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Menopause: The origin story

Oct 24, 2024

As I researched the history of menopause, the more I read, the more it made sense. 

As to why it's shrouded in mystery and stigma 

As to why no one really knows what it is

As to why the ending of our reproductive life comes with it a societal and cultural perception, moulded and shaped by men. 

Let us take a journey back in time to the 1700s 

The taboos around menstruation and menopause have their roots in history and folklore.

Menstrual blood was thought to be dirty, corrosive and toxic, with the ability to damage the male penis. Expelling blood from the body through menstruation was believed to be a natural way for women to cleanse these toxins from the body. It was considered a form of ‘purgation’, which prevented women from being consumed by their inherent sin and corruption. I know absolutely wild. This is the 1700s after all. 

In his book ‘The Womans Doctour’, the 17th-century physician Nicolaas Fonteyn warned that if women did not menstruate, “the feculent and corrupt blood might… turn to rank poison… in the body and putrify”. It’s not hard to understand, then, why older women who no longer had their monthly bleeds after menopause were viewed with suspicion in times past.

They were often deemed as witches and burned at the stake. 

Carried into the sea to have the hysteria washed from their bodies. 

Leeches to drain them of the blood. 

"According to the time, men were in balance with the world and women were seen as overly moist, skin too spongy, so they absorbed excess fluid from their diet" Jen Gunter 

The ancient greek physicians considered women defective plumbing. If we didn't bleed there was a "dangerous" build up of fluid to consider.

The first formal dissertation written 1710 on menopause was called "Final Menstruation, beginnings of disease" so we really weren't off to a great first start and the late 1700s weren't any better. 

Claude Jeannet des Longrois a french physician referred to women in menopause as "dethroned queens"

I don't know about you but I think you may agree with me it's time to change that narrative. It's simply not good enough.  Never was and it never will be. 

If you'd like to take a deeper dive into how to support yourself or clients better through this transition. 

You can join my free menopause community here 

Love didz x 

 

 

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