Hot Flashes & Hard Truths

Centering real stories about the emotional and physical rollercoaster

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

Out of curiosity, I did a quick Google search on Perimenopause symptoms, and I was shocked to read that thirty-six, yes, 3-6 symptoms were listed, and that's just the ones we know of. Jumping back into my medical terminology bag, we must break this word down to help you gain a better understanding of this secret yet not-so-secret beast. Most medical terminology is derived from Latin, which typically involves a prefix and a suffix. It is the easiest thing on the planet because if you know the meaning of parts of the word, it would help you understand the word.

Peri- Around or near

Meno- menses or menstruation

Pause- Interruption or pause

I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t provide statistics to show context and illustrate their impact on Black women.

Perimenopause statistics for Black women

• Black women are 50% more likely to have vasomotor symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes. ¹

• Black women experience symptoms for, on average, 3.5 more years than White women. ²

• Black women are less likely to get hormone therapy. ³

• Black women tend to begin menopause about nine months earlier than white women. ⁴

• The influence of culture, race, and ethnicity on attitudes towards menopausal symptoms and treatment is complex. ⁵

At SistahCare Alliance, we’re creating space for your story.

Whether you’ve just started noticing changes or you're deep in the thick of it, we want to hear from you. The bloating, the brain fog, the "why did I walk into this room" moments, all of it.

Share your story with us for our upcoming “PeriREAL: Stories We Don’t Tell?” series.

• It can be anonymous or include your name.

• You can write it, record a voice note, or drop us some bullet points.

• We’ll feature select stories in our newsletter, on our website, and Instagram.

• Because you’re not alone, and it’s time we stop suffering in silence.

🤎Email us at sistahcarealliance@gmail.com

(If you wish to remain anonymous, include that in your answer.)

I look forward to hearing from you.

You can also share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

1. Health Divide: Menopause and Black Women

2. 20-BMS-TfC-Menopause-in-ethnic-minority-women-JULY2023-B.pdf

3. Menopause & Black Women: Disparities in Symptoms and Treatment - Black Health Matters

4. If You're a Woman of Color, Here's What to Know About Menopause

5. Menopause is harder on Black women. But help is available.