Menopause Myths Debunked
Research by the University of Delaware sheds new light on menopause, a widely discussed topic.
In Japan, women tend to experience fewer menopausal symptoms, undergo less hormone replacement therapy, and have smoother transitions into older age compared to their Western counterparts.
According to UD anthropology professor Melissa Melby, the difference is not genetic, but rather cultural, linguistic, and medical.
"The Japanese perspective might provide a counterbalance," said Melby.
Melby has spent nearly three decades studying menopause in Japan, and at 53, she has published her first book, Reframing Aging: Insights from Biology and Culture of Midlife Japanese, which challenges dominant Western narratives about hormones, aging, and women's health.
Author's summary: Research debunks menopause myths.
- Menopause symptoms vary across cultures.
- Hormone replacement therapy is less common in Japan.
- Cultural and linguistic factors influence menopause experiences.