5 Women's Health Myths That Even Smart People Believe—Here's What Doctors Actually Say

Women's health conversations are finally mainstream, but doctors say much of the popular information is oversimplified or flat-out wrong. From social media feeds to podcasts, topics like breast cancer, menopause, and hormone therapy are getting unprecedented attention—yet clinicians report spending significant time correcting misinformation with their patients.

Is an Annual Mammogram Really Enough for Breast Cancer Prevention?

While mammograms are essential, they're not sufficient for everyone. "To prevent breast cancer, identifying women at high risk is the critical first step," says Dr. Lisa Larkin, an internal medicine physician specializing in women's health. The problem? Most women aren't discussing their individual breast cancer risk with healthcare providers, meaning many high-risk women miss out on additional screenings like breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound.

Women with a high lifetime risk of breast cancer—greater than 20%—should receive both annual mammograms and breast MRI scans, scheduled six months apart, according to the American Cancer Society. To determine your risk, doctors recommend using evidence-based assessment tools like the Tyrer-Cuzick Model or Gail Model, which consider factors including:

• Age and Family History: Your current age and any family members who've had breast or ovarian cancer
• Reproductive History: Age at first menstruation, pregnancies, and menopause timing
• Genetic Factors: Known genetic variants like BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
• Breast Density: How much fibrous and glandular tissue versus fatty tissue your breasts contain

Does Strength Training Really Trump Cardio in Midlife?

The fitness world is buzzing about heavy weights over cardio, especially for women navigating hormonal changes in their 40s and 50s. There's truth to this emphasis—estrogen helps muscles grow in response to weight training, so declining estrogen levels mean you need heavier weights for the same muscle-building results.

However, skipping cardiovascular exercise is a mistake, warns Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a preventive cardiologist. "Exercise that gets your heart rate up increases the capacity of your heart's ventricles to fill with blood," she explains. The more easily they dilate, the more pliable they stay and the less likely you are to develop cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly—like walking at a conversational pace.

Is Menopause Really Years of Misery?

While menopause involves significant hormonal changes that can cause uncomfortable symptoms, the narrative of inevitable suffering is misleading. "In traditional Chinese medicine, menopause is known as the 'second spring,'" says Dr. Heather Bartos, a menopause specialist. She emphasizes the liberating aspects: no more periods, birth control worries, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), or surprise cycles.

"The hormonal hell so many women go through during perimenopause is like being in a raft riding down white-water rapids," Bartos explains. "But after menopause, you've made your way down the canyon and you get to the lake, where it's placid and beautiful." This transition period offers an opportunity to reassess health goals and make positive changes. Additionally, menopause hormone therapy (MHT), also called hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is now recognized as safe for most women after years of misconceptions.

Can You Really Optimize Workouts Based on Your Menstrual Cycle?

"Cycle syncing"—matching workout intensity to menstrual cycle phases—has gained popularity, but the science doesn't support it. This approach suggests gentle movement during menstruation when estrogen and progesterone are lowest, and high-intensity training during the follicular phase when estrogen rises.

"There's no good data showing significant changes in strength, endurance, or recovery across the phases of the menstrual cycle," says Dr. Megan Roche, a sports medicine physician. She points out that hundreds of variables affect training performance, from sleep disruption to work stress. "If you're trying to tweak how you work out based on just one variable—your menstrual cycle—you risk missing the bigger picture of other things that have impact, too," Roche explains.

The key takeaway from experts is that consistency matters more than perfect timing. While tracking your cycle might help you stay intentional about exercise, don't let it become another source of pressure or complexity in your fitness routine.