Black Women’s Menopause

Black Women’s Menopause

“African American women experience distinct differences
in physical, psychological, social,
and quality of life measures during menopause”.1

Umbrella

What may the Black Women’s Menopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Change of Life
  • Early Menopause
  • Going Through the Menopause
  • Induced Menopause
  • Menopausal/Menopause Transition
  • Menopause
  • Natural Menopause
  • Perimenopause
  • Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause
  • Postmenopause
  • Premature Menopause
  • Second Half of Your Life
  • Surgical Menopause
  • The Change
  • The Change of Life
  • The Menopause Years
  • The Menopause-Related Years
  • The Three Stages of Menopause
  • Turning St Catherine’s Corner

Definition

What is menopause?

DotS the definition of menopause may vary. In Menopause: Overview the World Health Organization’s definition is:

“Natural menopause is deemed to have occurred after 12 consecutive months without menstruation for which there is no other obvious physiological or pathological cause and in the absence of clinical intervention”.2

Menopause Experience

What is known about black women’s experiences in menopause?

In A Review of African American Women’s Experiences In Menopause: Importance and Objective, published November 2022, the authors explain:

“Little is known and reported about the experiences of African American women as they transition to and experience menopause. Accepted norms are based on the experience of a predominantly White population”.3

Different Differences

Do black women have unique experiences in menopause?

In A Review of African American Women’s Experiences In Menopause: Discussion and Conclusion the authors also note:

“African American women experience distinct differences in physical, psychological, social, and quality of life measures during menopause. Increasing awareness about the unique menopause experiences of African American women is critically important to improve the health of this underserved population”.4

Menopause Age

Is there an association between Black women and menopause age?

In Menopause Is Different for Women of Color: What A Landmark Study Reveals, published 14 September 2025, the author includes:

“In the US, the median age for reaching menopause (the point at which a person has gone for 12 consecutive months without a period) is 51. The research in SWAN shows that Black women reach menopause at 49, about two years earlier than the national median age. Other SWAN data shows that Hispanic/Latina women reach menopause two years earlier than the median age as well. It also appears that Black women spend more time in the menopausal transition than white women do”.5

Different Differences

What are some differences during the menopausal transition of Black women compared to White women?

On page seven in A Roadmap for Change: Black Women’s National Health Policy Agenda 2025–2026 – Research At BWHI: Black Women’s Perimenopause and Menopause Survey the (United States) Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) elaborate on:

“The Research: During the menopausal transition, Black women often experience an earlier onset, longer duration, and more severe symptoms, such as hot flashes, which affect 79% of Black women compared to 65% of White women. Black women are also less likely to seek medical care or utilize available resources for menopausal symptoms, though the reasons for this disparity are poorly understood”.6

SWAN Study

What was included in the Conclusion in Disparities In Reproductive Aging and Midlife Health Between Black and White Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), published 08 February 2022?

Included in the Conclusion Disparities In Reproductive Aging and Midlife Health Between Black and White Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN): Conclusion the authors elaborate on:

“As summarized in this review, SWAN has documented that Black women’s experience of reproductive aging differs from that of White women and that Black women enter midlife with a more adverse cardio-metabolic profile and more physical limitations. Consequently, early interventions on blood pressure, LDL, and waist circumference in midlife may be key to reducing Black women’s CVD risk, as would reductions in the disparities in treatment for hypertension. Increased attention to the role of structural factors and discrimination on midlife health is also warranted”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my menopause?

In Menopause Is Different for Women of Color: What Does This Mean for Women of Color?, recently updated 14 September 2025, the author explains:

“You may be experiencing perimenopause symptoms sooner than you expected to. Now is a good time to find a gynecologist who specializes in menopause who can help you through this transition. For many women, perimenopause is a critical opportunity to make some lifestyle changes to support your health through the latter half of your life. It’s time to start putting yourself first, so you can serve as the elder your community needs”.8

In Menopause: Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Menopause? When To See Your Doctor the JH explain:

“Talk to your doctor if you:

  • Are younger than 45 and your periods are irregular or have stopped
  • Have symptoms that are interfering with your daily activities, including exercise, work, your relationships or your quality of life
  • Are worried about your emotional or mental health
  • Have not had a period for 12 months, and you then have a period or bleeding from the vagina”.9

The (United States) Mayo Clinic encourage us to seek help:

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your healthcare professional about your choices and the risks and benefits of each. Review your choices yearly. Your needs and the treatment choices may change”.10

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Black Women’s Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Black Women’s Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. A Review of African American Women’s Experiences In Menopause
  2. A Roadmap for Change: Black Women’s National Health Policy Agenda 2025–2026
    Black Women’s Menopause
  3. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  4. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  5. BHWI: Perimenopause & Menopause Awareness & Advocacy Toolkit
    Black Women’s Health
  6. Beyond Hot Flashes: Why Your Menopause Symptoms Are A Heart Health Issue
  7. Black Menopausal Women Almost 5 Times Less Likely To Be on HRT Than White Women
  8. Black Women Face Major Barriers To Menopause Support: New Study
  9. Black Women’s Health Imperative [United States]
  10. Black Women’s Health Study
  11. Black Women’s Menopause Survey [Black Women’s Health Imperative, United States]
    Black Women’s Menopause
  12. Bleeding After Menopause? Here’s What You Need To Know
  13. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  14. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  15. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  16. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Menopause Experience
  17. Correction: Disparities In Reproductive Aging and Midlife Health Between Black and White Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
  18. Could It Be Perimenopause? How Hormones Influence the Brain
  19. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  20. Does Everyday Discrimination Account for the Increased Risk of Vasomotor Symptoms In Black Women?: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
  21. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Sleep Disturbances In Menopause
  22. Find A Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  23. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  24. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  25. First Symptoms of Menopause
  26. Forward [Foundation of Women’s Health Research and Development, United Kingdom]
  27. Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month [September]
  28. HRT Questions Answered
  29. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  30. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  31. Health Care Concerns In Women At Midlife: Differences By Race, Ethnicity, and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status
  32. Here’s What You Need To Know About Menopause [Video]
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): A Summary
  34. Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  35. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  36. How Does Race Affect Menopause Care?
  37. How To Get the Most Out of Your First Consultation | Dr Louise Newson
  38. How To Manage Menopausal Symptoms
  39. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform the Health of Women
  40. In Her Corner. A Man’s Playbook for Supporting Women’s Health
  41. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  42. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause] [Other Languages and Formats]
  43. Let’s Break It Down: What Does “Evidence-Based” Actually Mean?
  44. Making Menopause Work
  45. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  46. Menopause
  47. Menopause
  48. Menopause
  49. Menopause
    Black Women’s Menopause
  50. Menopause
    Black Women’s Menopause
  51. Menopause Hormone Therapy and Complementary Alternative Medicine, Quality of Life, and Racial/Ethnic Differences: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
  52. Menopause Is Different for Women of Color
  53. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Black Women’s Menopause
  54. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Black Women’s Menopause
  55. Menopause: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  56. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  57. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  58. Menopause [Multiply Languages]
  59. Menopause – Multiply Languages
  60. Menstrual Calendar
  61. Monitoring Menopause Symptoms
  62. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  63. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  64. Myth vs. Fact Menopause and Perimenopause
  65. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  66. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Black Women’s Menopause
  67. New Menopause Information for First Nations Communities [Australia]
  68. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Weight, Wellness, and Women At Midlife: Rethinking Obesity In the Menopause Transition
  69. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  70. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars 2025 – Lifestyle Medicine
  71. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars 2025 – The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  72. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Lifestyle, Diet, Exercise
  73. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  74. Perimenopause
  75. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  76. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  77. Perimenopause and Menopause: Your Questions Answered
  78. Postmenopause
  79. Powerinthepause.bwhi.org [Power In the Pause, Black Women’s Health Initiative]
  80. Q&A: What To Know When Treating Black, Hispanic and LGBTQ+ Patients During Menopause
  81. Resources: Fact Sheets [Multiply Languages]
    Black Women’s Menopause
  82. Self-Advocacy In Perimenopause and Menopause
    Black Women’s Menopause
  83. Strongbones.bwhi.org [Strong Bones, Black Women’s Health Initiative, United States]
  84. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  85. Surprising Menopause Symptoms | Dr Louise Newson Live
  86. Systematic Exclusion At Study Commencement Masks Earlier Menopause for Black Women In the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
  87. The Menopause Gap: Why Some Women Suffer More and Get Less Care
  88. The Menopause Resource Hub [Black Women’s Health Imperative, United States]
  89. What Is the Difference Between Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause?
  90. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  91. Where Menopause Hits Hardest
  92. Why Heart Disease In Women Is Still Being Missed
  93. Why Is Bleeding So Heavy?
  94. World GO Day [World Gynecologic Oncology Day, 20 September]
    Black Women’s Health
  95. World Heart Day [29 September]
  96. World Menopause Day 2025 [18 October]
    Black Women’s Menopause Black Women’s Menopause
  97. Your Daily Dose: Let’s Unpack Menopause
  98. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence
  99. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Here’s What To Know
  100. Your Daily Dose: Wellness Is Active, Not Passive.

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Williams, M.; Richard-Davis, G., Williams, P. L.; Christensen, L.; Ward, E.; Schrager, S. A Review of African American Women’s Experiences In Menopause: Importance and Objective. November 2022. https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Abstract/2022/11000/A_review_of_African_American_women_s_experiences.16.aspx Accessed: 10 August 2026
  2. Menopause: Overview. 16 October 2024. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 10 August 2026
  3. Williams, M.; Richard-Davis, G., Williams, P. L.; Christensen, L.; Ward, E.; Schrager, S. A Review of African American Women’s Experiences In Menopause: Discussion and Conclusion. November 2022. https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Abstract/2022/11000/A_review_of_African_American_women_s_experiences.16.aspx Accessed: 10 August 2026
  4. Williams, M.; Richard-Davis, G., Williams, P. L.; Christensen, L.; Ward, E.; Schrager, S. A Review of African American Women’s Experiences In Menopause: Importance and Objective. November 2022. https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Abstract/2022/11000/A_review_of_African_American_women_s_experiences.16.aspx Accessed: 10 August 2026
  5. Velez, A. Menopause Is Different for Women of Color: What A landmark Study Reveals. 14 September 2025. https://www.endocrineweb.com/menopause-different-women-color Accessed: 10 August 2026
  6. A Roadmap for Change: Black Women’s National Health Policy Agenda 2025–2026 – Research At BWHI: Black Women’s Perimenopause and Menopause Survey. 2025:7. Black Women’s Health Initiative https://join.bwhi.org/hubfs/pdfs/BWHI_NHPA_2025-26_v5.pdf Accessed: 10 August 2026
  7. Harlow, S.D., Burnett-Bowie, SA.M., Greendale, G.A. et al. Disparities In Reproductive Aging and Midlife Health Between Black and White women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Women’s Midlife Health 8, 3 (2022) https://womensmidlifehealthjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40695-022-00073-y Accessed: 10 August 2026
  8. Velez, A. Menopause Is Different for Women of Color: What Does This Mean for Women of Color? 14 September 2025. https://www.endocrineweb.com/menopause-different-women-color Accessed: 10 August 2026
  9. Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-how-do-you-know-if-youve-reached-menopause Accessed: 10 August 2026
  10. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 09 July 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 10 August 2026
Last Updated: 10 August 2026 – Last Revised: 10 August 2026

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