Menopause: The New Script

Menopause is a natural biological transition that every woman will eventually experience, yet it remains one of the least understood and least discussed stages of women’s health. For decades, medical research and clinical training have largely centered on male bodies as the default, leaving women underrepresented in studies and underserved in care. This bias has had real consequences, especially when it comes to menopause, a life stage that can shape a third of a woman’s life but is rarely addressed in medical education or public conversation.  In this series, we will explore why menopause has been overlooked for so long, what the science says about this transition, and how better information can help women navigate it with knowledge, confidence, and support.

The Male Model

First, it is important to consider why this universal experience continues to be treated like a secret. Across cultures and throughout history, gender hierarchies have consistently placed more value on men than women (Harari, 2015, p. 144). Unfortunately, that bias has not stayed in the past and has been deeply woven into modern medicine. One of the clearest examples is what is often called the “male model,” where male bodies are treated as the default in both research and treatment. Most clinical trial participants, whether humans or lab animals, are male (Bohannon, 2023, p. 7). Why? One common excuse is that women’s hormonal cycles make the data too “messy” to work with (Gilberg-Lenz, 2022, p. 47). But this logic is both outdated and dangerous. Men’s responses to medication do not necessarily translate to women’s experiences and this imbalance means women are more likely to be misdiagnosed or improperly treated (Gilberg-Lenz, 2022, p. 50). As Bohannon puts it bluntly “modern sexism is making us less healthy, wealthy and wise” (Bohannon, 2023, p. 406).

This male-centered approach has real consequences, especially when it comes to women’s health. And few areas make that clearer than menopause. Despite being a major life stage for half the population, menopause is barely covered in medical training. Only 20% of OB-GYN residency programs include formal education on it, and a whopping 80% of OB-GYN and family medicine residents say they feel only minimally comfortable talking about it (Haver, 2015, p. 3). There are no standardized diagnostic criteria or screening tools for perimenopause (Haver, 2015, p. 9). The result? Most doctors do not have access to the training or tools needed to properly recognize or treat menopausal symptoms.

The Grandmother Hypothesis

Menopause is a natural life stage, one that many women will spend up to a third of their lives in. It is not something to fear or dread. Unlike most mammals, which typically die soon after losing the ability to reproduce, human women often live for decades beyond menopause. In fact, menopause is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation that supports the survival of our species. According to the grandmother hypothesis, women continue to play a vital role after their reproductive years by caring for younger generations, gathering food, providing childcare, and passing down knowledge (Gunter, 2021, p. 41).

The Hidden Gap in Women’s Health Research

Women make up half the global population, and by 2030, an estimated one billion will be entering menopause (Mosconi, 2024, p. 5). Yet education, research, and cultural support for this life stage remain limited. In 2024, of the $5 billion in federal funding allocated for women’s health research, only $15 million was directed toward menopause (Fadal, 2025, p. 18). This lack of investment goes beyond mere oversight and reflects a pattern of medical neglect. The ongoing silence and stigma surrounding menopause leaves women uninformed, anxious, and disempowered.

A New Script for Menopause

Fortunately, things are beginning to change. A new generation of doctors, scientists, and authors are helping to close the information gap by sharing accurate and accessible insights about menopause. In a society that often equates a woman’s value with her fertility, menopause becomes an invisible line past which that value is seen to diminish. As a result, the “M word” has long been cloaked in silence and stigma, leaving many women to suffer in isolation.  In the coming posts, we will unpack what menopause is, what to expect, and why it matters. So, let us talk about what to expect when you are no longer expecting… a period.

References:
Bohannon, C. (2023) Eve how the female body drove 200 million years of human evolution. London: Hutchinson Heinemann. 
Fadal, T. (2025) How to Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life and Feel Even Better Than Before. New York, NY: Hachette Go. 
Gilberg-Lenz, S. (2022) Menopause Bootcamp: Optimize your health, empower your self, and flourish as you age. New York, NY: HarperCollins. 
Gunter, J. (2021) The Menopause Manifesto: Own your health with facts and feminism. New York, NY: Citadel Press. 
Harari, Yuval N. (2015) Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. HarperCollins Publisher.
Haver, M.C. (2024) The New Menopause: Navigating your path through hormonal change with purpose, power, and facts. New York: Rodale. 
Mosconi, L. (2024) The Menopause Brain: New science empowers women to navigate the pivotal transition with knowledge and confidence. New York: Avery.

If this post resonated with you, consider exploring the rest of the menopause series:

Menopause Stages explains the three phases of the menopause transition: perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause. Understanding these stages helps women recognize symptoms, advocate for care, and approach this life transition with greater clarity and confidence.

Menopause Symptoms explores the wide spectrum of changes that can occur during the menopause transition. Symptoms extend far beyond hot flashes and may affect sleep, mood, metabolism, cognition, and many other body systems.

 Lifestyle Strategies form the foundation of menopause management. Prioritizing sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and thoughtful supplementation can help reduce symptoms and protect long-term health during the menopause transition.

Hormone Therapy examines how hormone therapy can provide meaningful relief for women experiencing moderate to severe menopause symptoms. The post explains treatment options, benefits, risks, and how to make informed decisions with your healthcare provider.

Menopause: The After Party delves into post menopause as a long-term stage of life that reshapes health risks, priorities, and opportunities. Understanding these changes can help women protect their heart, bones, brain, and overall well-being while embracing the next phase of life.

Best Menopause Books highlights evidence-based resources that explain menopause symptoms, hormone therapy, lifestyle strategies, and life after menopause. These recommendations provide a strong foundation for anyone seeking reliable information about this life transition.