Thought Leaders I Admire

M enopause is one of those topics that many people don’t really talk about openly, even though nearly half the world’s population will experience it at some point in their lives. I’ve seen how the silence around this natural transition affects women everywhere, making it harder to get support or even acknowledge what’s happening. Menopause marks the end of menstruation, usually arriving in a woman’s late 40s or early 50s. The process itself can last several years, bringing on a storm of changes, some physical, some emotional. I want to break down the basics and look at how social and cultural attitudes, like those challenged by Sharmee Vaithilingam in India, influence the lives of people going through menopause. The Basics Menopause happens when the ovaries slow down and eventually stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This leads to the end of menstrual periods and the ability to become pregnant naturally. The average age is about 51, but it can start anywhere from the...