Menopause Is Only One Day: Busting One of the Biggest Myths in Women’s Health

When people talk about “going through menopause,” it’s often described as a long, difficult transition filled with hot flashes, mood swings, and sleepless nights.

While these symptoms are indeed very real and valid, the terminology surrounding menopause frequently means the entire process is vastly misunderstood - even among healthcare professionals.

One of the biggest myths? That the menopause is a long, drawn-out process. In reality, menopause is just one day. Yes, you read that correctly.

So What Is Menopause, Really?

Medically speaking, menopause is defined as the single point in time when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period - with no other obvious biological or medical cause, such as pregnancy or illness. That one day marks the end of reproductive fertility. The World Health Organisation states that “menopause is one point in a continuum…after 12 consecutive months without menstruation”.

Everything that comes before and after that day? It’s classified differently:

• Perimenopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause. It can begin anywhere from a woman’s late 30s to her mid-50s, though it typically starts in the early-to-mid 40s. During perimenopause, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen, and menstrual cycles may become irregular. Symptoms such as hot flashes, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances are common.
  

• Postmenopause refers to the stage after that one-day milestone of menopause has passed. From that point on, a woman is considered postmenopausal for the rest of her life. While some symptoms may subside, others - like vaginal dryness, bone density loss, or increased cardiovascular risks - may persist or become more pronounced over time.
  

Why the Confusion?

The confusion likely stems from how we colloquially use the term “menopause” to refer to the whole journey. It’s an understandable shorthand, but it’s not medically accurate - and it can lead to confusion when women are trying to understand what’s happening to their bodies or seek treatment.

By lumping all stages together under the umbrella of "menopause," important distinctions are lost. This can impact healthcare decisions, delay proper diagnoses, or even cause women to downplay symptoms that deserve medical attention.

Why This Matters

Understanding that menopause is a one-day event surrounded by much longer phases is more than just a semantic issue - it has real implications for women’s health. Accurate terminology empowers women to:

• Better understand what stage they’re in - If women are told they’re “in menopause” when they’re still cycling, they may underestimate pregnancy risk or misunderstand symptoms.

• Seek appropriate treatment and support - someone in perimenopause, for example, may be prescribed hormone therapy with different timing or dosage than someone who’s truly postmenopausal.

• Communicate more clearly with healthcare providers - reducing confusion, stigma, and misdiagnosis.

• Plan for long-term health management, especially in postmenopause - Postmenopausal women face specific health concerns (e.g., bone density loss, cardiovascular risk) that are distinct from the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause.
  

The Bottom Line

Menopause is not a marathon - it’s a milestone. The real journey happens during perimenopause (the lead-up) and postmenopause (everything that follows). Clarifying this simple but powerful fact can help demystify the process, reduce stigma, and allow women to advocate more effectively for their health and well-being.

So the next time you hear someone say they’re “going through menopause,” remember: what they’re likely experiencing is perimenopause or postmenopause.

And they deserve accurate information, compassion, and support - every step of the way