For Yamnia I. Cortés, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, FAHA, FAAN, her passion for women’s health began long before she ever stepped into a clinic. “I grew up translating a lot for my mom,” she recalls. “I knew about her final menstrual period just through that experience.” As a child, she wasn’t just helping her mother but also assisting other Spanish-speaking patients at medical offices, quickly realizing the critical need for more bilingual healthcare providers. Her early exposure to these challenges would lead her to pursue a career where she could merge healthcare with social justice.
Now a nurse scientist at the University of Iowa, through the CortesMenoLab, Dr. Cortés studies how social determinants, stressors, and cardiovascular health impact the menopause transition – particularly among Latinas. Her story shows how lived experience can shape advocacy and health equity, leading to real change in women’s health.
From Family Translator to Menopause Advocate
Growing up in the Bronx, Dr. Cortés’ family moved from Puerto Rico to New York when she was three. Like many English-speaking children of parents who immigrated to the US, she often accompanied her mother to necessary appointments as her interpreter – including medical appointments. “I knew my mom’s last menstrual period before she did,” she recalls humorously. However, this very serious role she played in her mother’s healthcare interactions opened her eyes to the critical need for Spanish-speaking healthcare providers and the broader issue of health disparities.
These experiences during her formative years sparked Dr. Cortés’ interest in public health. But it was in college, after she found herself translating for obstetricians and gynecologists during a medical mission trip in the Dominican Republic, that her interest in women’s health deepened. This path led her through a Master’s in Public Health at Columbia University, then into nursing, and eventually to a PhD in nursing with a focus on Latina health.
While completing clinical hours in the Bronx, she noticed a pattern: “Women were coming in transitioning through menopause. They were coming in for other issues—diabetes, high blood pressure, women who were HIV-infected and now older and transitioning through menopause. And I just felt like these were different things that I saw. There was a gap, there was a need.”
Her PhD work led her to study Latina menopause experiences further. Influenced by her mentor and PhD advisor, Nancy Reame, PhD, RN, FAAN, NCMP, who at the time was actively involved with the North American Menopause Society (now The Menopause Society), Cortés became increasingly involved in menopause research. She recalls being drawn to critical questions about Latina health, particularly joint pain and cardiovascular disease risk during menopause, and seeing an urgent need for more research in this space.
Determined to expand the conversation, she moved to Pittsburgh to work with the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) data at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, which houses the SWAN Coordinating Center. “I knew that I wanted to go to Pittsburgh and work with that data,” she explains. Since then, her work has been dedicated to closing the gaps in menopause care for Latinas—bringing visibility to a group often overlooked in healthcare discussions.
Understanding the Menopause Experience in Latinas
Consistent with the findings of SWAN, a longitudinal study into women’s health and the menopause transition, Dr. Cortés’ research shows that Latinas often experience menopause differently than other racial and ethnic groups.
“We know that, on average, Latinas reach menopause earlier, which may be influenced by socioeconomic and social factors,” she explains. Symptoms such as depression, sleep disturbances, and joint pain also tend to be more severe. But one of the most striking findings relates to perception.
“When I ask Latinas how they view menopause, many say, ‘It’s the end of my period. That’s great. That’s beautiful.’ But when they start linking it to aging and symptoms they weren’t expecting, their perspective shifts,” she says.
Another key factor is family involvement. “Unlike some other groups, Latinas often want their families—partners, children —to be part of the conversation. They’re looking for support systems that go beyond the individual experience.”
Yet, many Latinas hesitate to ask questions about menopause in medical settings. “There’s a cultural respect for hierarchy, where questioning a doctor is not the norm. So, if a provider doesn’t bring up menopause, many assume it’s not important.” Others feel dismissed when they do mention symptoms, reinforcing a cycle of silence around their experiences.
Dr. Cortes notes that one of the biggest challenges for Latinas in managing menopause is access to care. “Many of the women in my studies don’t have health insurance, which limits their options.” She says that without regular medical visits, menopause symptoms often go unaddressed, and preventive care—like bone density scans—can be out of reach.
Cultural stigma adds another layer. “For many, talking about the body—especially reproductive health—isn’t something they grew up doing. Even among sisters, menopause isn’t always discussed,” she says. However, when women participate in focus groups, she’s observed an eagerness to share once the conversation starts. “They realize they’re not alone. That’s powerful.”
Disparities in Funding = Disparities in Care
Because Dr. Cortés’ research relies heavily on federal funding, particularly from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), she worries about potential funding cuts and what they could mean for the future of menopause research. “I haven’t had to pause my research yet, but I know it’s a possibility. I recently received an email about potential funding restrictions and was reminded of how vulnerable our work can be.”
While she’s doing her best to remain optimistic and lead her team through their important work, she acknowledges her concern and the significant implications of losing federal funding. “First, my research team—many of whom rely on this funding for their livelihoods—would be directly impacted. Second, our ability to conduct community outreach, provide education, and collect critical data on menopause in Latinas would be severely compromised,” she explains. “Alternative funding sources exist, but they are limited and often don’t cover large-scale studies that NIH supports.”
More broadly, reduced funding could set back efforts to address menopause-related health disparities. “If we can’t continue this work, it means fewer culturally tailored interventions, fewer educational resources, and fewer insights into how menopause affects Latinas differently. That’s why continued support for women’s health research is so crucial.”
But Dr. Cortés’ work doesn’t stop at research—she’s also focused on solutions. “I want to uplift voices and create more individualized, culturally tailored care. Not everyone experiences menopause the same way, so we need better tools for education and advocacy.”
Part of that effort involves community engagement, so she collaborates with community health workers, who serve as trusted bridges between researchers and Latinas navigating menopause. “As a researcher from a university, I know people may be skeptical of me. But when we partner with community organizations and train peer facilitators, we can tap into a trusted source and better reach women where they are.”
She says that social media and digital platforms also play a role. “We need to spread menopause education in digestible ways. Not everyone will read academic research papers, so we need more videos, social media outreach, and easy-to-access resources.”
One of the most misunderstood topics in menopause care is hormone therapy. “When I ask Latinas what they’ve heard, it’s usually negative,” Dr. Cortés says. “But when they’re given balanced, evidence-based information, many are open to learning more.”
Decades of fear stemming from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study still linger, despite updated guidelines from the The Menopause Society stating that for most women, the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the risks. “My goal isn’t to push hormone therapy—it’s to provide clear information so women can make informed choices,” she explains. “For some, lifestyle changes may be enough. For others, hormone therapy might be the right path. But they should have all the facts.”
Looking Ahead: A Future of Informed Menopause Care
When asked what she hopes menopause care will look like ten years from now, Dr. Cortés is clear: “I want Latinas to have the knowledge and confidence to navigate this transition. We’re not trying to prevent menopause—it’s a natural process. But women should feel prepared, empowered to ask questions, and supported by their families and communities.”
For her, the mission is personal. “My mom didn’t experience major menopause symptoms, but she did have significant bone loss. And I only knew that because I had to translate her medical reports. If she had understood earlier, maybe things could have been different. That’s why this work matters.”
Through her research, community outreach, and advocacy, Dr. Cortés is ensuring that the next generation of Latinas doesn’t navigate menopause in the dark. Instead, they will enter this phase of life informed, supported, and empowered. You can follow Dr. Cortés on LinkedIn and learn more about her work here.
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