Menopause Myths Debunked
Research by the University of Delaware sheds new light on the topic of menopause, challenging common myths and misconceptions.
In Japan, women tend to experience fewer menopausal symptoms and have a smoother transition into older age compared to their Western counterparts. According to UD anthropology professor Melissa Melby, this difference is not due to genetics, but rather cultural, linguistic, and medical factors.
“The Japanese perspective might provide a counterbalance,” said Melby.
Melby has spent nearly three decades studying menopause in Japan, and has recently published her first book on the subject, Reframing Aging: Insights from Biology and Culture of Midlife Japanese.
This book offers a collection of her work over the years, challenging dominant Western narratives about hormones, aging, and women's health.
Author's summary: Research challenges menopause myths.