Respecting and honoring menopause
Did you know that at this very moment over 60 million women in the United States are post-menopausal? And millions more are in the peri-menopause period (the time when people start having hormone fluctuations which could affect their periods, mood, sleep, sexuality and memory and can take place up to 10 years or more prior to having their last menstrual period, which is the invitation to menopause). What this says to me is that menopause is a normal life event in human species.
So why is it rarely discussed among women? Why are some women embarrassed by the symptoms? Why aren’t we as a society honoring it? How come the health care industry is trying to capitalize on the “anti-aging” aspects of menopause instead of supporting the promotion of healthy lifestyles and honoring the wisdom that comes with age and the opportunities that lay ahead for women?
As a midwife, my philosophy is to support normal, physiological changes. The transition from taking care of pregnant and birthing people to people during midlife and menopause feels like a natural one for me. Just like birth has been medicalized without any noticeable improvement in health outcomes in the last few decades (in fact the U.S. has the worst pregnancy outcomes of any developed nation in the world, and we are getting worse), so has menopause. And just as pregnant people often acquire a lack of confidence and trust in their bodies as they proceed through the medically focused U.S. health care system, the same is true of menopause. Just like pregnancy, menopause is not a disease.
I trust that people have wisdom. That we need to tap into their wisdom and experience because they are the experts in their care. I am so happy to support women as they navigate this journey.
Besides seeing people for individualized care, I am planning on starting midlife/menopause groups to get women together, to share and learn from each other about ways to stay healthy both physically and emotionally for what can be the best years of their lives. When women support women, amazing and powerful things can happen. I am so grateful to be part of this.
Please take a look at this article and radio broadcast where I was interviewed on Maine Public Radio. https://www.mainepublic.org/post/menopause-affects-half-population-and-healthcare-providers-are-starting-pay-attention The reporter found me because she was intrigued that a midwife is giving midlife care. She loved the idea of midlife drop-in and support groups that are similar to new mom groups. A reminder that we are always in transition. And that is a good thing!
Susan Kamin is a certified nurse midwife and a sexuality health counselor. After many years of helping people give birth and be born, she is now providing personalized integrative well women care at Lifecycle Women's Health in Readfield and Brunswick, Maine. She sees people across the lifespan with a focus on care during midlife/menopause and sexual health. She enjoys sharing her wisdom in the hopes of helping people find pleasure, knowledge, and empowerment in their bodies as they go through all of life's transitions.
