24/04/2026
How many times have you heard the phrase: “I’m through the menopause”
I hear it almost every day in General Practice.
A woman will often tell me this as soon as I gently raise the topic of menopause. What she usually means is “My periods have stopped, so that chapter is closed.” But biologically and clinically, that’s not the end of the story and we know it.
Menopause is a point in time – a retrospective diagnosis, 12 months after your last period – but the hormonal transition and its impact on brain, bone, heart, sleep, mood and sexual health can extend for years before and after that date. Many “mystery” symptoms in the 40s, 50s and beyond are actually ongoing consequences of fluctuating or low hormones, not a completely separate problem.
When women believe they are “through it”, three things often happen:
They minimise or normalise debilitating symptoms and put them down to “just getting older”. They do not realise that support and treatment options are still available and appropriate. Important opportunities for prevention – like protecting bone and cardiovascular health – can be missed.
As GPs and clinicians, our language matters just as much as our prescriptions.
We need to:
1. Use clear terms: , , – and explain what they actually mean.
2. Proactively link symptoms back to the hormonal transition, even years after the last period.
3. Reassure women that it’s never “too late” to talk about menopause-related symptoms and options.
If you recognise yourself in this, or if you’re a clinician noticing how often “I’m through the menopause” shows up in your consulting room, let that phrase be the start of a deeper conversation, not the end of one.
If you’d like a thorough, personalised discussion about your symptoms and options, book an appointment with Pause and Co Healthcare and let’s talk about what this stage of life could feel like for you.