Why Menopause is Still a Taboo Topic?
And Why It’s Time to Start Talking About It
Let’s be honest: When was the last time you heard someone freely discuss menopause? Not in hushed tones, as a joke, or as a passing comment—but seriously discuss it?
Menopause remains veiled in secrecy, confusion, and shame despite the fact that it affects every woman (and some persons with ovaries). It’s 2025, and menopause is still one of those issues that people avoid like a social landmine. Why? What is the cost of this silence?
Let’s break it down – and perhaps start shifting the narrative.
Menopause: More Than Just “Hot Flashes”
First, let’s go over the essentials. Menopause is not a disorder. It is a normal biological process that marks the end of menstruation and fertility, often occurring between the ages of 45 and 55. For some, things go smoothly. Others experience a rollercoaster of symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, sleeplessness, cognitive fog, joint pain, anxiety, and sadness.
It’s not “just getting old.” It’s a massive hormonal upheaval that may have an impact on many aspects of a person’s life, including job, relationships, mental health, and even self-esteem.
So why are we acting as if it’s a secret?
The Whisper Network: Silence in Everyday Life
If you’ve ever witnessed a lady surreptitiously fanning herself at a meeting, sneaking away due to an unexpected hot flash, or gritting her teeth through a night of disturbed sleep without revealing why, chances are she was experiencing menopause. Just unsaid.
And it’s not limited to business environments. Menopause is seldom discussed in friend groups, family gatherings, or even medical appointments. Some women are unaware of perimenopause until they are experiencing symptoms. It’s as if we’re expected to go through it quietly, with a stiff upper lip, like nothing is happening.
The Cultural Shame About Ageing
Part of the stigma arises from how we see ageing, particularly for women.
Society tends to associate a woman’s worth with her youth, appearance, and fertility. When menopause occurs, women are discreetly (and sometimes not so softly) seen as “past their prime.” It’s tragic and ludicrous, but yet very genuine.
Menopause signifies the end of the reproductive period, and in a culture that continuously celebrates youth and motherhood, menopause seems to render women invisible. Because of the stigma associated with ageing, many women experience this significant life shift as feeling lost, ugly, or unimportant.
No surprise no one wants to discuss it.
Workplace Woes: The Untold Professional Toll
Imagine attempting to perform at your best while dealing with unpredictable brain fog, heat flushes during presentations, or unexplained mood swings. Consider not being able to tell your employer, HR, or even your coworkers why.
That is the reality for millions of women throughout the world.
Menopause is rarely discussed in the workplace. There are no policies, no concessions, and definitely no talks.
According to one UK survey, one in every ten women leaves their careers due to menopausal symptoms. That is talent leaving the workplace simply because it is not designed to assist them.
Medical Gaslighting: “It’s Just Stress”
Another unpleasant aspect of the menopausal experience? The medical community frequently does not take it seriously either.
Many women describe being rejected or misdiagnosed when they mention perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms. They are told it is simply anxiety, work stress, or “part of life.” Some people are given antidepressants instead of correct hormonal treatment.
It’s stressful to constantly advocating for yourself when the system that should be supporting you tells you to stick it out.
The Double Standard
Now, let’s change the script somewhat.
When males experience age-related changes, such as erectile dysfunction or reduced testosterone, they openly discuss them. There are advertisements, clinics, and therapies everywhere.
But what about the menopause? It’s hardly a whisper.
There is an evident gender gap here. When women face life-altering events, the world expects them to bear them quietly. When males do, the world pulls out the red carpet for answers.
The Need for Representation
Have you seen a Netflix series or a Bollywood film in which a character freely discusses menopause? nor as comedic relief, nor as the cranky old lady stereotype, but with genuine nuance and empathy?
Probably not.
The media has a significant impact on what we speak about and how we comprehend it. Menopause, on the other hand, is almost never mentioned in popular media. This lack of representation promotes the perception that it is shameful or irrelevant.
However, when we witness honest depictions in pop culture, such as on Fleabag or Workin’ Moms, the narrative begins to shift. It says to women, “You are seen.”
Generational Differences: Slowly Shifting Tides
What is the good news? Things are beginning to alter.
Mental health, menstruation, therapy, and gender identity were once taboo issues, but younger generations are significantly more open to addressing them. Menopause is gradually approaching that circle.
Celebrities like as Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama, as well as Indian voices like Mandira Bedi and Twinkle Khanna, have begun to speak out about their menopausal experiences. Instagram accounts, podcasts, and forums are increasingly helping to normalise the debate.
However, the transition is sluggish and often greeted with opposition.
The Cost of Silence
When menopause is taboo, women suffer emotionally, physically, and professionally.
- They feel alienated and humiliated.
- They do not seek medical attention when they should.
- They lose faith in their bodies.
- They leave their occupations prematurely than necessary.
- They feel invisible inside their own families and communities.
And all of this is completely preventable.
What Needs to Change?
So, what can we truly do to end the silence?
- Start with conversations
Talk about it frankly and without shame. The more we chat with friends, lovers, coworkers, or family, the less terrifying it becomes.
- Educate early
Why are we taught about puberty but not menopause in school? Menopause education should be a component of everyone’s fundamental health literacy, not just women.
- Establish Menopause-Friendly Workplaces
Flexible scheduling, climate control choices, access to healthcare, and transparent HR practices may all help to create an inclusive workplace.
- Provide doctors with better training
Medical practitioners require further training on menopause and hormone health. It is not enough to just give out antidepressants and hope for the best.
- Media representation
We need more films, television shows, and novels that depict menopause as a nuanced, genuine, and meaningful experience, rather than a punchline.
- Men Need to Be Part of the Conversation
Men, whether partners, sons, brothers, or friends, must listen and comprehend. Menopause can have an impact on relationships as well. Empathy goes a long way.
A New Narrative: Menopause and Power
Here’s a crazy idea: what if we stopped viewing menopause as the end of something and instead saw it as the start?
Menopause is a watershed moment for many women, providing an opportunity to reinvent themselves free of the pressures of reproduction and cultural expectations. It’s a time of insight, clarity, and, yes, even liberation.
Let us reclaim menopause not as a cause of guilt, but as a rite of passage.
Talk Loud and Proud
Menopause should not be something that women must face in silence. This is not a filthy secret. It’s not the punchline. This is not the end of the road. It’s a chapter worth writing, speaking, and sharing.
So, if you’re reading this and are going through menopause or know someone who is, start the conversation. Speak up. Ask questions. Be there. Break the stillness.
Because the only way to overcome a taboo is to discuss it. Loud, proud, and without apologies.
Also read: Beyond the Mirror: A Global Canvas of Beauty Norms
