The most dramatic physical change during middle age is the cessation of menstruation and reproductive capability in women. This event called menopause, happens when a women is around the age of 50. Menopause means that the ovaries no longer ripen egg cells or produce the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. With this developmental change there are misconceptions as to what exactly happens during this stage.
One of these misconceptions or myths that people have about menopause would be that it signals the end of the woman's sexual appetite or drive. This is not correct. In fact, a woman's sex drive is fueled by the small amounts of male sex hormones produced by her adrenal glands, not by estrogen. However, it really depends on the women personally. If a women was raised thinking that menopause means a loss of femininity then she may lose sexual interest. On the other hand, some women may feel liberated by the cutting ties between sex and reproduction.
Obviously men do not undergo menopause. However, they undergo something that can be referred to as "male menopause." Although men can maintain their fertility well into adulthood, they do experience a gradual decline in testosterone as the age.
One of these misconceptions or myths that people have about menopause would be that it signals the end of the woman's sexual appetite or drive. This is not correct. In fact, a woman's sex drive is fueled by the small amounts of male sex hormones produced by her adrenal glands, not by estrogen. However, it really depends on the women personally. If a women was raised thinking that menopause means a loss of femininity then she may lose sexual interest. On the other hand, some women may feel liberated by the cutting ties between sex and reproduction.
Obviously men do not undergo menopause. However, they undergo something that can be referred to as "male menopause." Although men can maintain their fertility well into adulthood, they do experience a gradual decline in testosterone as the age.
MENOPAUSE: MYTH OR FACT
MYTH: 1. A woman's body no longer produces estrogen after menopause. ---------------------------------------------- 2. Women normally become depressed or anxious during menopause as a result of hormonal ---------------------------------------------- 3. Menopause is a physical event, not a psychological event. ---------------------------------------------- 4. Women can expect to experience severe hot flashes during menopause. ---------------------------------------------- 5. The older a woman was to get her period, the older they are to go through menopause | FACT: 1. Though estrogen production falls off, some estrogen continues to be produced by the adrenal glands and fatty tissue. ---------------------------------------------- 2. There is no overall relationship between menopausal status and depression or anxiety. Of course, women who had psychological problems before menopause may continue to have difficulties following menopause. ---------------------------------------------- 3. Though physical changes occur in the woman's body during menopause, the meaning she applies to these changes has a determining effect on her emotional response. If the woman considers menopause to be the beginning of the end of her life, she may develop a sense of hopelessness that can lead to depression. ---------------------------------------------- 4. Many women experience mild flashes or no flashes at all. ---------------------------------------------- 5. For most women, the opposite is true. There isn't really a good way to figure out when a woman will go through menopause. However there are things that she can consider looking into such as: - Mother's age of menopause - Smoking = earlier menopause -Drinking (daily) = later menopause - The more pregnancies the later menopause occurs. |
Resources for this Journal:
https://www.womentowomen.com/menopause-perimenopause/menopause-myths/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/mens-health/in-depth/male-menopause/art-20048056
Psychology Concepts and Applications (Textbook)
https://www.womentowomen.com/menopause-perimenopause/menopause-myths/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/mens-health/in-depth/male-menopause/art-20048056
Psychology Concepts and Applications (Textbook)