Ten surprising facts about menopause
Learn about hair differences, foggy thinking, and other changes.
Jan, 2026
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Menopause is a natural life transition that can raise a range of emotions, questions, and concerns, and not everyone talks about it.
"I wish more women knew that what they’re feeling is normal," says Afua Mintah, MD, an OBGYN at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. "Many women just need validation that these experiences aren’t in their head, and they’re not being imagined."
With that in mind, here are 10 surprising facts about menopause, along with tips to help ease the transition.
Written byRose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed byMark Arredondo, MD.
Sources: Mayo Clinic. Vaginal atrophy. May 2 + 31
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- The North American Menopause Society. Changes in the Vagina and Vulva. Accessed December 8, 2020.
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- Bonnie Rothman Morris. Two Years After; Fighting Dryness, With Pills, Gels and Rings. The New York Times. June 6, 2004.
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- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Introduction to Menopause. Accessed November 9, 2020.
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- University of Rochester Medical Center. ‘Brain Fog’ of Menopause Confirmed. March 13, 2012.
- Women’s Health Research Institute. Effect of Perimenopause on Cognition. 2014.
- Harvard Gazette. Changes in memory tied to menopausal status. September 27, 2016.
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- MB Mac Bride, DJ Rhodes, & LT Shuster. Vulvovaginal atrophy. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. January 2010. 85(1), 87–94.
- Cleveland Clinic. Do You Bleed After Sex? When to See a Doctor. September 1, 2017.
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- Mayo Clinic. Estrogen (Vaginal route). October 1, 2020.
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- J Patterson, L Millheiser, & ML Krychman. Moisturizers, Lubricants, and Vulvar Hygiene Products: Issues, Answers, and Clinical Implications. Female Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders. November 3, 2016. 8, pages213–221(2016).
- Cleveland Clinic. Uterine Bleeding: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. August 30, 2019.
- Medscape. Abnormal (Dysfunctional) Uterine Bleeding Workup. December 7, 2018.
- M Terauchi, T Odai, et al. Dizziness in peri- and postmenopausal women is associated with anxiety: a cross-sectional study. BioPsychoSocial Medicine. December 12, 2018. 12, 21.
- National Sleep Foundation. Menopause & Sleep. Accessed December 7, 2020.
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