Why might Black women experience menopause earlier and with more severe symptoms?

Black women often experience menopause earlier, with more severe and longer-lasting symptoms, due to a combination of biological, social, and systemic factors. Research and expert discussions here at Alloy highlight several key reasons:

• The average age of menopause for Black women is about a year younger than for white women, and the perimenopausal phase can last up to 10 years, compared to about 6.5 years for white women.
• Black women tend to have more intense symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances, which can be more distressing and persistent.
• Systemic racism and generational trauma contribute to chronic stress, which can impact hormonal health and the timing and severity of menopause symptoms.
• Black women are less likely to seek treatment for menopause symptoms and, when they do, are less likely to be prescribed Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT), which is considered the safest and most effective treatment for most women.
• There are also disparities in healthcare access and provider bias, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of menopause symptoms in Black women.

For a deeper understanding, we recommend watching our Alloy webinar on this topic, where Dr. Sharon Malone and Dr. Jayne Morgan discuss these disparities and their impact on long-term health: Menopause Disparities for African American Women – Menopause Overview & Racial Differences.

You can also read more in our articles:

• What Every Black Woman Should Know About Navigating Menopause
• Menopause is Different for Black Women, and it’s Time to Address It

If you are interested in learning about treatment options, including MHT, please visit our Menopause Solutions page. At Alloy, we are committed to bridging these gaps and supporting all women through menopause with evidence-based care and resources.

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This answer was created using the following resources:

• Menopause Disparities for African American Women | Dr. Sharon Malone & Dr. Jayne Morgan - Menopause Overview & Racial Differences
• Disparities in Menopause Care | Dr. Jayne Morgan - Menopause Disparities in African-American Women
• Systemic Racism Impacts Menopause Care - Racial Disparities in Menopause
• Systemic Racism Impacts Menopause Care - Unique Menopause Challenges
• Black Women and Menopause | Dr. Sharon Malone and Dr. Kudzai Dombo
• Menopause is Different for Black Women | Alloy
• Catching Up with Dr. Judith Joseph | Alloy