Common mistakes around Menopause Kinder

Common mistakes around menopause include: 1) Attributing all symptoms (hot flashes, mood swings, sleep issues) solely to hormonal decline without ruling out thyroid dysfunction, stress, or other conditions. 2) Relying on direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests like MyBody-X for hormone levels (estradiol, progesterone, FSH) – these fluctuate widely during perimenopause and are not diagnostic. 3) Self-prescribing supplements (black cohosh, soy isoflavones, DHEA) without evidence-based guidance; many lack robust efficacy data and may interact with medications. 4) Avoiding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) out of fear, despite its proven benefits for bone health and cardiovascular risk when started within the 'window of opportunity'. 5) Assuming genetic tests (e.g., for CYP or COMT variants) can guide menopause treatment – current evidence is insufficient for clinical recommendations. The key mistake is treating menopause as a disease to be 'fixed' rather than a natural transition. A comprehensive clinical assessment, including symptom tracking and lab work ordered by a physician, is far more reliable than any DTC test alone.