain food “balances hormones,” one habit is destroying your metabolism or a particular treatment is the answer to menopause symptoms. The reality is usually more complicated.
When something catches your attention, look beyond the post itself. Reputable Canadian health organizations, established professional organizations and peer-reviewed research can provide valuable context.
This is especially worthwhile for subjects such as hormone therapy, where recommendations and evidence have evolved over time. Learning about your options is helpful. Making an individual healthcare decision requires more than a headline.
Notice When Someone Is Selling the Solution
Selling a product or service doesn’t automatically make health information unreliable. Healthcare professionals have businesses too.
But it’s worth paying attention when someone identifies a problem you didn’t know you had and conveniently has the exact supplement, program or product required to fix it.
Ask yourself whether the information would still be useful if you didn’t buy anything.
Good health education should help you understand your body, ask better questions and make more informed decisions. It shouldn’t depend on creating fear or convincing you that you’re failing to take care of yourself.
Use Social Media to Start Questions, Not Answer All of Them
There is plenty of genuinely useful menopause content online. You may learn the name of a symptom you’ve been experiencing, discover a lifestyle change you’d like to try or hear about hormone therapy and realize you want to learn more.
Use that information as a starting point.
Keep track of changes you’ve noticed. Write down questions. Pay attention to patterns in your sleep, energy, menstrual cycle and other symptoms. Bring those observations to a healthcare appointment where they can be considered alongside your health history and individual circumstances.
Finding the right support can also make it easier to sort through conflicting health information. Learn more about working with a naturopath Kelowna patients can turn to for personalized guidance and care.
You Don't Have to Become a Menopause Expert
The amount of menopause information available today can be empowering, but it can also become another thing you’re expected to master.
You don’t need to understand every hormone, follow every wellness trend or have an opinion about every new menopause headline.
Start with credible sources. Be skeptical of absolutes. Ask questions when something doesn’t make sense. And remember that the best health information should help you make informed decisions about your own health, not convince you that there’s one right way to experience menopause.
If you’re trying to make sense of changes you’re experiencing and aren’t sure where to start, book an appointment with Dr. Chelsea. Having a conversation about your symptoms, health history and questions can help you figure out what your next steps might look like.