Is Menopause a Worldwide Problem?

Is Menopause a Worldwide Problem?

HE SAYS

Menopause is a woman's health problem in every society around the world.

SHE SAYS

Believe it or not, world traveler, the anthropological record indicates you are misinformed. Some cultures, such as traditional Navahos, exhibited and reported few symptoms of menopause. Moreover, socioeconomic status was strongly correlated to menopausal women's experience of symptoms. This study indicates that psychological factors, rather than physical ones, may strongly determine menopausal symptoms. In addition, a study of !Kung women (! represents a tongue click) in southern Africa found that there is no word for "hot flash" in the !Kung language. Perhaps !Kung women never experience hot flashes, or, if they do, perhaps they enjoy them and feel them to be a positive occurrence. It's also worth noting that the social status of !Kung women increases after menopause. Their elevated social role may also partially explain the absence of hot flash lingo.