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In women's health, there's a phase often glossed over, hidden away in quiet conversations and veiled discomfort: perimenopause. It's a phase that catches many women unprepared and ill-equipped. But it's time to cast off the shroud of silence and ignite a revolution in women's health, especially among the trailblazing millennials—to forge a path of informed autonomy and empowerment.
Millennials are no strangers to activism. Raised in the digital age, they've harnessed the power of information, challenging outdated norms and demanding accountability. Yet, when it comes to perimenopause, many don't know what to expect. They're starting to find themselves lost and their bodies encompassed by changes they were never taught to anticipate.
In the realm of health, millennials redefine the paradigm, viewing it not merely as the absence of illness but as a holistic state of well-being—physical, mental, and spiritual, as highlighted by Dr. Vonda Wright. We invest in preventative measures, rejecting a health care system fixated on reactionary treatments, in favor of proactive, holistic approaches.
The medical establishment has failed women, dismissing their concerns and sidelining their experiences for far too long. Women have commonly felt their suffering is trivialized, and their voices silenced, especially for women of color. It's a reminder of the misogyny ingrained within our health care system—a system that prioritizes male health. Within the last six months, the Menopause Research Act has been presented to Congress and an executive order given by President Joe Biden to advance women's health research. Change is happening, but we need more.
The fight for women's health transcends age or circumstance or mere biology; it's a battle against systemic injustices and patriarchy. It's about reclaiming agency over our bodies and our choices. The recent political assaults on women's reproductive rights serve as a sad reminder of the fragility of our autonomy, reminding us that the personal is political.
At the heart of this struggle lies a simple yet profound truth: education is liberation. Just as we empower young girls with knowledge about puberty, and all women with resources related to their reproductive options and care, so too must we prepare women for the realities of perimenopause. It's not just a matter of hormonal fluctuations; it's dealing with a journey full of physical, emotional, and mental upheaval. It can begin as early as one's 30s, lasting a decade or more. Why aren't we talking about it?
We appreciate Dr. Corinne Menn's contribution in Jennifer Weiss-Wolf's upcoming book, Period. Full Stop. The Politics of Menopause: "To be blunt, imagine if we routinely castrated millions of men, chemically or surgically, and ignored the dramatic impact it had on their quality of life, their sex lives, and their lifespan. It is hard to imagine because we simply do not treat men that way." Hysterectomies are unfortunately a common practice to treat the symptoms of perimenopause. Though sometimes needed, hormone replacement therapy is not discussed as an option after.
The war for women's health is far from over. Millennials, it's your turn. You will be in perimenopause soon, if not just entering it. Talk about it. Demand change. Your body matters. Most doctors lack training on this transition and will deem your changes as normal and because you're aging. While these changes are normal, suffering is not. Suffering isn't normal. There are ways to get help. Be an agent for yourselves first, and be an agent for others. This is the next extension of the women's movement.
And this is why we're working on the docuseries, BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey, along with Sadhvi Anubhuti. We shed light on the perimenopause experience and seek to empower women to navigate this transition with grace, compassion, and confidence.
Alyssa Milano is an actor, producer, host, activist, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and New York Times best-selling author. Milano starred on the long running series Charmed and Who's the Boss?, and has appeared in more than 25 films over the course of her career. She currently hosts and produces the successful podcast, Sorry Not Sorry.
Sadhvi Siddhali Shree is a Jain monk, Army Iraq War combat medic veteran, TEDx speaker, activist, and an award-winning filmmaker. She is the spiritual director at Siddhayatan Tirth & Spiritual Retreat Center and is directing and producing BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey, a series about perimenopause and women's empowerment. She is currently seeking distribution through sales agent Espresso Media International for a release in 2025.
The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
