Finally! 2023 is here and we can bid a welcome farewell to 2022. Personally, it was an off-kilter year that presented some unexpected challenges. Even so, compared to many, I fared pretty well, and consider myself fortunate to start the new year with my health, family and gainful employment intact. 
This is my fifth – or sixth – year in perimenopause. With each passing year I’ve gained enlightening (and sometimes frustrating) insight into the complexities of menopause and menopause transition, while learning more about how to reconcile and manage my own ever-changing transition.
I’ve also observed and experienced that the quality and depth of the discussions related to menopause have become both more nuanced (e.g. perimenopause vs. menopause) and profound (e.g., To HRT or not HRT?) – much like the more than 30 symptoms with which it’s associated.
The subject matter expert (medical and non-medical) and content creator communities are expanding, and at the same time (gently) pushing against the diversity and inclusion ceiling to reflect more perspectives and experiences. Great content – including lifestyle, storytelling and treatment information – is becoming more accessible and is playing out throughout the podcast universe and on just about every social platform, including Pinterest (yes, it’s still a thing) and TikTok.
We even saw it play out in real and relatable ways, in the limited Peacock series The Best Man: The Final Chapters, and through Tracee Ellis Ross’ fictional, Dr. Rainbow Johnson, in the final season of the long-running sitcom black-ish. Speaking of Tracee Ellis Ross…the pop culture icon gave voice to the cause by sharing her personal highs and lows with perimenopause through high-visibility platforms like the TODAY show and Shape magazine.
Other high-profile individuals talking candidly about menopause this year included:
Erika Badu, Judy Greer, Stacy London, Audra McDonald, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah, and Naomi Watts, among others.
Increasingly, menopause creators are taking on taboo topics, and they show promise for breaking down the bias, stigma and shame that keep so many from getting the treatment and relief they need. Menopause information abounds and discussions about menopause are more prevalent than ever.
Still, in the year ahead more actionable data and information and support for menopause transition are desperately needed, including (but not limited to):
- Increased medical knowledge of symptoms and effective treatment options (including Menopause Hormone Therapy) among health practitioners treating individuals managing perimenopause and postmenopause
- Greater attention on the correlation between menopause and mental health
- Affordable and accessible menopause treatment for anyone who needs it
- Expansive support for inclusive and equitable workplace policies, and employee benefits that support individuals in menopause transition
- Amplifying diverse voices and perspectives, and welcoming more Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander creators, producers and innovators to the menopause marketplace.
Of course, this last point continues to be a driving focus for Menopause Made Modern. We look forward to sharing more expert insights, influencer tips and real people stories for a better menopause in 2023. Onward together!