So, it’s World Menopause Month. As someone who’s intimately familiar with this stage of life—it’s a doozy—I’ve got a few complaints. However, there are some things that are worth celebrating around this topic, including many safe treatments for menopause symptoms, and we’re going to focus on those.

1. There’s so much more awareness about menopause now.

It’s been a normal part of a woman’s life from the beginning, but previous generations weren’t as down to talk about the very life-altering changes that come along with it. (Of course, in previous generations, you couldn’t be pregnant in the workplace either.)

No more tight-lipped, grin-and-bear-it downplaying of a huuuge part of a woman’s life. It’s a big freakin’ deal!!! Influencers, TikTokers, doctors, celebs and more are speaking out about all the changes that happen and why women shouldn’t have to hide or minimize what they’re experiencing.

2. There are resources!

One fantastic resource for women going through perimenopause and menopause is The Menopause Society. This group does a great job of providing educational materials about evidence-based menopause treatments.

I’ve heard that this year’s annual meeting was packed. Thousands of doctors suddenly realized they better bone up on the latest research and menopause treatments! What, did menopause all of a sudden start happening in these doctors’ offices? If only there was a way to predict when women might be coming in complaining of menopausal symptoms…. 🙄🤔

Anyway, this non-profit organization has been doing an excellent job of getting the message out about various menopause treatments, including hormone therapy (HT). Yes, you can take HT safely (docs will look at your age and health history to see if it’s a good fit for you). I’ve talked to several docs lately who are Menopause Society Certified Practitioners (MSCP) and they all emphasize women don’t have to suffer! If you’re struggling with symptoms of menopause—there are 100 of them or something like that—get yourself to an MSCP. Docs—even gynos—didn’t necessarily get training in menopause in medical school. I know, that seems absolutely bonkers, but it’s true.

3. You have options for dealing with your symptoms.

As an integrative medicine practitioner, I see people who have all sorts of symptoms related to menopause but they’re afraid to ask for help.

Now, I’m obviously a big believer in the power of acupuncture, Chinese herbs and other integrative approaches, but I’m also a fan of HT. It’s so accessible and relatively inexpensive to take (herbs aren’t cheap!) and it has worked for me. I’ve had horrible hot flashes and it’s the only thing that helped. But hormones are just one option. (You can read one of my recent articles on menopause treatments here.) And remember, as one doc told me, you’re not trying to replace the hormonal activity that you had as a 30-year-old (never gonna happen, my friends); it’s just about getting yourself to a comfortable level where you can function and feel good again, no matter what treatment you decide on. And you won’t be on it long-term.

Don’t forget about lifestyle changes too, especially diet and exercise. What you eat affects your entire body via your gut and exercise helps with stress and sleep as well as weight control. And those annoying vaginal issues that crop up? Tell your doc! There are easy treatments for that too.

4. You’re killing it!

Finally, I think it’s normal to feel like every decade you pass through as a woman is the best decade. Menopause doesn’t exactly rank up there for me. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind a redo of my mid-30s and 40s. It’s hard to watch (and feel) yourself age (I know, it’s a privilege to get older, whatever). But I look around at all these amazing women who are speaking out about their experiences with menopause and I’m just so proud to be in their demo. It reminds me that women are so incredibly strong. Women in their 50s have seen some sh*t and we’re tired of putting a pretty face on it all. So yeah, girl power.

Okay, that’s it. Talk to your doc or an integrative practitioner who offers non-pharm options if that’s how you want to go, advocate for some relief, explore your options, and do your research. There’s no reason this can’t be an extremely fertile period of your life!