Experiences with Perimenopause and Menopause

Portland musician and filmmaker Alicia J. Rose shares her struggles during her 40s, highlighting extreme hip pain, brain fog, and unsettling dental issues. She candidly describes chasing sugar cravings like they were special encounters, all while doctors never alerted her to the possibility of perimenopause. “I had no idea what was going on until the hot flashes hit,” she recalls.

Similarly, physician Aoife O’Sullivan experienced disorientation in her early 40s, admitting, “My life and my body were falling apart, and I couldn’t grasp what was wrong.” Despite a robust medical education, she remembers only a single lecture focused on menopause—primarily discussing hot flashes and the relief of no longer having periods.

These narratives have circulated across platforms like Reddit and podcasts, where women explore their experiences and seek answers. Halle Berry’s advocacy for increased awareness of menopause reflects a growing concern: “Our doctors can’t even say the word.” Many Gen X women face symptoms such as fatigue and heart palpitations without even knowing they might be experiencing early menopause symptoms. O’Sullivan recounts her enlightening moment when she first encountered the term *perimenopause*, describing a period of inactivity to the point where unloading the dishwasher felt overwhelming. This was when influential menopause experts on social media changed her perspective.

There are 34 identified symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, yet troublingly, less than 7% of medical residents feel prepared to address them. Women often voice the feeling of invisibility as society disregards their aging. Rose and others acknowledge learning about menopause from literature rather than healthcare, while many watched their mothers endure it in silence, believing their struggles were simply a normal part of aging.

Describing perimenopause as “puberty in reverse,” Rose emphasizes its unpredictability and confusion. During her years as a musician in the 1990s, she and many others suffered through difficulties in their 40s. It wasn’t until reconnecting with former peers that they discovered a shared benefit: hormone-replacement therapy. “We were thriving again,” she notes.

This revitalization spurred Rose to begin a film about women in punk music during midlife. After her producer introduced her to Aoife at the Portland Menopause Conference, Rose felt a transformative shift. “That’s when I got radicalized,” she explains.

The Shift in Hormone Therapy Perception

Within various networks, women exchange vital information about perimenopause and vocalize frustrations about the lack of information available to them. They ponder why they weren’t better informed about the challenges of perimenopause and question why doctors downplay their experiences.

Prior to 2002, the symptoms associated with menopause were fairly recognized, and hormone-replacement therapy had been the standard. Yet, a significant NIH study that year dramatically altered that understanding, leading to findings that labeled hormone therapy as risky. With the FDA’s intervention requiring cautionary warnings for estrogen products, the number of women using hormonal treatments sharply decreased.

Fast forward to November 2025, when the FDA retracted its warning against hormone therapy, aiming to dispel the fear surrounding a treatment that could be life-changing for many women.

So, what changed during those years? There were issues with data manipulation and public fear-mongering that prompted a media frenzy, resulting in many women being deprived of essential hormonal therapy for over two decades. O’Sullivan expressed frustration at the misrepresentation of the situation. “Before 2002, estrogen was like a miracle drug,” Rose recalls, emphasizing how its early reception was entirely different from the stigma that developed later.

Breaking the Silence Around Menopause

In the aftermath of hormone therapy being sidelined, discussions about symptoms often fell flat, with patients receiving dismissive responses from healthcare providers. For O’Sullivan, this was perplexing; usually, doctors would try to help but seemed to disregard this particular experience. Haver recalls being trained to overlook the realities women faced as they aged.

Many women internalize feelings of shame regarding their menopausal experiences. Rose openly admits to feeling ashamed about needing vaginal estrogen, a sentiment that resonates with numerous women entering perimenopause today.

Introducing “Menopunks”

After her eye-opening experience at the conference, Rose shifted her creative focus to highlight both musicians in midlife and the reclamation of their power. Her upcoming film, *Menopunks*, will showcase women going through hormone therapy, aiming to illuminate the truths obscured by previous misconceptions surrounding menopause. “Menopunks” is envisioned as a cultural movement—a demand for hormonal understanding.

This critical issue is finally gaining some traction in public discussions. Recent projects like *Riot Women* and *Balance* illustrate growing recognition of the misinformation surrounding menopause. High-profile figures like Halle Berry and Naomi Watts are also partaking in the dialogue, sharing their insights and advocating for those experiencing menopause.

As *Menopunks* moves through production, Rose’s podcast is resonating globally, attracting attention and fostering a sense of community among women who feel empowered by these discussions. “Menopunks” has initiated a positive response, inspiring many women to embrace their experiences with menopause.

Although Rose recognizes it will take much more to remedy the misconceptions created over the last two decades, she believes this is a step in the right direction. “My hope is to reveal the extent of this violation,” she concludes. “This isn’t just an issue for the U.S.; it impacts women worldwide.”