Former Tennis Star Chris Evert Says We Don’t Talk Enough About the Difficulties of Menopause

Tennis legend Chris Evert opens up about how she struggled with the hormonal changes of menopause. (Photo: Aaron Davidson/Getty Images)

Tennis ace Chris Evert divorced her husband of 18 years, Andy Mill, in 2006. But despite the split, the pair remained unusually cordial and friendly as they cared for their three children — that is, until Evert started to go through menopause.

According to a new episode of Lance Armstrong’s The Forward Podcast, Evert says she struggled with the hormonal changes just after she entered midlife. “We had a rough couple of years, because I married Greg Norman, who was Andy’s friend,” she explained. “I don’t know, I was going through menopausal stuff that doesn’t get talked about enough — what women go through, you know, at 50-ish.”

So, for those of us who haven’t experienced it, how tough can menopause be? Mamta Mamik, MD, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine, says the transition can carry some difficult side effects.

“Women most commonly experience symptoms like hot flashes, dryness of the vaginal area, painful sex, and depression,” she tells Yahoo Beauty. “And the lack of estrogen can impact self-esteem. This can also absolutely affect the mood, and women may have mood swings during this time.”

Evert says that the hormonal fluctuations of menopause may have affected her friendship with ex-husband Andy Mill. (Photo: SGranitz/WireImage)

Fortunately, Mamik says there are plenty of options for women who are enduring uncomfortable side effects of menopause. “Using soy products alleviates some of the symptoms,” she suggests. “Herbal remedies like black cohosh help as well, in addition to a low-dose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to help alleviate hot flashes.”

If these remedies don’t help or if menopause symptoms are more severe, you can discuss the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy with your ob-gyn. Speaking with a counselor to help deal with some of the stress associated with these hormonal changes, especially if menopause is affecting interpersonal relationships, as in Evert’s case, can also be helpful.

And lastly, take heart: “Symptoms usually resolve within a year or two,” Mamik says.

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