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Monika Björn: "Don't just put up with feeling awful – do something about it!"
Written by:
Sofi Persson
Every woman in the world goes through menopause in one way or another. Every single one! It stands to reason, then, that everyone—both women and men—should be informed about it. But that's not the reality.
First came the book Strong Through Menopause and she recently released Strong 50+ Hormones, Sleep, Diet, Exercise.
“We had to tone down my anger considerably in the book before it went to print,” says Monika. “The knowledge gap is enormous, and it makes me incredibly frustrated. Let’s talk about the ‘shrivelled mouse’, stress-cleaning, and living more consciously.”
The topic is slowly gaining more attention, not least thanks to menopause activist, health personality, and author Monika Björn, 50, who works tirelessly on this almost daily: spreading knowledge about menopause. She has even started a petition, menopause care in Sweden, which she plans to raise at a parliamentary level. Monika has experienced first-hand how poorly you can be treated by the healthcare system when she sought help for what were clearly menopausal symptoms.
“The knowledge gap is worse than I thought,” says Monika. “I’ve been met with arrogance, a lack of knowledge, and a total unwillingness to learn how the body works for women in midlife. I often receive emails from followers, and I hear many stories when I give lectures. Even gynaecologists are poorly informed.”
When Monika’s publisher from Nordstedts called her last year to suggest a sequel to her first book, Strong Through Menopause, she couldn't help but laugh. “I thought I had exhausted all the information. It took a lot of convincing to write another book. But I chose to delve deeper into all the areas I’ve received so many questions about over the past two years. Now, it’s been confirmed even more strongly that most women I meet are completely blindsided when they enter menopause. How is that possible in 2021?”
The book is filled with information, advice, tips, and lots of other useful content about menopause. It covers diet, exercise, the ‘shrivelled mouse’, recovery, breast cancer, and more.
But let's talk about the ‘shrivelled mouse’, as Monika has named it. Medically, it's known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) or urogenital/vulvovaginal atrophy—something that 60–80 per cent of women going through menopause experience. It's not as if only certain parts of the body are affected. When we talk about mucous membranes becoming dry, we mean all of them. When we talk about joints becoming stiff, it applies to all joints. And besides the physical aspects, mental health is also affected. This can include mood swings, crying at the drop of a hat, a sense of unease, decreased libido, and the anxiety that this unease might cause in relation to a partner. It's about not recognising yourself, facing an identity crisis, and not having the energy for things you used to do.
“The ‘shrivelled mouse’ can change colour and shape; it can cause stinging and aching, extreme pain during intercourse, and the labia can start to atrophy. The vagina, clitoris, and vaginal walls change, which can cause problems when riding a horse or a bike, wearing tight clothing, and so on,” says Monika.
“It’s important to educate yourself about this and not downplay the problem.” Monika also mentions the term ‘stress-cleaning’ in the book, explaining how stress intensifies all symptoms.
“Oestrogen is an antagonist to cortisol (our stress hormone), which is why we become less resilient to stress, even though we also need a dose of stress to create balance. This is a perfect time in life to declutter your social circle. Start spending time with people who give you energy, instead of draining you,” says Monika.
“If we strive to live a more conscious and balanced life on all levels, we will find it easier to cope with deviations from the norm,” says Monika. “This includes our relationship with the food we eat, how we exercise, our relationships, how we work, and how we recover. It’s about being a more active player in our own lives, so that life doesn’t just ‘happen’ to us.”
(Photo by Meddi Kabirzadeh)
Monika's tips for feeling better during menopause:
Stress management. Simplify your life.
Recovery. Take gentle walks and make sure to spend plenty of time in nature.
Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake to a minimum.
Food supplements. Many people find these helpful.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The most effective treatment method, which gives many women their lives back.
Knowledge is power. Read books, listen to podcasts, and learn how your body works.
Figure out what’s truly important. Learn to pause and listen to your inner self.
Practise gratitude every day.
Monika's suggestions for leisure activities:
Dancing
Exercising
Getting a pet
Starting a book club or a mushroom foraging group
Getting involved in a club or association
Taking up horse riding or hiking
Cold water swimming
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