03 November 2025
Menopause in perspective: how the media influences our perception
Menopause is not a taboo subject. This is evident from new research by Rina Knoeff, Professor of Health and Humanities, Tineke Oldehinkel, Professor of Epidemiology of the Life Course of Common Psychiatric Disorders, and PhD candidate Hanneke de Boer. The study shows that it is not silence but rather the way we talk about menopause that determines how women experience this phase. The research was made possible partly thanks to a grant from the Ubbo Emmius Fund.
Women talk openly about menopause, at home, with friends, and at work. Yet the perception remains that the subject is taboo. According to the researchers, this idea mainly originates from outside sources, such as the media and policy discussions. Knoeff notes: ‘It is often said that menopause is not talked about, but that is simply not true. What is striking is how it is talked about.’
Much reporting emphasizes symptoms and treatments. This influences how women experience menopause. How much of that experience stems from the transition itself, and how much from the way we talk about it?
From strength to crisis
The experience of menopause is not only biological but also culturally determined. In some societies, this phase of life is associated with wisdom and new social roles. In other contexts, the transition takes on a positive meaning, for example as a period of rest or independence.
In Europe and North America, this image changed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Whereas menopause was previously considered a natural transition, it was increasingly described as a medical crisis. Doctors claimed that women were vulnerable to all kinds of diseases, including hysteria and mental instability. With the advent of hormonal treatments in the 1950s, menopause was even presented as something that needed to be remedied.
That idea still persists today, says Knoeff. ‘Menopause is often seen as the moment when women lose something, whether it be fertility, youth or attractiveness. But that is a culturally determined view.’
Perception and influence on symptoms
Many women recognise symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings and concentration difficulties. The researchers want to know whether, in addition to hormonal changes, perception also influences how women experience these symptoms.
Oldehinkel explains: ‘When menopause is constantly portrayed as a difficult or problematic phase, it can colour expectations. This is reminiscent of the nocebo effect: if you expect something to be difficult, you are more likely to experience it that way. We are still investigating the extent to which this plays a role during menopause.’
What they are already seeing is that menopause is still mainly described as a medical problem in both the media and the medical world. ‘There is a strong emphasis on hormonal deficiencies and on solutions that suggest recovery,’ says Knoeff. ‘That is not necessarily incorrect; hormones certainly play a role, but it paints a limited picture.’
In the 1960s, hormone treatment was presented as a way to stay young and energetic. That image stuck. As a result, little attention is paid to the broader experience. Many women actually feel more energetic or stable after menopause, but that side is rarely discussed.
This one sided perspective not only influences how women think about themselves, but also how policy and healthcare approach this phase of life.
Why this research is important
The research team wants to place menopause in a broader context. In addition to the medical side, they look at social, cultural and psychological aspects. ‘We want to move away from the idea that menopause is purely a medical problem,’ emphasize Knoeff, Oldehinkel and De Boer. ‘It is a phase of life that everyone experiences differently. By introducing more nuance, we can contribute to a more realistic and balanced picture.’
The initial results point in that direction. Knoeff explains: ‘The fact that women have always talked about menopause shows that it is not really a taboo subject. The fact that the idea keeps recurring in the media shows how persistent some beliefs are.’
From research to conversation
The researchers want to share their findings not only within the scientific community but also with a wider audience. De Boer explains: ‘We want to start a conversation, not to trivialize medical complaints, but to give women a more complete picture of what menopause can be.’
That is why they organise public lectures, collaborate with the media and participate in events such as Noorderzon. Knoeff summarizes: ‘It is not about saying that menopause is easy. It is about saying that menopause is more than just difficult.’
By broadening the conversation, the researchers hope to contribute to a more open and balanced view of this stage of life.
This project is funded by the Ubbo Emmius Fund and is embedded in the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health.
Text: Djoeke Bakker
Image: Reyer Boxem