Picture this: you’re out with your friends, having a drink, maybe even dancing, when suddenly the dreaded hot flash hits. You’re not in some slow-motion movie scene; you’re just standing there, sweating like a politician on a lie detector. Someone gives you a side-eye and whispers, "aren’t you a bit young for that?"
Let’s clear something up once and for all: menopause isn’t just for women rocking silver fox hair and a penchant lavender. Nope, you could be sitting at a brunch table in your 30s or 40s, talking about career goals and still get hit with a symptom or two of peri menopause! But try telling society that. For some reason, people seem to think menopause comes gift-wrapped on your 60th birthday, along with bingo wings and Werther’s Originals.
Wait, Menopause Already?!
Yes, already!
Perimenopause can start as early as your mid-30s, which is, let’s be real, is prime "I’m still cool, right?" time (but too old for Topshop). But it’s like no one got the memo that your hormones might decide to throw a siesta a couple of decades early. Society, bless its heart, still imagines menopausal women as ancient relics—sitting on commodes, knitting, and reminiscing about the good old days “when you didn’t have to lock your doors”.
Spoiler alert: today's menopausal women are more likely to be Googling the best face serum while debating a Sober October, than baking pies and giving up on life. We’re not here to settle down quietly into a life of beige clothing and sensible shoes. Please! We’re rocking gym sessions, running businesses, and, yes, still showing up at the PTA meetings, even when a hormonal mood swing decides to make an untimely guest appearance.
Hot, Bothered, and Still Rocking It!
Let’s face it, society seems a little confused. How can someone with curtain bangs and a shit hot Spotify playlist possibly be in perimenopause? Surely we’re all still clubbing (okay, wine clubbing counts) and dancing to Ibiza classics like it's the good ol' days! But here we are not passed it—just trying to transition through the minefield stage, with a little sweat and sass.
Menopause doesn’t mean you’re on the verge of ordering a mobility scooter or asking for senior discounts (although, hey, we’ll take those). It means your body has decided to hit the hormone shuffle a little earlier than expected, all while you’re still handling your job, raising kids, and figuring out what on earth to wear that won't leaving you with soaking sweat pits.
Society’s Got Some Catching Up to Do
We’ve spent years battling the myth that men age like fine wine, and women age like… well, no one knows, because apparently, we just disappear after 45? We’re here, and trust me, we’re not fading into the wallpaper. We’re running marathons, running boardrooms, and rebranding menopause with a healthy dose of humour and realism. We don’t need a retirement plan just because our ovaries have taken early leave!
So, let’s set the record straight. Perimenopause and menopause aren’t some secret club reserved for women old enough to remember the Profumo Affair. You can be in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, living your best life, and still having your body throw curveballs. But if society thinks a few hot flashes and mood swings are going to slow us down, they’ve got another thing coming.
Still think menopause is for the grey-haired grannies? Catch us at the gym or running a start-up, maybe even with a cooling spray in hand. We’re far from done yet. In fact, we’re just warming up!
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