Menopause Myths and The Answers You Need
3. Can I avoid weight gain in menopause?
Yes, you can … though I want to be honest that it won’t be easy for you to do! Many women gain weight during this transition as their hormones fluctuate. The truth is it is very common, but it does not have to be inevitable. 
One of most effective things you can do to avoid weight gain is to eat well, as good nutrition will give your body the fuel it needs to heal and balance hormones naturally. Increasing protein while eliminating processed sugar and reducing carbohydrates will help to support your body in maintaining your weight.
We often see women try to cut back on food in an attempt to lose weight, which may only make things worse. As you progress through perimenopause and menopause, your body is producing less estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Because fat tissue can produce estrogen, your body may seek to restore balance and protect itself by storing more fat around your waist, hips and thighs.
The fat tissue produces more estrogen to help your body heal but that in turn will lead to more fat production. And if your adrenals are not healthy, they can play a role in weight gain as well. It’s just far more complicated than calories in and calories out: the quality of the calories matters!
How can you keep your weight healthy? Check out our article and learn more about how to “Blast Away Belly Fat“.
4. Are the main symptoms of menopause physical?
Emotional symptoms caused by hormonal imbalance can wreak just as much havoc in women during perimenopause as the physical symptoms can. If you feel tired, depressed, irritable or struggle with memory concerns or what we like to call “fuzzy thinking,” 
you are experiencing some of the emotional symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
Progesterone drops can lead to irritability. Changes in estrogen and progesterone may cause mood swings. Memory, concentration, and mood are all impacted by our hormone levels. If you recall the hormonal shifts that came with being a teenager, you will understand why menopause is sometimes called adolescence in reverse.
While teenagers are trying out new things, figuring out who they are and getting ready to make their way in the adult world – menopause is an equal time for change in women. It’s a time for reflection and assessment, a time to determine who you really are, what matters to you and what you want to be in the second half of your life.
You can learn more about both the physical and the emotional symptoms of menopause in our article, “Perimenopause“.
5. I’m in menopause and my mother had a hysterectomy – will our menopause experiences be comparable?
No. When you have a total hysterectomy, the surgical menopause may bring on instant hormonal imbalance as your body must react to the loss of the uterus and the cervix as well as the ovaries and fallopian tubes all at once. Unlike in the more gradual transition that occurs naturally with menopause – where changes occur over months or years – with a hysterectomy, the blood flow and hormone production is altered immediately. This can lead to other symptoms as the body reacts and adapts to the change.
When ovaries are removed, for example, the risk of low testosterone increases to almost double. One side effect of low testosterone can be a reduction in sexual desire and enjoyment.
When only the uterus is removed, as occurs with a partial hysterectomy, it can be hard to predict. Sometimes, the change is less extreme with fewer symptoms. Other women may even experience an improvement, while still others may experience very severe symptoms.
While there may be common symptoms, surgical menopause and natural menopause are usually experienced very differently. If you are trying to decide about or prepare for surgery, we know you have questions.
You can find answers in our article, “Hysterectomy: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives“.