What’s in a Name?

There’s something about the word Menopause that sounds…well, old.  I went to a BlogHer gathering a few days ago and while I’ve become accustomed to being one of the older people at any tech event here in San Francisco,  I felt particularly matronly as I told other, younger attendees, some of whom write “Mommy” blogs,  that I blog about Menopause.  “Wow, how interesting. I’ll tell my mother about it,” was the general response. Even I cringe when, at my husband’s prodding, I tell dinner guests what my blog is about. (Did they think that I was younger? Do they now see me as “over the hill?”) There’s always a pregnant pause in the conversation following that admission, followed by an uncomfortable, “that’s nice, Wendy.”

I’ve learned that “meno” comes from the Greek word meaning month (thus, menses and mentrual); the “pause” in the word is derived from the Latin, pausa, meaning to stop or cause to cease.  But in plain ‘ol English, menopause sounds like the combination of men and pause.  Not a good connotation.  Perhaps this is why it’s often referred to as “the big M,” “the change of life,” or simply, “the change,” and women avoid acknowledging it publicly, even while they’re perspiring  profusely, fanning themselves and wearing sleeveless shirts in the middle of winter.   Maybe the embarassement of being menopausal, or talking about it, would evaporate if there was a new, better word for it. Something that describes beauty, power, renewal and strength. Any ideas?