If you’re a woman who tuned in for the fourth season of the internationally acclaimed TV series Borgen, you undoubtedly observed the main character, Birgitte Nyborg, navigating the challenges of hot flashes, varying appetite, and disrupted sleep—a portrayal eloquently capturing the complex nuances of menopause.

Intriguingly, the decision to explore menopause in the narrative wasn’t arbitrary; screenwriter Adam Price sheds light on the thoughtful considerations that went into depicting Nyborg’s experience. The evolving age of Birgitte Nyborg, from a dynamic political leader in her 40s in the first season to a woman in her early 50s in the latest installment, provided a natural backdrop for addressing the profound changes in her life.

“For us, it was natural to talk about what’s going on in her body. It’s especially interesting because she sees herself as one hundred percent professional, with almost nothing in her life not professionally oriented,” says Price. “It’s fascinating to portray her body working against her.”

Crucially, the role of Birgitte Nyborg is portrayed by Sidse Babett Knudsen, a woman in her 50s, adding authenticity to the character’s age-related experiences.

Discussing Every Life Stage is Crucial

While delving into the specifics of menopause in Borgen, Adam Price emphasizes the broader importance of discussing every life stage. Borgen, known for its exploration of the intersection between the professional and the private, delves into the fundamental question of whether one can maintain power while preserving personal well-being.

“In the latest season, Birgitte Nyborg is a very powerful politician. She is party chairman and foreign minister in a newly appointed government, which means she works 16-17 hours a day as foreign minister,” notes Price.

Nyborg’s relentless schedule occasionally collides with the realities of menopause, offering what Price describes as an “insanely interesting” exploration. Her body sends signals, reminding her that she is in the midst of a significant life transition.

Drawing on Experiences from Home

To authentically portray menopause, Price draws from personal experiences, specifically from his mother’s candid discussions about her own menopausal journey. His mother, a highly accomplished professional in acting, directing, and theater management, exemplifies a generation that values control and resents any disruptions to functionality.

“We could see quite clearly that things were happening when she got hot flashes, how the hormonal fluctuations were reflected in mood swings. I think it’s important for the people around to know why it is happening,” Price reflects.

The Hot Flash Scene

The portrayal of menopause in Borgen is not merely a theoretical exploration but a carefully researched depiction of specific symptoms. In one poignant scene, Nyborg, amidst an important government meeting, experiences a hot flash, an entirely normal yet inconvenient occurrence.

“A hot flash is completely normal, but for Birgitte Nyborg, it’s incredibly inconvenient. She is almost angry with her body,” explains Price. “She’s angry at her menopause because it prevents her from being the person she used to be, and I think that’s interesting.”

This scene becomes pivotal, as Nyborg’s brief absence leads to a shift in the meeting’s dynamics. The realization that the meeting might have turned out differently without the hot flash adds an intriguing layer to the narrative.

Balancing Act

Price acknowledges the delicate balance required in portraying menopause in Borgen. The intent is not to overshadow Nyborg’s functionality but to intermittently highlight menopause as a supporting theme, reminding both the character and the audience of the significant life phase she is navigating.

“It’s crucial that we show the truth and tell some things that are sometimes complex. Hopefully, we can help push an agenda. We’ve certainly tried to do that in Borgen,” concludes Price.

The post Menopause and Power in Famous TV-series Borgen appeared first on Femilog - Menopause Health Tracker.

Try Femilog free for 14 days now.

You can download Femilog on App Store and Google Play. The app is available in 26 languages. You can easily unsubscribe anytime.

The post Meet Joan Ørting – Femilog’s Famous Brand Ambassador appeared first on Femilog - Menopause Health Tracker.

Menopause is a taboo in the states as it is in many other countries. Basic information and knowledge on menopause are limited so when Teresa Watkins searched for “hot flashes” as her symptoms increased intensively, she could not relate to what was written on the topic.

“My symptoms were not as typically reported. A lot of literature in the U.S. focuses on hot flashes, but really describes it as a face and neck sweating and flushing. I did not have any of those symptoms and still have not had them. But I have other symptoms and when I started using the Femilog app and read that hot flashes can just be periods of increased sweating or increased heat anywhere in the body it was a huge relief. It was so nice to have another source of information and to hear from women who aren’t having the typically described hot flashes”.

Changing clothes three times a day

The hot flashes were a real struggle for Teresa Watkins. She would feel extremely warm and on top of that her hands, feet, groin, and armpits would all get very sweaty. When the hot flashes would pass after around five to ten minutes her body parts would be extra sweaty leaving her no other option to change her t-shirts and underpants since they would be damp with sweat. This would happen three to five times during the day.

Apart from that she also started noticing changes in her mood. She would not experience mood swings like often reported by women. Instead, her moods would be very intense. She would get bothered or irritated by small things that usually would not bother her such as getting irritated on her spouse when a household chore had not been done.

“Normally I would barely notice it and then I would be unreasonably angry and so upset. I would not say anything but having that strong feeling of negativity over many little things with family members and friends felt like a real struggle to manage all the time. I would have a couple of days a month where I was so depressed and felt worthless and not very deserving of love and friendship. And then in one or two days I would be fine and back to my normal self. My anxiety in addition to waking up with my mind racing would increase. I felt like everything was a little more sensitive or a little more reactive”.

Hormones changes everything

Teresa Watkins got prescribed hormone supplements – estrogen and progesterone – to soothe her symptoms back in December, but it took her two months to finally take them. She describes how hard it was for her to decide taking hormones since she is not the type who takes medication even when sick.

“By February I realized I was so uncomfortable and struggling with so many symptoms that I didn’t think I wanted to do that for a full year. My symptoms made me feel miserable. I also had some forgetfulness which affected my work. That foggy memory. I would have very tender breasts and diarrhea. Luckily, we work from home right now because of the pandemic, but having to run to the toilet five times in the middle of a workday and being physically uncomfortable all the time and then the emotional symptoms on top of it made me decide to take hormones for a short period of time,” she reveals.

And the results were almost immediate.

Her symptoms have been more manageable ever since she started taking hormones. Teresa Watkins still has the emotions, but the intensity of being so angry have decreases and she does not wake up five to six times as she used to during the night anymore.

“Thankfully, I have had no side effects other than positive ones such as fewer headaches. My hot flashes are less frequent and less intense. I still have them occasionally in the daytime. Prior to my menopause symptoms I was always coldblooded and wearing a sweatshirt to stay warm. After a week of starting on hormones I noticed I am now occasionally again wearing a sweater in the house. I think my temperature has normalized. I know menopause is a natural process and I don’t mind the changes, but it is nice to have something that helps me maintain my work and my relationships.”

Involve your partner

Teresa Watkins has been taking extra care of herself and advice other women to do the same during menopause. She knows that one size does not fit all when it comes to menopause symptoms.

“We each have to find our own answers. But I think it is important to let your partner know that you are going through menopause. I said to my partner that he must be extra nice to me for the next two years. Letting him know that I might be extra grumpy and that it really does not have anything to do with him was important to me. We also talked about lower libido and he was very accepting and saying my body is aging too, so we are going to age together and figuring out how to successfully navigate ageing.”

Teresa Watkins has planned to taking hormone supplements for two years and will use her logged data on Femilog to see how the changes has affected her to decide whether to continue hormones on not.

Why Teresa Watkins uses Femilog – Menopause Health Tracker

“I would absolutely recommend Femilog to women. It was so comforting to understand that what was happening to me was also a part of menopause. When I enter my symptoms each day there is always that list below in the app that has little tit bits about mood and libido. It is so helpful to read those. By paying attention on what is going on in my body it makes menopause less scary.

I like getting the little responses from the app when I wake up five times a night and the app says that sounds terrible. It is nice getting that feedback and realizing that this is normal. It helps me putting it into perspective. For instance, when I am having a whole week of anxiety and just acknowledging that through the app that it has been a tough week, but that is okay.

The data that I have logged on Femilog will be helpful when I go in for my annual health woman examination this year. To be able to have some data I can share, and show is important.

And it will be especially helpful for me when I see the results of the hormone supplements that I a taking and notice when I have fewer symptoms and know that it might be a good time to try ending the hormones. Femilog is a wonderful app and a wonderful resource.”

The post Femilog was an eye-opener for me appeared first on Femilog - Menopause Health Tracker.