On February 19, 2025, I will step onto the stage at TEDx La Jolla to present my talk, The Perimenopause ‘Broken-Rung’ Hypothesis. This topic explores how unaddressed midlife health challenges—particularly those during perimenopause—can disrupt women’s leadership trajectories and perpetuate systemic barriers in corporate environments.
But this is not just my story to tell—it’s ours. That’s why I am inviting 25 courageous women to share their experiences with midlife health challenges, such as perimenopause, brain fog, fatigue, and hormonal changes. Together, we can shape a message that not only drives meaningful change in corporate policies but also normalizes conversations about the challenges midlife women face.
It’s time to speak up. Here’s why—and why we often hesitate.
The Case for Speaking Up
1. Breaking the Cycle of Silence
Historically, women have been conditioned to keep topics like menopause, brain fog, and fatigue private, framing them as personal struggles rather than systemic issues. This silence has left generations of women to navigate these challenges alone, unaware of how widespread these experiences truly are. When we share our stories, we dismantle the isolation and stigma, making it clear that these are not individual failures but shared experiences demanding collective solutions.
2. Connecting Problems to Their Roots
Without open conversations, many women don’t realize that their midlife health issues—such as cognitive decline, mood swings, or chronic fatigue—are connected to hormonal changes. Without this knowledge, they can’t seek the right help, advocate for themselves, or receive support tailored to their needs. Speaking up ensures that the next generation of women doesn’t face the same confusion or neglect.
3. Catalyzing Institutional Change
Organizations can’t address problems they don’t understand. When women articulate their needs—whether it’s flexibility, proper medical care, or meaningful accommodations—they create the opportunity for companies to provide better solutions. Without clear demands, we risk getting superficial fixes like cooling stations rather than systemic support that empowers women to thrive in leadership roles.
4. Amplifying Women’s Power
The narrative that women need to be “empowered” implies they lack inherent power. But women already have power—it’s just waiting to be acknowledged and wielded. By speaking up about midlife health, we step fully into that power, showing that we are not just resilient leaders but change-makers shaping the future of corporate and social structures.
Why We Don’t Speak Up
1. Apprehension and Vulnerability
Talking about topics like perimenopause can feel daunting. These are deeply personal issues, and stepping into the spotlight to discuss them can evoke apprehension and fear of judgment. How can women speak up when they’re already underrepresented in leadership, with only 20% of C-suite roles occupied by women? Admitting to challenges like brain fog or fatigue might lead others to question their abilities, undermining their hard-earned credibility. Many women avoid sharing their struggles for fear that their honesty will be seen as a weakness, backfiring and damaging their careers further. Instead of being perceived as advocating for systemic solutions, they worry about being labeled as complainers, a risk they can’t afford to take in environments that are often still stacked against them.
2. Generational Differences
Many of our mothers and grandmothers navigated menopause in silence, often enduring debilitating symptoms with little support. The pressures they faced were different, and today’s women contend with additional burdens—juggling careers, caregiving for children and aging parents, and dealing with higher stress levels from political, environmental, and societal challenges.
3. Systemic Neglect
For decades, menopause and related health issues were overlooked in medical and corporate conversations. Even now, while terms like “manopause” are entering popular discourse, women’s health concerns often remain under-addressed or dismissed.
4. Lack of Solutions
Many women who do seek help for midlife challenges find themselves frustrated by the lack of effective treatments. For them, speaking up might feel futile—another way to be ignored in systems that don’t prioritize their needs.
Why This Matters
When women stay silent, the cycle of ignorance continues. We lose the chance to educate ourselves, each other, and the systems in which we operate. We miss opportunities to demand research, funding, and innovation that could revolutionize how women navigate midlife. Silence also reinforces harmful stereotypes, suggesting that women must endure their struggles quietly, as if they’re a natural and inevitable part of aging. But this narrative is not only false—it’s damaging. By speaking up, we make clear that women’s midlife health challenges are not personal weaknesses but societal blind spots that require attention, advocacy, and action.
What We Can Achieve Together
Sharing our stories is not just an act of courage—it’s an act of leadership. Your voice can amplify the urgent need for change in corporate wellness policies, healthcare systems, and cultural attitudes. By participating in this conversation, you’re not only helping to craft a powerful TEDx talk—you’re shaping a global movement that redefines midlife health for future generations. Women already have the wisdom, power, and experience to lead through midlife and beyond. Now is the time to step into that power and demand the systems and support we need—not just for ourselves, but for the women who come after us.
So let’s start talking. Together, we can break the silence and create a world where women thrive at every stage of life.
If you’re ready to share your story and be part of this movement, send me a message. Let’s make a difference—together. ❤️
Dr. Manna Semby, ND, MSCP, IFMCP
Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Doctor
Menopause Society Certified Practitioner
ReCODE 2.0 Certified to Prevent and Reverse Dementia
Founder & CEO: Aruna Personalized Medicine
Founder & CEO: Center for Cognitive Resilience
[email protected]
