The Menopause Revolution

Menopause is finally having a moment, and it’s about time. Oprah recently hosted a primetime special on ABC called “The State of Menopause,” bringing together medical experts, celebrities, and real women to talk about what has been a too-quiet topic for too long. If you missed it, you can still watch it on Hulu or ABC.com.

One topic she revisited in the special was something I first heard her talk about a few years ago in a conversation with Michelle Obama—how she experienced frightening heart palpitations and went from doctor to doctor thinking something was seriously wrong. That was the first time I heard anyone speak openly about that symptom, and it stopped me in my tracks.

Up until that point, I had only associated menopause with hot flashes. I had no idea it could show up in so many other ways, something I now know all too well.

Because I had the same thing.

When I brought it up to a primary doctor at a routine well visit, I was told it was anxiety and encouraged to consider anti-anxiety medication. At the time, I felt confused and dismissed. But I’ve since learned that it’s not always the doctor’s fault; perimenopause and menopause are barely covered in most medical school training. The system hasn’t prepared our providers to support women through this season.

That’s why this conversation matters. The more we talk about it, the more we can support each other, and the more likely it is that future generations won’t have to feel confused or alone through any of it.