Menopause Psychology

As we have primarily discussed the biological aspects of menopause and related terminology, a shift in focus to the social, cultural and political considerations of menopause must also be considered (McCrea, 1983). Throughout time, menopause has been affiliated with negative connotations. Sigmund Freud a prominent psychologist, described menopause as an “anxiety neurosis” and physical illness in the early twentieth century (McCrea, 1983). In 1925, psychologist Helen Deutsch wrote a book on a theory of psychosexual development defining menopause as a traumatic loss (Spira & Berger, 1999). Therese Benedek (1973) pointed towards cultural expectations of women in sexual and reproductive roles and thus menopause brings upon fear and loss. She …show more content…
The backlash from these claims by medical professionals, women’s groups and feminists led to the U.S. National Institutes of Health to conduct a major randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of hormonal therapy and heart disease in 1998; hormonal therapy had been commonplace for decades by that point (Voda & Ashton, 2006). The study was named the Women’s Health Initiative Study Group and reported results between two arms with estrogen and progesterone combined therapy increased risk of stroke, heart disease and breast cancer whereas estrogen-only therapy increased stroke but had no effect on heart disease and even insignificantly reduced breast cancer risk. These findings were part of a tumultuous shift in menopause management with changes in NAMS (North American Menopause Society) recommendations. Overall, a recognition was brought to light that menopause is not an ailment but part of the natural aging process (Voda & Ashton, 2006). Feminists have expressed that menopause can be experienced with minimal difficulty without intervention and that the health care system has propagated sexism by portraying women as defined by their reproductive capabilities (McCrea,