The case in summary • Stine Sørensen entered menopause when she was 38, which is earlier than average.• She has been open about her experiences with menopause, both with family and friends, in order to minimize this period.• Doctor Marianne Natvik underlines the importance of talking about menopause in order to normalize it and help women recognize symptoms.• Natvik has seen an increase in openness and knowledge about menopause in the last four years. She thinks it comes from increased media coverage and the sharing of personal stories on social media.• Stand-up comedian and family therapist Dora Thorhallsdottir is writing a book about women’s experiences with menopause. She also believes that there has been more openness about menopause in society in the last three years. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. She was only 38 years old and did not understand what was happening. Mother of three Stine Sørensen had five weeks of consecutive periods and thought she had cancer. The horror only subsided when the gynecologist determined that this was menopause. Women usually lose their periods between the ages of 45 and 55, according to Health Norway. But menopause itself starts a few years before the bleeding stops. During menopause, the level of estrogen decreases, and this can affect the body both physically and psychologically. Symptoms of menopause During menopause, the ovaries release fewer and rarer eggs, before it stops altogether. In this way, the body gets less estrogen and this can affect all cells. Most common physical symptoms of menopause: Bleeding disorders, hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, joint pain, palpitations, headaches and abdominal symptoms, among others. Mental symptoms: Low mood, anxiety, lability, reduced sex drive, sleep problems. Cognitive symptoms: Poor memory, concentration difficulties, brain fog. Symptoms and intensity vary. About a third experience troublesome symptoms on a daily basis, a third experience minor problems and a third lie in the middle. Source: Doctor and doctoral candidate Marianne Natvik at the University of Oslo Talking to the children Stine Sørensen became more emotional than usual. The sleep was worse. Now that time is over. The children have learned that she had a “shorter fuse”. They laughed because it was so cold in the bedroom, because she was so warm. In order to avoid this phase, she has been keen to talk to both family and friends about how she experienced this. Stine Sørensen was on a family holiday in Brazil in 2002 with her seven-year-old daughter and three-year-old twins when she noticed that something was not right. Photo: PrivatStine Sørensen was on a family holiday in Brazil in 2002 with her seven-year-old daughter and three-year-old twins year when she noticed that something was not as it should be. Photo: Privat Not least the daughters have learned that they can also risk losing their periods early. – We will have children later in life. It was important for me to tell the girls that this can be hereditary, says Sørensen. Daughter Sarah Zimmermann Børresen (24) drank coffee with her mother in the garden. She thinks the mother’s openness is good. Especially with regard to her own possibility of having children, if she herself were to enter menopause just as early. – It’s something I should think about in the future and be aware that it could happen to me too. Stine Sørensen also believes that we have become more open about the menopause now than when she herself came over 20 years ago. Photo: Hege Therese Holtung / news Giving the children an explanation Some daughters can have their last period and have the same experience of menopause as their mothers, says doctor and researcher on menopause, Marianne Natvik. She thinks it is wise for mothers to talk to their children about menopause. – It normalizes this period that all women have to go through. GP and researcher Marianne Natvik at the University of Oslo researches women’s need for information about the menopause and how women with ailments can help themselves. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news It helps that it does not become a mysterious aging sign that we put in the corner of shame, she says. The more menopause is talked about, the more other women can recognize symptoms, such as hot flushes, sleep problems and mood swings, believes Natvik. Sees change in four years The researcher experiences more openness and knowledge about menopause among women now, compared to when she started researching this period four years ago. She talks to many doctors and women in her work in the field. – I think that there is more talk about this time in society. The women see it more on the agenda and discuss it with their doctor. – Why has there been a change? – I think it’s about the menopause being talked about more in the media. I think we are a generation of women now who are in this age, or about to enter menopause, who want to know more. Women also share their stories on social media, she adds. Hormone therapy has gained attention and women want help when they have problems, she says. Write book about how menopause feels Dora Thorhallsdottir in Tønsberg will soon finish writing a book about how women experience being in menopause. The family therapist has also traveled country and beach in Norway with a stand-up show about menopause. Author, family therapist and stand-up comedian Dora Thorhallsdottir is coming out with a book in August about how women experience menopause. Photo: Robert Rønning / news When he asked on Facebook and Instagram for people’s personal experiences, 160 stories came in. People have had a frighteningly low level of knowledge about the menopause, she believes. – What is consistent in many stories is that many people thought there was something wrong with them for a long time. Until they, a doctor or a colleague realized it was menopause, says Thorhallsdottir. Talking more about Thorhallsdottir also believes that there has been more openness about the period in the last three years. More women want information. – It’s just as if we’ve woken up a bit. More is being written about the menopause, more people are talking about it and more books have been published, she points out. – An enormous amount has happened and we need that. Damn, how many women have suffered in silence due to menopause and not knowing what ailments are menopause-related. 5 things Marianne Natvik thinks women should know about menopause Symptoms of menopause are not just hot flashes. Menopause symptoms can occur, even if menstruation has not stopped. It is helpful to have certain symptoms affecting the quality of life. Talk to your GP. It is important to help yourself, even for women without symptoms. Stress less, sleep enough, move and spend time on good relationships. If you feel symptoms, it can help to talk to someone you trust. Your openness can also contribute to helping others. Hi! Do you have any thoughts about what you just read? Feel free to email me about other things you think I should make. Ideas and input are gratefully received! Published 30.06.2024, at 07.55 Updated 30.06.2024, at 08.04
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