Examining the Internal and External Effects of Menopause

     The effects of menopause are not discussed openly. Every woman struggles with menopause; however, resources are rarely provided for dealing with the symptoms. The symptoms include sleep deprivation, anxiety, hot flashes, etc. These symptoms are due to hormone imbalances. The article by Kelsey Butler for Time discusses the consequences that occur in someone's workplace due to these symptoms. The article "Perimenopausal use of hormone therapy associated with enhanced memory and hippocampal function later in life" by Pauline M. Maki et al, discusses the effects of hormone therapy on perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. The Maki article used verbal memory as a measurement of memory performance. This suggests memory loss as one symptom of menopause. Both articles discuss hormone therapy as potential treatments for different menopause symptoms. 

    The Butler article examines potential new consequences of menopause, decreased productivity and expenses related to treating symptoms. This adds onto the many symptoms listed in the Maki article consisting of hot flashes, weight gain, brain fog, and more. Menopause is a stage in life that every woman goes through. Despite this, workplace environments lack adequate benefits for menopausal women. Both articles discuss the lack of consideration for women dealing with higher health expenses and decreased productivity. The Time's article discusses how this is related to adverse outcomes for women who feel the need to shift from full time work to part time work. 

    The Maki article discusses how menopausal symptoms effect women. Maki is similar to Butler, as they both propose new menopausal symptoms. The evidence in the research article suggests that memory is effected by the onset of menopause. Maki suggests that hormone therapy is a potential treatment for memory loss. Verbal memory was used as a measurement in Maki's research. The results suggested that hormone therapy administered near the start of menopause increases the likelihood of deeper verbal encoding and recognition. 

    Both of these articles examine the severity of menopausal symptoms and propose new ones. The Maki article suggests that memory loss is a symptom of menopause and hormone therapy administered prior to the onset enhances memory. The Time's article by Butler advocates for spreading awareness about the external consequences of menopause, such as low productivity and increased health expenses. These articles shed light on the limited knowledge surrounding menopause and it's effects. 

Maki, Pauline M., Lorraine Dennerstein, Margaret Clark, Janet Guthrie, Pamela LaMontagne, Deanne Fornelli, Deborah Little, Victor W. Henderson, and Susan M. Resnick. “Perimenopausal Use of Hormone Therapy Is Associated with Enhanced Memory and Hippocampal Function Later in Life.” Brain Research 1379 (2011): 232–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2010.11.030.

Butler, Kelsey. “How Does Menopause Affect Women in the Workplace?” Time. Time, April 26, 2023. https://time.com/6274622/menopause-us-economy-women-work/.