That’s the most common question we hear from women as they come to Gennev for answers and solutions for the perimenopause and post-menopause symptoms they’re experiencing.

“I’m growing chin-hairs, is that normal?”

“I just can’t focus at work anymore. Is that normal, or am I losing my edge?”

“I lash out at my husband and kids for no reason. Am I going crazy?”

“Is it normal to have burning ears and face during a hot flash, along with an increased heart rate at the same time?”

These are a few questions I’ve heard from our Gennev community – either face to face, in email or in the Gennev Facebook community Midlife & Menopause Solutions.

It’s normal to want to know if something is normal when it’s fresh, new and mostly discomforting.

I’m thrilled to see women putting themselves out there and asking questions.

Most of the time the changes are normal; other times they’re not.

One of my favorite articles published on gennev.com is Menopause education and knowing the edges of “normal.” It’s a story about Ann, a woman who knew something wasn’t normal and she was scared, but all signs pointed to normalcy.

She kept pressing and finally got an answer. When she approached us to tell her story, we knew there had to be other women out there who were asking “is this normal” and not getting the help they needed.

Yesterday I was interviewed by a journalist doing a story on menopause in Hollywood. She asked if I thought that it was “normalizing,” and I said yes.

In the last six months, more articles have been published on menopause in the workplace, the cost of hormone prescriptions, and the social norms of middle-aged women in 2019.

These conversations are chipping away at normalizing women’s reproductive health and the beautiful cycle that is life. Even more, the growing awareness improves women’s understanding of what is normal and what’s not.

Even Gwyneth Paltrow is hot on the topic. Whether you’re a Gwyneth fan or not, the fact that she’s talking about menopause is good for all of us. It raises its awareness. I don’t necessarily agree with all of her approaches, but I appreciate that she’s putting herself out there to share her experience and try to move the needle on how society treats menopause’s place in women’s lives.

So, keep asking if changes in your body are normal. It’s the first step to taking control of your health.

And if you have no one to ask, then inquire with us at Gennev. We’re in the business of getting you the answers that you deserve.