Learn

‘After all, we come to know our bodies only through the means that culture offers.’ - Sarah Knott, historian and author

Some cultures celebrate menopause. Some see it as a taboo. To help you learn a little more than a few facts about this important and powerful stage of life, I’ve shared my words and thoughts with various media and noted some useful books, articles, documentaries and podcasts below:

Read

Books, articles and personal essays

Me and my menopause: a view from around the world | Article in The Guardian, 2024

Menopause Brain | Book by Dr Lisa Mosconi, 2024

This Changes Everything | Book by Niki Bezzant, 2022

Don't Sweat It | Book by Nicky Pellegrino, 2022

The Menopause Manifesto | Book by Dr Jen Gunter, 2021

The XX Brain | Book by Dr Lisa Misconi, 2020

More Than A Woman | Book by Caitlin Moran, 2020

Why hormone replacement therapy is back from exile to treat menopause | Article by Donna Chisholm, 2019

Flash Count Diary | Book by Darcey Steinke, 2019

Oestrogen Matters | Book by Avrum Bluming, MD, Carol Tavris PhD, 2018

Pause - nothing can prepare you for this | Personal essay by Mary Ruefle

Ignorance about menopause is destroying lives – and it’s not only women who suffer | Article by Diane Danzebrink

Is Menopause a Taboo in Your Organization? | Article by Megan Reitz , Marina Bolton and Kira Emslie

Listen & Watch

Podcasts, interviews, TED talks and documentaries

Cycle of Change - understanding menopause | Short film (5 minutes)

Sex, Myths and the Menopause and Sex, Mind and the Menopause | Documentaries presented by Davina McCall. Both episodes may or may not be still available on-demand for free by logging in to TVNZ+.

Showy Ovaries | The podcast series hosted by NZ comedian Penny Ashton including the episode featuring me and my campaign for change.

Breaking the silence on menopause | Interview with leadership expert Kate Billing and broadcaster Anna Thomas, Radio New Zealand, 16 February 2022.

Sexy Ageing | An episode of Tracy Minnoch-Nuku’s podcast featuring me and my campaign for change on World Menopause Day, 18 October 2021.

The link between menopause and gender inequity at work | TED talk - Andrea Berchowitz, July 2021.

How menopause affects the brain | TED talk video by Dr Lisa Mosconi.

Why more women get Alzheimer's | Interview with Dr Lisa Mosconi - Radio New Zealand.

Dr Jen Gunter's menopause manifesto | Interview with Kim Hill - Radio New Zealand, May 2021.

Menopause | Interview with NZ gynaecological endocrinologist Dr Anna Fenton, March 2019.

The hormone rollercoaster | Podcast series with NZ menopause doctor Dr Beverley Lawton on ‘This Way Up’, Radio New Zealand, 2015.

The Truth About Menopause | Article about the documentary by Mariella Frostrup - BBC UK.

Why we need to talk about menopause | Video - The Project on Newshub.