1. Previous Generations Didn’t Talk About Menopause
For many women in our mothers’ and grandmothers’ generations, menopause was something that simply wasn’t discussed. And very few people understood the mental and emotional symptoms that can come alongside the hormonal changes.
There was very little support available, and most doctors knew very little about menopause compared to today. Unless women had a particularly supportive group of friends, many had to go through it completely alone.
So why does it seem worse today, when there is actually more help available?
One reason is that women are finally opening up about it. We can now be much more honest about how we feel and how difficult life can be during this stage.
At the same time, though, we are constantly surrounded by information. Social media, websites, podcasts and online forums mean there is advice everywhere you look. While that can be incredibly helpful, it can also feel overwhelming and confusing when the information is conflicting.
2. Women Today Carry a Huge Emotional and Mental Load
If you think about previous generations, many women did not work outside the home, and by the time they reached menopause their children were often older or already independent.
Life today looks very different.
Most women are juggling work, family responsibilities and the pressures of everyday life all at once. Many women are also having children later in life, meaning the teenage years can coincide with perimenopause and menopause.
At the same time, many women are also caring for ageing parents while trying to keep everything running smoothly at home and at work.
The problem is that instead of approaching perimenopause feeling rested and physically strong, many women are reaching this stage completely exhausted.
3. The Modern Diet Isn’t Supporting Our Hormones
Hormonal changes can begin subtly in our late 30s or early 40s, even if menopause itself is still years away.
These changes require a huge amount of energy from the body, and if we are not eating well, it can leave us running on empty.
Years ago, food was fresher and far less processed. Much of it was homegrown or locally produced, and most meals were cooked from scratch. There were very few ready meals, far less sugar, and coffee was nowhere near as common as it is today.
Modern diets are often highly processed and lacking in the nutrients our bodies need to support hormonal balance and overall wellbeing during menopause.
4. We’re Exposed to More Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals
Another major difference today is the sheer amount of chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis.
In our mothers’ and grandmothers’ day, households contained far fewer chemical products. Today, we are surrounded by cleaning products, air fresheners, laundry products, cosmetics, skincare products and synthetic materials.
Many of the substances we breathe in or put onto our skin may contain chemicals that can interfere with hormones.
The issue is not always one product on its own, but the cumulative effect of being exposed to dozens of different chemicals every single day over many years.
If you ever get the chance, try making a note of every chemical-based product you come into contact with from morning until night. Most people are shocked by just how many there are.
All of this can place additional strain on the body and may contribute to hormone disruption, potentially making menopause symptoms more difficult to manage.
5. We Are Constantly Surrounded by Technology
Technology affects us on several different levels.
Firstly, our brains are constantly being stimulated. For many of us, the first thing we do in the morning is check our phones. We are surrounded by social media, emails, notifications and screens throughout the entire day.
This ongoing mental and emotional stimulation can leave the nervous system under constant pressure.
Secondly, many electrical devices give off electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and modern life means we are surrounded by them almost constantly, from mobile phones and televisions to alarm clocks and workplace technology.
Research into the effects of EMFs is still ongoing, but many experts believe they may also play a role in hormone disruption and sleep problems.
Women Today Are Not “Weaker”
Women today are not weaker than previous generations, and we are not necessarily coping worse. The difference is that we now feel able to talk openly about menopause and seek support.
Thankfully, there is now far more information available, and more women are supporting one another through this stage of life. I always encourage women to create supportive groups, whether that’s at work, at home or within their local community, because simply talking about how you feel can make an enormous difference.
I hope you found this helpful. Over the last 20 years, since I first started educating and advising women about menopause, I’ve seen a tremendous change in the awareness, support and understanding surrounding it.
There is still more work to do, but more women than ever are speaking openly about their experiences, seeking support and realising they do not have to struggle through this stage of life alone.
If any of these issues have affected your own menopause journey, I’d love to hear what helped you. Sharing your experiences and suggestions may help another woman who is struggling too.
Other articles that may interest you:
10 Menopause Symptoms Many Women Don’t Realise Are Hormone-Related (And Why They Are Often Missed!)
5 Signs Your Nervous System is Overloaded During Menopause (And How to Fix It)
10 self-care tips for perimenopause, menopause & postmenopause
