Menopause and Cultural Health Misunderstandings.
Menopause is not a single moment, it is a deeply human transition shaped by biology, culture and the stories we tell ourselves about aging.
Too often, it is framed as a medical problem to be “fixed,” rather than a powerful life stage to be understood. When we pause to examine the three most common physical complaints, hot flashes, weight changes and sleep disturbances, we uncover more than symptoms.
We find a narrative about stress, identity and the resilience of women’s bodies across cultures.
1. The Body’s Fire Alarm
Imagine your hypothalamus, the brain’s thermostat, suddenly convinced you are overheating. A hot flash is that false alarm, a wave of heat that can leave you drenched in seconds.
Research shows 50–75% of women will experience these vasomotor symptoms, sometimes for seven years or more. Hormonal therapy can reduce their intensity by up to 75% and non-hormonal options help too, yet the deeper story is about inequity.
Black women often face the longest and most intense episodes, averaging over ten years, while Asian women report shorter, milder ones. Chronic stress and allostatic load from racism and social inequities may be part of the reason.
2. Shifting the Centre of Body Gravity
The “menopot” is not simply about food choices, it is a metabolic shift. Estrogen declines, testosterone rises and fat moves from hips to abdomen. Women gain on average 3.5 pounds during the transition and lose muscle mass, an invisible change with visible consequences.
For Black and South Asian women, the risk of central obesity and metabolic syndrome is even higher, amplifying heart and diabetes risks.
3. When Night Refuses to Rest
Up to 60% of women wrestle with insomnia, early awakenings or night sweats. Poor sleep erodes mood, cognition and cardiovascular health. Black women, studies show, report shorter sleep and more awakenings, yet may minimise their struggles due to cultural norms.
Here, the intersection of science and soul is striking.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard, but equally important is an inner practice of stillness.
Across these complaints runs a thread of misunderstanding. Menopause is neither a disease nor a private burden. It is a natural evolution influenced by hormones, lifestyle, culture and systemic inequities.
Black, Latina and Asian women often enter menopause earlier and face unique stressors, racism, poverty, language barriers, that heighten symptoms and silence conversation.
To lead yourself through this season is to claim agency. Seek evidence-based care when needed. Build a circle of support and hold the quiet conviction that your body is not betraying you, it is communicating.
Join the conversation by sharing your own experiences or insights about navigating menopause. Your voice might offer comfort or clarity to someone who feels unseen in this transition. Leave a comment to spark dialogue and if this post resonated with you, share it with friends, colleagues or loved ones so together we can replace misunderstanding with knowledge and compassion.
Step into a conversation that redefines what thriving through menopause really means.Join Lauren Chiren, CEO of Women of a Certain Stage™ and Sonia Brown MBE, Founder of NBWN, for Menopause, Mindset & Me, a live webinar designed to transform your menopause journey in seven essential steps.
This is more than an educational session, it is a movement. Discover how to embrace this life stage as a powerful gateway to purpose, possibility and renewed vitality. Reserve your place today and be part of the global shift that turns menopause from a hidden struggle into a celebrated passage of power. Register here
