5 things for Black women to know about perimenopause — things I wish I knew, too

It’s been a long while since I’ve thought about perimenopause. That season for me has passed.

When it was front and center in my life, I was quite consumed with the concept. I had random surges of hot flashes by day and sweaty episodes that awakened me by night. I was still getting a period, but it seemed “Flo” was always around, instead of once a month, and that wasn’t quite normal.

I was like: “What is going on with me?” “Is there’s a name for this?”

It was all a bit overwhelming, but my doctor told me it’s just part of aging. Yeah, OK I was barely into my 40s.

When I worked in Providence, R.I., as a reporter, more than a decade ago, women of a certain age in the newsroom would banter about the evils of menopause: “the change,” insomnia, hair growth in the wrong spots, mood swings, brain lapses and the like.

It was comical to listen to their rants, but these women were older than I was by a decade or more. I wasn’t quite sure if I was really in the perimenopause season, but it seemed to already be affecting me. I was a features writer and curious about this “perimenopause thing,” so I pitched it as a story. The article appeared in the Providence Journal newspaper on Nov. 21, 2011, titled: “Slow Change: It takes years to transition through phases of menopause.“

It was a tidy feature, with an anecdote describing an episode of waking up in the middle of night with a hot flash and sweats, a likely scene for most women in perimenopause. I quickly got right to the point, which explored the differences between menopause and perimenopause and how to distinguish the two.

I quoted an expert, Dr. Julia Edelman, a gynecologist who wrote “Menopause Matters,” and she offered the science behind it all. I also interviewed a naturopath health provider who explained more about hormones. She shared many tips for any women challenged with perimenopause to ease symptoms.

I seemed to have covered all my bases. But reflecting on it now, I see it was missing something. It didn’t have any insight into the different experiences women of color have with perimenopause.

More specifically, as a Black woman who also identifies as Latina, it was a missed opportunity for me.

A decade or longer of perimenopause

According to the critically received Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, there are significant ethnic and racial disparities in how women experience the transition.

For one: Get ready for the long haul. Black women are more likely to experience symptoms for a decade or even longer, and I can personally vouch for that one.

That trend is followed by Hispanic women, who average roughly nine years with experiencing symptoms, compared to white women, who experience those symptoms for about six and a half years. Compare that with Chinese and Japanese women having the shortest time with symptoms, at 5.4 years and 4.8 years, respectively.

But across racial lines, the disparity continues with the intensity of the type of symptoms women experience. Black and brown women report “the most frequent and severe hot flashes,” according to the SWAN report. Asian women report the fewest hot flashes.

So, since I identify as both Black and Latina, I guess that means I get the double-whammy? It sure feels like it, as according to SWAN and others, hot flashes can last up to 14 years for women from these groups — which means I still could have a while to go. Yikes!

I suffered through perimenopause right up to the fateful moment when my gynecologist told me I was officially in menopause. It was kind of scary for me, as it marked the official end of my childbearing years. But, sadly, the symptoms continued.

For many women of color, especially with the deck disproportionately stacked against us and with barriers to decent healthcare and insurance, it can be very scary to know where to find help. It’s partially due to unfair treatment and systemic discrimination, a 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation report on Racism, Discrimination and Health Survey found.

Further, racism and discrimination have negatively affected women’s health care experiences, per KFF. Data show that Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native and Asian adults report higher levels of unfair treatment when seeking health care.

When experiencing perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms, it can be tough to get the right information from providers or even feel safe to discuss what is happening to one’s body.

At least one nonprofit captured those lived experiences and sentiments of Black women, so health providers can devise solutions for better outcomes. Called the Black Women’s Health Imperative, the national nonprofit, based in Atlanta recently released its finding from an online survey — one that I wish I had known about — from Black women ranging in age from 35 to 65. As many as 1,500 participated and shared how Black women experience this inevitable life change.

Preliminary findings, per a news release from the nonprofit on Nov. 5, show:

• 52% of respondents said they did not know which medical recommendations to follow.
• 46% said they did not have adequate information to manage their symptoms.
• 43% reported being discriminated against or treated unfairly when seeking healthcare.
• 42% reported struggling with depression during this stage of life.

With a large percentage of Black women seeking resources for care, the survey is a good first step toward understanding what the needs are and how to address them. The survey brings to light the “cultural nuances of Black women’s experiences — voices that are too often generalized or overlooked in national conversations,” organizers said in the release.

More information on the survey findings may be found here.

What I wished I’d known

Reading through some of the responses was mind-blowing for me. When I wrote about my experience with perimenopause back in 2011, I glossed over the cultural differences.

I was a little on the young side to be experiencing symptoms. And almost 15 years later — dare I say my age on the record? — I am still experiencing these same mood swings, hot flash, night sweats, fluctuating weight gain and loss, though the bouts of insomnia have improved. I probably have brain fog, too, but I can’t tell.

Here are five things I wish I’d known:

• Black women experience perimenopause earlier than other groups and often have symptoms as early as 35.
• Perimenopause can be a long haul for some Black women, averaging a decade or longer, with some reports saying it could last up to 14 years.
• The symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings, can be more intense.
• With health care disparities disproportionately affecting Black women and women of color, it’s good to understand what you’re up against.
• And to know there are cultural differences between women that are affected by a variety of factors, social and environmental, but there is a place for everyone.

There were likely resources back when I first wrote about it. It’s a revelation now. A famous person once said, “And if you don’t know, now you know.”

This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

Lisa Vernon Sparks

The Charlotte Observer

704-358-5273

Lisa Vernon Sparks was the Race, Culture and Community Engagement Editor for The Charlotte Observer. Previously she was an Opinion Editor with the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia. She is an alumna of Columbia University in New York and Northeastern University in Boston. Support my work with a digital subscription