How Perimenopause Symptoms Vary Around the World
Every woman in the world will inevitably face menopause, but did you know that where you live and your cultural background could significantly shape your experience?
Research is revealing fascinating insights into how women across countries experience symptoms of hormone fluctuations so differently and the varying ways this shapes their outlook on menopause and aging in general. What’s becoming very clear is that every woman's hormonal health and journey through perimenopause is unique, much like our fingerprints.
Why we’re focusing on perimenopause and not menopause
Here at MBODY, we celebrate the individuality of this transformative phase and prefer to use the term "perimenopause" to encompass the gradual hormone fluctuations and an array of symptoms leading up to menopause. So, before we explore the diverse ways women from different cultures experience hormonal fluctuations and aging, here’s a quick recap of the difference between perimenopause and menopause:
Perimenopause vs. menopause: what’s the difference?
Perimenopause is a transitional stage of life where a woman’s body starts undergoing hormonal changes that lead up to menopause itself. This phase can last several years.
Menopause indicates the specific time when a woman has not experienced a period in over 12 months. Reaching menopause is effectively one day in your life.
Is perimenopause the same around the world?
So, are we all experiencing the same symptoms in perimenopause? Probably not. But there are some interesting trends researchers are discovering among women in different cultures and communities. Let’s unravel the fascinating diversity of perimenopause and discover how culture can shape women's perceptions, symptoms, and management strategies.
Perimenopause in Western countries
The US, UK, Canada, and Australia lean more towards youth-valuing cultures than elder-valuing cultures, which shapes the way they experience a phase of life associated with getting older. Menopause can often be seen as an experience that’s more dreadful than pleasant in Western cultures. Combined with more societal stigmas, women in the West tend to navigate menopausal symptoms in silence.
Some surveys show that around one-third of women in Western countries aren’t comfortable talking to their doctor about menopause, and more than a quarter of women didn’t look for information about menopause until they started experiencing it.
Some symptoms are more common than others, but around 60-80% of women experience symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep troubles. Other symptoms like vagina dryness, hair loss, and digestive troubles may less common, be harder to talk about with your doctor, and lead women to seek diverse treatment options.
Women in Western countries are becoming more empowered to communicate their menopause experience with their healthcare providers as education and awareness increase to help manage symptoms and support women’s healthy aging. In recent years, many countries have been making strides to expand awareness, advance research, and improve access to care — with the UK allowing HRT to be available over-the-counter.
You can find out more about this in What to know about over-the-counter HRT in the UK.
Menopause in Asian countries
Women in Asian countries, such as Japan, China, and India, tend to exhibit fewer physical symptoms while having a more positive perception of this transitional phase of life. In fact, since less than half of women experience hot flashes in Japan there wasn’t a coined term for them yet in society until a few years ago when local media agencies created a term, ‘hotto furasshur’.
There is an interesting theory about why women in Asia experience different symptoms than in other parts of the world. Women in Asia consume a significant amount of isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen, from their soy-rich diets and report less of the symptoms associated with perimenopause than women who consume Westernized diets. Phytoestrogens, specialized plant compounds, may help ease symptoms of declining estrogen.
Researchers are exploring how phytoestrogens can impact how women experience symptoms of perimenopause, but a review of high-quality studies in 2016 found that when women added isoflavones into their daily routine, they had fewer daily hot flashes, and their vaginal dryness improved.
There are many other cultural practices and holistic techniques that women in Asian cultures may likely use over other treatments like HRT. Some holistic methods are frequently used to help alleviate physical and mental symptoms of perimenopause such as herbal teas, acupuncture, tai chi, yoga, and more.
Menopause in Middle Eastern countries
Middle Eastern experience with menopause isn’t as widely studied as other areas of the world, but countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel tend to embrace menopause with a sense of cultural significance.
Women in Qatar tend to embrace menopause as a liberating time research shows, as becoming more socially active and participating in previously restricted religious activities can feel freeing. But the experience women had with menopause also tends to correlate with the level of support partners gave them. Women with supportive partners saw menopause as a more positive experience, while those with less supportive partners tend to see the transition as more negative.
Traditional practices and beliefs may shape how menopause is perceived and managed. Women navigate this transition with alternative therapies rooted in cultural traditions rather than HRT research suggests. Although research is limited, women in the Middle East rely heavily on the support system of their families and community to navigate the changes of menopause.
Menopause in Native and Indigenous Communities
Native and Indigenous communities, such as the North American First Nations, Mayan, Maori, and Australian Aboriginal people offer classic perspectives of the menopause experience with generational rituals and holistic approaches that have been passed down and used for centuries. However, of the limited research available, it seems these communities tend to lack a thorough understanding of menopause and how it can impact your overall health and wellness.
One study of Aboriginal Australian communities found women didn’t understand what menopause meant or heard of the word before, while another small study found this lack of understanding resulted in women feeling fearful of the changes they were going through.
Special ceremonies and traditional healing practices are just a few ways that these communities navigate symptoms of perimenopause outside Western methods of HRT.
These communities put a high value on the wisdom of older generations and foster support between generations. This ensures women have easy access to community resources and insight so they’re not alone on their journey and feel empowered to take on this new time in life.
Takeaway
Everyone woman goes through menopause but your experience is completely unique to you. There’s comfort in knowing that women everywhere are united in this natural phase of life.
Regardless of where you live or where you come from, your menopause experience is completely unique to you. We hope you feel inspired by the diverse ways perimenopause is experienced throughout the world, and feel empowered to take control of your own journey.
What is a unique way menopause is seen or experienced in your culture or country? Drop us a comment below and let us know!
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