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A number of high-profile female celebrities have recently shared their experiences with menopause and perimenopause with the public. While Americans have some general awareness of menopause, public understanding of perimenopause — the phase preceding menopause — tends to lag further behind.
Watch the above video as Straight Arrow News contributor Jordan Reid recaps what perimenopause is and why she says it’s so important for Americans to be able to discuss menopause and perimenopause in public.
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The following is an excerpt from the above video:
[Perimenopause is] basically the multi-year lead-up to the cessation of your period. And again, it is something that fully half the global population will likely experience in one way or another. And yet, until recently, I have never heard it mentioned in polite company or on social media.
Now I drag social media a lot, but with the aging of the first wave of internet overshares, of which I’m a proud member, comes an interesting side effect: Women are talking about perimenopause loudly. Celebrities, including Oprah, Gwyneth, Hallie Berry, Michelle Obama, they’ve all spoken openly about their experiences with perimenopause and menopause, and brands are starting to realize that all this newfound openness, of course, presents an opportunity to make money, so they’re busy creating all sorts of menopause-targeted products, which is great, really, but what took so long historically?
And even now, the medical industry skews heavily male, and let me tell you, if men were dealing with hot flashes, reduced sex drive, and the flotilla of additional potential health issues that come along with menopause, I’m guessing it would be more of a thing. There’d probably be a pill to stop it or delay it, and it would probably be readily available and free.
