Update: Find this series here.
As I’ve prepared for my upcoming hysterectomy and oophorectomy, I’ve been surprised at how few resources there are related to menopause, and especially surgical menopause. While I am hopeful this will change in the future, medical research has been grossly underfunded for something that most women will experience in their lifetime.
Along with the lack of medical research, we have too few stories about menopause. While the topic occasionally comes up on Mormon feminist blogs or publications, there aren’t many accessible stories about menopause by Mormon women. Let’s change that.
We want to hear from women and gender minorities who either anticipate or have experienced menopause. What menopause stories have you heard from your female relatives? What was the change like for you? How has perimenopause or post-menopause affected your relationship with yourself, your body, or your loved ones? Have you experienced early menopause or chemical/surgical menopause? How are menopause and medical access to care (including hormone replacement therapy) feminist issues? If you are trans or intersex and will either not experience menopause or will differ from the typical pattern, what does menopause mean for you? Has your relationship, parenting, or fertility status affected your feelings or experience with menopause? Has menopause impacted your experience at church or your spiritual life? Have you ever discussed menopause or had an activity centered on the topic at church, and if so, how did it go?
Poetry and short works of fiction will also be considered.
Please email your guest post (typically between 600-1400 words) to KatieOnTheBlog at gmail dot com by December 31, 2022 to participate in the launch of this series in January 2023. Please include a 1-2 sentence bio, the moniker you want to use for publication, and 1 or more open-source images or images that you own the copyright of to include with your post. Unsplash is a great option for finding open-source images.
Yay! As a current menstruating woman, I look forward to reading and learning from these stories and experiences revolving around menopause. Thank you, Katie, for creating a platform.
This is great idea. When I went through menopause I didn’t know anything about it because I had never asked. My mother had a hysterectomy and both my grandmothers had died and I am the oldest daughter. So I had no one to ask about as natural menopause in the family.
I had to go to great efforts to ask women about it, and to read and study, while suffering symptoms. I would have been more prepared except nobody talks about it.
This podcast and blog is excellent: https://www.feistymenopause.com/