"I felt like I was going to die every night,” Oprah shared on her recent television special around menopause. When Oprah Winfrey shared this raw truth about her menopause experience, it struck a chord with millions of women who’ve previously suffered in silence.
Menopause is a natural transition—yet for too many, it’s shrouded in stigma, dismissed by healthcare providers, and endured alone. It also is a significant life change that can impact women on numerous personal as well as professional levels. In fact, a recent study found that 72% of women surveyed reported hiding their menopause symptoms at work, and over one-third said their symptoms negatively affected their work performance.1 While disruptive symptoms can have a negative impact on day to day life women often also struggle just to have their symptoms addressed. Many face misdiagnoses when seeking help for symptoms like heart palpitations or anxiety, which are less commonly discussed menopause symptoms 2 In fact, a scientific review indicated that palpitations may affect nearly one of every five or more perimenopausal and/or postmenopausal women.3
The good news? A menopause revolution is brewing. Women are demanding better care, they’re having smarter conversations, and are hungry for real solutions. Here we’ll explore the stigma, the science, and the emotional toll of the menopause experience—and how we’re rewriting the story together.
Oprah Winfrey on Menopause
In popular culture menopause has continually been reduced to punchlines about hot flashes and mood swings—think sitcom moms dramatically fanning themselves. But behind these tired tropes lies a much harder truth. Many women suffer through debilitating menopause symptoms while feeling too embarrassed or not having enough information to speak up.
In the workplace, this silence can be especially damaging—a recent study identified the variables associated with menopause-related shame and stigma. It highlighted that many women experience stigma surrounding their symptoms, leading to feelings of isolation and reluctance to discuss their menopause experiences more openly.4
The generational hush-hush around "the change" doesn’t help either. Many of us grew up watching our mothers and grandmothers grit their teeth through menopause without a word of explanation—leaving us blindsided when our turn came. This silence hits women of color hardest, with Black women reporting more severe symptoms but fewer conversations about care.5
Thankfully, trailblazers like Oprah are shining a spotlight on menopause education and discussion. Her Menopause Revolution broadcast special isn’t just raising awareness—it’s giving women permission to say, "This is hard, and I deserve support."6 Because the stigma surrounding menopause isn’t just frustrating—it’s a potential barrier to getting real help.
Menopause Heart Palpitations and Brain Fog
Here’s the frustrating truth: menopause symptoms often get brushed off as "just a normal part of aging" – but clinical research tells a different story. Take the symptom of menopause heart palpitations, which Oprah famously experienced. A 2023 review found these aren’t just annoying – they’re clinically significant, with estrogen decline increasing the potential risk of cardiac arrhythmias in menopausal women –it’s important to note this study suggested that women experiencing premature or early menopause may experience increased risk.7 It’s also not uncommon for this symptom to be written off as anxiety or stress if the provider is unaware of breadth of menopause symptoms that exist.
And what about brain fog? It’s not “all in your head” – literally. A 2024 study examined cognitive performance changes in women going through the menopause transition. The same study found that there could be an association between a decline in verbal memory performance and perimenopause, with some women experiencing significant shifts in memory and cognition.8
These findings underscore the profound effect of hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause on cognitive functions, reinforcing that symptoms like brain fog are not merely subjective but have a real basis.9
The good news? The conversations and actions around menopause are shifting:
- HRT myths are crumbling – modern protocols are safer than ever (despite outdated fears)
- Telehealth is bridging gaps – online platforms are working to connect women with menopause-specific providers
- Personalized care is possible – education is power; the more you know about your unique symptoms the better equipped you can be to find solutions best suited for you
The bottom line? Credible information on menopause symptoms is becoming readily available – empowering women to find the support they need and to advocate for better healthcare.
The Emotional Toll of the Menopause Revolution
Menopause doesn’t just change your body – it can shift your very sense of self. That feeling of invisibility? It’s not just in your head. Our society tends to equate self-worth with youth, so it’s no surprise that a 2024 study found that perimenopausal women have a 40% higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms and diagnoses compared to premenopausal women.10 Oprah’s experience of quitting her beloved book club over brain fog hits home because it reflects a universal truth: with age and menopause we tend to grieve our youth.
But here’s a silver lining – studies have shown that women participating in group education and person-centered support for mental health during the menopause experience can potentially benefit from significant improvements in both their mental well-being and quality of life, showing just how valuable structured support can be during this transitional phase.11
This is why the menopause revolution matters – its helping women reclaim not just their health, but also their joy, purpose and self-worth.
The Revolution: Your Menopause, Your Power
The menopause revolution isn’t coming, it’s already here, and if you’re experiencing perimenopause or menopause symptoms, you can be a part of it! Start by tracking your symptoms carefully (research shows women who document symptom patterns can access better care).12 Tracking symptoms can also provide a clear record of information on your menopause symptoms that you can take to your healthcare provider.
Don’t hesitate to speak up – studies have shown that many women often feel "dismissed" when discussing menopause symptoms with employers or even healthcare providers.13 Whether it’s advocating for workplace accommodations or talking openly to your provider about new symptoms you’re experiencing – it's essential to seek out the support you deserve.
Menopause isn’t an expiration date, and when you’re armed with science, community, self-advocacy and credible information on menopause symptoms and solutions, you’re not just surviving this transition...you’re thriving!
Resources:
- https://www.catalyst.org/about/newsroom/2024/menopause-workplace-support-global?
- https://www.self.com/story/oprah-winfrey-menopause-heart-palpatations?
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13669-020-00302-z
- https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2023.0185?
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9884100/
- https://thegrio.com/2025/03/31/oprah-winfrey-opens-up-about-her-menopause-experience-in-new-special-the-menopause-revolution/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37454569/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09513590.2024.2352134?
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09513590.2024.2352134?
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032724006438?via%3Dihub
- https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-023-02221-6?
- https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e077185?
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/may/14/i-felt-like-i-was-losing-my-mind-how-to-keep-your-career-on-track-during-menopause
