• Menopause

Menopause: How is it Perceived Around the World?

Published: October 21, 2025
Updated: October 21, 2025
4 mins

Menopause is a natural biological process every woman experiences around her 50s and 60s. In some places around the world, including the U.S., menopause is perceived as a medical condition that women can manage with the help of medical treatment and guidance from a healthcare provider. However, in different parts of the world, cultural traditions can change how women approach menopause.

Cultural traditions around health, wellness, and womanhood can affect the accessibility of treatment available for pre- and postmenopausal women. Some cultures emphasize community support and rest for women approaching menopause. Others may see menopause as a transition towards greater wellness and harmony. While there’s no one way regions across the world approach menopause, there are some similarities. 

The following analysis of menopause perceptions in different cultures is generalized for understanding. Still, there are many intricacies and unique views within cultures around the world beyond what’s discussed in this article alone. 

What is Menopause?

Menopause is defined as a decline in estrogen in women after their last menstrual cycle. Women typically enter menopause around the age of 50. Perimenopause is the period leading up to menopause, while postmenopause is the stage towards the end of this transitional period.

Around the world, women may experience the following common menopausal symptoms:

• Hot flashes

• Irritability

• Mood swings

• Joint pain

• Night sweats

• Trouble sleeping

• Vaginal dryness

Menopause in the United States

In the United States, menopause has long been misunderstood in a clinical context. Hot flashes are a much more common menopausal symptom among women in the U.S. than in other parts of the world.

Culturally, attitudes toward menopause are varied because of the diversity of cultures in different parts of the country. Generally, most women of all cultures in the U.S. see menopause as a health condition. HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and other treatment options for menopause have increased in recent years. Still, more research is needed in the U.S. about menopause. 

However, African-American and Hispanic women in the U.S. are less likely to receive treatment for menopause. This is due to several factors, including a distrust of the healthcare setting due to systemic racism and oppression present in the U.S. healthcare system. Health experts have also found that African-American women may be more likely to experience vasomotor (affecting the nerves and muscles) symptoms for longer periods of time.

Menopause in East Asian Cultures

Many East Asian cultures perceive menopause as a natural part of the aging process. Studies suggest symptoms like fatigue, depression, and mood swings may be more common menopausal symptoms for women in China. 

Some Chinese cultures turn to natural herbal products and supplements to manage menopausal symptoms. However, studies suggest that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatment is underutilized in China. This could be due to several factors, like social stigma related to menopause, the availability of alternative methods to manage menopause, and a lack of exposure to HRT for menopause among women in the country.

In Japan, “konenki” is the word for menopause. The word “konenki” is commonly understood to be related to aging and renewal. Generally, in Japan, menopause is regarded as a natural progression for women. According to health experts, hot flashes are much more common for menopausal women in Western countries than in China and Japan.

Menopause in South Asian Cultures

Studies suggest South Asian women tend to approach menopause slightly earlier than other cultures. The average age at which South Asian women go through menopause is around 48 years old.

Many South Asian cultures regard menopause as a loss of fertility and femininity. South Asian women may be less likely to receive menopausal treatment due to the social stigma around menopause culturally.

Menopause in African Cultures

Treatment for menopause in traditional African cultures has often been passed on through word-of-mouth medicinal practices. In some parts of South Africa, menopause is regarded as a loss of attractiveness and beauty. However, some countries in West Africa regard menopause as the end of pregnancy.

Similar to South Asian women, health experts found the average age of menopause in women of African descent to be earlier than women in other countries. The average age of the onset of menopause is around 49 years old in women of African and Caribbean descent. 

When it comes to menopausal symptoms, health experts suggest women of African descent have an increased risk of sleep problems, weight gain, and mental health changes during menopause.

Menopause in Middle Eastern Cultures

Menopausal symptoms vary in Middle Eastern countries. Generally, joint pain, irritability, and fatigue were common symptoms for women in Middle Eastern countries. 

More studies are needed on the experiences of women with menopause in Middle Eastern countries. Cultural factors in some Middle Eastern countries, like Pakistan, may reduce how frequently women seek treatment for menopausal symptoms.

Menopause in European Cultures

In Europe, the average age of menopause is around 50 years old. Postmenopausal women in Europe experience common symptoms like fatigue, hot flashes, mood swings, and others similar to other countries. Similar to the United States, Europe has seen a resurgence in HRT use for managing menopause.

Menopause in Native American Cultures

Research on the experiences of Native American women with menopause is extremely limited. In some Native American cultures, there is no uniform word for menopause. Menopause is acknowledged as the period where the menstrual cycle ceases across multiple cultures. 

Studies show more than 70% of Native American women are less likely to have a health screening for menopause and other health conditions in a traditional healthcare setting.

When it comes to health and well-being, Indigenous tribes like the Navajo model wellness after principles like self-identity, self-respect, self-care, protection of self, and resiliency.

Older studies found that Navajo women in New Mexico may experience mild menopausal symptoms. Health experts found hot flashes, night sweats, increased heart rate, and other vasomotor symptoms to be common.

How Discussions About Menopause are Changing Globally

Due to the different cultural responses to menopause, it’s important for healthcare providers not to make assumptions or generalizations about patients. It’s not uncommon for women to feel ostracized or misunderstood in healthcare settings. However, there are health experts around the world attempting to change medical and social expectations related to menopause.

Like other women’s health topics, menopause treatment is still underresearched. Globally, many women are unaware of the efficiency of HRT and other menopausal treatments. Initially, many women were hesitant to ask their healthcare provider about HRT because of previous connections to cancer. However, new research has found that the likelihood of HRT increasing a woman’s risk for cancer is extremely low.

HRT increases estrogen levels in women to help alleviate common menopausal symptoms. HRT can be administered as an injection, patch, vaginally, or in creams. In some cases, HRT can also reduce your risk of developing certain chronic health conditions.

Where Can I Learn More About Menopause?

The LifeMD Women’s Health Program was crafted with pre- and postmenopausal women in mind. With LifeMD, you can receive guidance from a licensed healthcare provider for HRT and other forms of menopausal treatment from the comfort of your home.

Get started today by taking better care of yourself as your health needs change.