---
title: "Living in Uncertain Times: Experiences of Menopause and Reproductive Aging"
date: 2023-03-24T03:00:00-04:00
author: OBOS Admin
canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/living-in-uncertain-times-experiences-of-menopause-and-reproductive-aging"
section: Resources
---
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[Health & Sexuality Info](/health-info)# Living in Uncertain Times: Experiences of Menopause and Reproductive Aging

Author Heather Dillaway explores the everyday experiences of women living in and passing through the stages of perimenopause and menopause, a transition that can change both one’s physical body and identity. She concludes that part of the everyday experience of this reproductive and life transition is learning to live in and with uncertainty. This chapter is from The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies.

> While there is existing clinical and attitudinal research on reproductive aging, we often forget to focus on the phenomenological experience of perimenopause and menopause—that is, the lived, embodied, day–to–day experience of this reproductive and life course transition... Because the hallmarks of perimenopause and menopause are uncertainty and change, I will argue that experiencing menopause and reproductive aging is akin to living in uncertain times, and learning to live in and with this uncertainty is part of the everyday experience of this reproductive and life course transition.

[Read the full chapter ](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-15-0614-7_21)

SOURCE: The Palgrave Handbook of Critical Menstruation Studies • AUTHOR: Heather Dillaway • LAST UPDATED: July 25, 2020

![An older Asian couple smile as they face each other. They have gray hair. He is wearing a gray suit, and she is wearing a green dress with a pearl necklace. The image is taken from behind them.](data:image/png;base64,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) Quý Nguyễn/Pexels

![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics

- [ menopause & perimenopause](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/subject-area/menopause-perimenopause)
- [ diverse lived experiences of perimenopause & menopause](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/themes/diverse-lived-experiences-menopause-perimenopause)
- [perimenopause](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/perimenopause)
- [aging](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/aging)
- [menopause](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/menopause)

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## Ageism and Heterosexism in African American LGBT Lives

This article tells the stories of LGBT African Americans, their very real problems around coming of age, and how those experiences shaped their lives as they grew older.

![Growing Older Final](data:image/png;base64,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)

This article tells the stories of LGBT African Americans, their very real problems around coming of age, and how those experiences shaped their lives as they grew older.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/ageism-and-heterosexism-in-african-american-lgbtqi-lives)

[ResourcesRead

## Ageism Ignores and Insults the Competence of Adults

This article by Margaret Morganroth Gullette addresses the harm caused by ageism and “age shaming,” especially as it relates to assumptions about competence.

![pexels-kampus-production-8422703](data:image/png;base64,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)

This article by Margaret Morganroth Gullette addresses the harm caused by ageism and “age shaming,” especially as it relates to assumptions about competence.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/ageism-ignores-and-insults-the-competence-of-adults)

[Stories & ConversationsWatch

## Coping with Perimenopause

JF discusses her perimenopause symptoms. She explains her difficulty with the healthcare system and finding a perimenopause specialist.

![My Story- Coping with Perimenopause](data:image/png;base64,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)

JF discusses her perimenopause symptoms. She explains her difficulty with the healthcare system and finding a perimenopause specialist.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/stories-conversations/my-story-coping-with-perimenopause)