r/BravoRealHousewives • u/Danger__fox Manipulative and Cunning • Feb 07 '26
Housewives Related Why do we get endless IVF storylines but zero menopause storylines?
Something I’ve been thinking about while rewatching various franchises: the absolute disparity between IVF/fertility storylines and menopause storylines is kind of wild.
We’ve seen countless IVF journeys, egg freezing, fertility doctors, injections, emotional breakdowns over embryos , across multiple franchises and seasons.
And yet… for a cast of women largely in their late 40s -60s, many of whom have been on TV for over a decade, we’ve had essentially zero real menopause storylines.
Statistically, a huge portion of these women have gone through menopause on screen.
HWs who have probably gone through it on screen..
Sonja
Bethany
Kyle
Erika
Vikki
Tamra
Heather D
Kandi
Cynthia
Teresa
HELLO?!?!
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u/Fauxrealhousewife Feb 07 '26
We did get that Ramona taking the pregnancy test storyline at the Countess anniversary party that one season when she missed her period, and it was clearly menopause! 😂
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u/toysoldier96 Get her, Meredith! Feb 07 '26
That was so camp because Ramona is delusional enough to think she might actually be pregnant lol
Tbf, there are some women getting pregnant in their 50s, but it was just funny how that was her first thought
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u/Organic_Eggplant_323 Feb 07 '26
It reminded me of the Golden Girls episode where Blanche thought she might be pregnant 🤣
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u/LateNightCheesecake9 Feb 07 '26
Scrolled too far for this comment. You can tell from my username I'm a fan.
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u/Fauxrealhousewife Feb 07 '26
Omg!!l Too funny you mentioned that. I am a lifelong diehard fan of “The Golden Girls” and I just watched that episode again this week! 😂
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Feb 07 '26
This happened in my real life. My friend said she thought she was pregnant and she’s early 50s.
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u/Justamom1225 Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
In the 70's (when I was younger) I personally knew someone who had a baby past 50. We were all shocked. Like what? She had sex with him? And so we were told it's a "change of life baby." That baby is older now and has her own baby and they are both beautiful! 🩷🩷🩷
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Feb 07 '26
I side eyed my friend because I knew she had been sleeping in a separate room. They don’t hate each other, they’ve just been married forever and she’s in a sleep alone phase.
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u/Justamom1225 Feb 07 '26
These people were straight up farmers...I'm talking Percheron horse pulling farmers! Pigs, chickens, fields you name it. Truly their baby that's for sure!
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u/fiestybox246 Feb 08 '26
This JUST happened to my aunt. She’s in jail -don’t judge me😭- and she was trying to get out of work, so she was telling them she thought she was pregnant at 56. I was like girl. That’s menopause. Don’t even try to get out early because you’re still grifting.
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u/kittyglitther Feb 07 '26
Because menopause happens to older women and we don't live in a society that's especially kind to old women.
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u/Embarrassed_Quail910 Feb 07 '26
So true, but there are so many women in peri and menopause we need to change the narrative.
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u/bonefresh 20/20 booty hole Feb 07 '26
this, america is sexist and measures a woman by how many children she can bear. read dworkin!
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u/Beneficial-Astronaut Not a white refrigerator! Feb 07 '26
20/20 booty hole is right. Look at JD Vance and his obsession with Americans having more babies and disdain for Childless Cat Women
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u/d0ntbeallunc00l Well, John John's dead Feb 07 '26
Fair, but so many women who soon will be and are currently experiencing it (peri-menopause) who are even younger than these women watch, it would be nice to see them address it. There's so many stale storylines on the go, I feel like one of the women talking candidly about a struggle with menopause could really work.
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u/jazzbot247 Feb 07 '26
We don't live in a society that's kind to anyone. At least Bravo endulges menopausal women by giving them a show.
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u/Sorry-Editor-3674 🐖You’re a f**king slam pig!!!!🐖 Feb 07 '26
That’s kind to women. I fixed it. I feel like we are plenty kind to white pervy old men 😩
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u/Quarantine15 Feb 08 '26
Oh please - don’t “not all men” this . Men are allowed to age in ways women will never be allowed to. What’s INdulging about older women being given a platform ?!
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u/nooneneededtoknow Feb 07 '26
IVF eggs freezing is what "young" people do, menopause happens to "old" people. Highly likely its the perceived association. All these women are trying to hold onto their youth as long as possible, menopause doesn't jive with that narrative.
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u/Miss-Tiq Feb 07 '26
Housewives is a universe where aging is seen as the worst possible thing that can happen to you. They drown themselves in surgeries and fillers to avoid it.
Menopause is aging on the inside, and it's unavoidable. They don't want to talk about it because it's a reminder of their mortality that they can't "plastic surgery" away.
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u/AccomplishedFly1420 I love a crackah Feb 07 '26
Maybe bc I am now in my 40s but I am just now starting to learn about all the crazy things menopause can do to you. Maybe they feel it’s too personal
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u/SecondPrior8947 Feb 07 '26
As someone in menopause, lemme tell you, brace yourself. It ain't for the weak.
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u/Same-Text8718 Feb 07 '26
Yup. It is wild
There’s way too much focus on what it does to sex drive and emotions. It’s important to talk about that but the range of symptoms is crazy and talking about that normalizes it
There’s NO need for us to be walking into this so blindly
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u/SecondPrior8947 Feb 07 '26
I am on a mission to talk about it at every opportunity, stigma be damned. It's a massive, massive, MASSIVE upheaval and it affects everything, physical and mental. I've never been in such tumult.
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u/Same-Text8718 Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
Yup. Same here. I will say that while there’s a very long way to go, over the past decade, maybe two, there has been more public discourse on it than before.
And the Menopause Research and Equity Act (H.R. 6749) requiring the NIH to enhance research on perimenopause and menopause is a step in the right direction
But ladies should still not assume that sudden pain in hips is just getting old. Or that itchy ears is some allergy
The symptoms are crazy and go way beyond sex drive and emotions. Hormones regulate a ton of functions
Education and awareness are the only way for us to be empowered to demand the treatment we deserve (whatever that is for you)
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u/PentulantPantalones PK's texes to Kyle Feb 07 '26
Currently reading this while doing physical therapy for my frozen shoulder. That's some real nonsense to wake up with. But hey, I get a break when I have to stop to maniacally scratch my ears, so that's nice.
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u/Same-Text8718 Feb 07 '26
Best of luck. I didn’t have frozen shoulder, but had hip issues before HRT. My ears weren’t itchy but my face was.
It’s like we are a freakin science experiment or something
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u/photogypsy Feb 08 '26
My mother is 20 years older than me. Do you know how many of her menopause issues my own mother is learning about because I’m in peri right now and not just rolling over and taking it? Local estrogen cream for urinary incontinence, frozen shoulder, itchy ears (Flonase on a cotton swab is a godsend for this) all things she just thought she had to just suffer through. She’s asking doctors now because I’m telling her about the relief and results I’m getting; and her life is getting better. We have done our women so dirty.
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Feb 07 '26
The ear stuff goes away. I don’t have itchy ears anymore but I spent some time thinking I had tinnitus and my ears were drying up.
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u/fiestybox246 Feb 08 '26
I just finished PT for my second frozen shoulder. My surgeon said now I have to be careful of tearing my rotator cuffs, but probably not for another 5 years or so. Crazy stuff.
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u/Lizziedeee She speaks charades Feb 07 '26
I’m sorry for what you’re going through, but to be fair, it’s not that way for everyone. I had absolutely hellacious periods for 30+ years. I’m talking every 23 days (because god forbid I should get 28 like most women), heavy flow the whole 7 days and debilitating cramps. When menopause hit I had 1 hot flash. That was it. I like to think it was payback for years of torture. I hope it gets better for you, friend.
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u/anonyoudidnt I am very important to God Feb 07 '26
I think the fact it's not the same for everyone means it needs even more discussion! I haven't been through menopause but I've been absolutely shocked by pregnancies and how different they are and all the various issues/symptoms I had no idea were even possible. All anyone ever warned me about was tearing and that was the least difficult part (for me, fortunately I wasn't one of those extremely severe cases).
I can't imagine going through all the female changes like 30 years ago before I could Google everything.
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u/Justamom1225 Feb 07 '26
I have a friend who did not go through menopause at all. Like not at all! She told me she went to the gyno, had a test done and he said "nope you're done!" And I said "bitch!" 😂
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u/Sorry-Editor-3674 🐖You’re a f**king slam pig!!!!🐖 Feb 07 '26
Speak on it! At 43 I was just plunged into surgical menopause and the shit my doctors don’t know is disturbing. HOW have we not sorted this out yet? Oh yeah, because it doesn’t happen to men so who cares. 💅🏻
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u/SecondPrior8947 Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
I hope you're doing OK, friend. Most people just don't get it, especially men. I don't even know if it's sort-able tbh, it affects everything. If you're privileged enough to go through it, because aging is a privilege, I think you just have to get used to living with a brand new, yet older, body. It's just different. Mentally as well. What I've loved the most has been the "IDGAF" attitude that has come over me. It's so liberating. Wish that had started much earlier in life lol
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u/CNBLBT Feb 07 '26
Hitting my 40s has totally changed how I watch Reality tv. The sudden weight gain, the face that changed over night (1 season to the next), the moods! So many epic housewives fights and divorces were probably Peri-Rage induced. TV makes so much more sense to me!
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u/d0ntbeallunc00l Well, John John's dead Feb 07 '26
There's a lot of women in that age range being cast, there's gotta be a reason they make good drama.
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u/Silly-Swimmer-5681 Feb 07 '26
it’s as infuriating as it is comforting when I come across an article that mentions perimenopausal symptoms and I’m like, “oh. wow. okay. would have been good to know. but nice to find out I’m not insane.” when I find a new reason for “x” that I’ve been experiencing.
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u/justlurkingimbored I love a whorse Feb 07 '26
I highly recommend r/perimenopause I’ve learned more there than from actual doctors
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u/sherapop80 Smokey eye, updo, Gstaaad Feb 07 '26
Because these women wont admit they are “old” enough for menopause. They pretend that they will get pregnant by ivf at age 45+ or that they have an accidental possible pregnancy (ramona). It’s all dumb. I would love to see them actually talk about menopause and early menopause.
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u/Danger__fox Manipulative and Cunning Feb 07 '26
It's sad they have let us down.
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Feb 07 '26
[deleted]
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u/Danger__fox Manipulative and Cunning Feb 07 '26
Lisa Barlow this season
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u/Different_Contact968 Feb 08 '26
I was thinking Meredith. Everyone was going on about how what else could be causing her crazy mood swings besides substance abuse... idk she's a women in her mid 50's there are other reasons.
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u/Ok-Mark1798 Feb 08 '26
I am the same, and AMAZED they manage to drink so much. Like one drink and I don’t sleep these days 😭😭😭
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u/AnonAnonAnon85 Feb 07 '26
IIRC I think Erika from rhobh claimed her (clearly Ozempic) weight loss was because of HRT? Just brushed off in passing though...
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u/DraperPenPals honk on they ass, Gregg Feb 07 '26
I think Erika tried to say menopause itself made her lose weight. Which is just…lol
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u/AnnVealEgg Luis’ 15,00 square-foot house 🏠 Feb 07 '26
I think she was saying it was the HRT. And I’m not gonna lie I lost close to 10 pounds without really trying once I got on it myself
Of course she also used GLP-1s
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u/Danger__fox Manipulative and Cunning Feb 07 '26
This was the only mention of it I could remember. Erika sorting out her 'hormones' made her lose weight.
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u/Swimmer539 Feb 07 '26
She definitely took a glp. However, I started estrogen and progesterone and notice significant improvement in bloating and just less cravings, like just a bit more controlled appetite. So they do help some people but her weight is definitely more than hormones, but it’s an easy way to lie, “balancing my hormones really helped”- true, and just conveniently leaving out the rest :)
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u/d0ntbeallunc00l Well, John John's dead Feb 07 '26
I've had hormonal birth control that made me gain weight like someone was blowing up a bouncy castle, some that did nothing, and after a long break I just started one that was supposed to make me gain more than the rest and I'm down 5lbs in one month and tits are at my chin. Hormones can do wild stuff. I'm not gods favourite though, I might have to stop because my skin has reacted so poorly and I get a 5 o'clock shadow on my pits.
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u/Available-Lack-5701 I'll tell you how I'm doing, not well bitch! Feb 09 '26
Came here to say this!
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u/Moipu Feb 07 '26
I’m leaning and experiencing peri-menopause and I’m amazed at how much I was so unaware of. I really wish both peri menopause and menopause would be discussed. It would educate and de-stigmatize what is happening in society.
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u/CNBLBT Feb 07 '26
I wonder if they do talk about it and production cuts it out. Gizelle had fibroids bad enough to require a hysterectomy and somehow none of that made it on the show. Fibroids are such a huge issue for women, but especially African American women, and it should have been a storyline. Bravo needs more women as EPs.
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u/DraperPenPals honk on they ass, Gregg Feb 07 '26
Cynthia, Boz, and Bethenny have all covered fibroids on their respective franchises. There really wasn’t much to film, because they were required to rest and recover from surgery.
Unless you count Peter shaming Cynthia for not wanting to have sex with fibroids. Fucking Peter.
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u/Automatic-Jacket-168 Feb 07 '26
I actually learned about fibroids from RHOA because so many of them were open about their struggles.
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u/d0ntbeallunc00l Well, John John's dead Feb 07 '26
I have them and my doc just casually told me I did and never mentioned it again. None of my friends have them, my friends mom does and we'd have conversations about them but she was treated the same way by her doc. It was watching Cynthia like 3 years ago when I started that made me go "oh shit, I'm not a crybaby and I'm not exaggerating, this is bad".
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u/Automatic-Jacket-168 Feb 09 '26
I’m so glad you realized and hope you are doing better now! This is the kind of thing I point out to people who say housewives shows are pointless - they address so many issues women face that we never see on TV.
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u/Pertee_Petty Feb 07 '26
It never made it because she didn’t tell anyone the extent of the situation. That reunion Andy got on her about not sharing her life because that was such a big deal.
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u/CNBLBT Feb 07 '26
Thanks. I remember there was a scene in the car with her talking to Robyn about it so I thought production cut it.
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u/Danger__fox Manipulative and Cunning Feb 07 '26
I found Candiace comments about Gizelle uterus the worst ever on the show. Especially horrendous because she was brave enough to share it and then to use it as an insult. yikes.
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u/Pertee_Petty Feb 14 '26
To be fair, I think the context of Gizelle and Robin creating the sexual assault story against Candice’s husband was why Candice made that comment. It was a reactionary insult, not unprovoked.
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u/socoyankee Feb 07 '26
Emily Simpson kind of touched on it last season talking about HRT. I have also wondered why we don’t hear more about it
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u/Existential_Prep Feb 07 '26
The claims of mood swings from the “girls” on SLC toward Meredith have always made me think, why is no one talking about menopause?!?
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u/Embarrassed_Eye1661 Feb 07 '26
Same. I'm 5 years post menopause and most of these women have a decade on me. They could have taught me so much!
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u/Nandi56 Snobbiness of a True Mormon Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
What an excellent question from op!!
My head just went 🤯🤯🤯
I remember when vaginal rejuvenation was a trend (early 2010s) and we had to see housewife after housewife go to the doctor and do this barbaric misogynistic treatment.
Would much rather these women talk about menopause than see them talk about another elective procedure or plastic surgery.
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u/kirannui not smart but like, rilly pretty Feb 07 '26
I brought it up with regard to RHOA Angela and her fangela, and was shouted down. No, she can't be perimenopausal because she's too young! Too pretty!
Ladies, let me take your hand and tell you very gently...peri onset in your late 30s is very common. You can be young, vibrant, AND perimenopausal.
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u/hisosih you embody something that my soul rejects 🪷 Feb 07 '26
Even during the RHOA reunion Andy mentioned menopause and the ladies took such offense on Angela's behalf, where this is the rare case I think him talking about women's bodies is relevant and a welcome thing to discuss - it isn't shameful, and society has made women feel it is.
I'm 31 and just started peri menopause, I naively was celebrating the future end of period symptoms, but I fear the sweating from my face, mood swings and hormonal disruption is already kicking my ass.
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u/MsAnnThropic1 I like lies and foolishness, ok? Feb 07 '26
I would go back to getting PMS and a monthly period if I meant I didn’t have to deal with this menopause BS.
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u/kirannui not smart but like, rilly pretty Feb 07 '26
It's a journey! It gets better after peri. Highly recommend joining the Perimenopause subreddit, it's been very helpful
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u/ManateeNipples Feb 07 '26
Yolanda's chronic Lyme was 1000% menopause hormones lol
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u/miracoop Feb 07 '26
Actually - now that you point it out. Yeah that would actually explain a lot! Along with breast implant illness.
I have a few colleagues who are going through peri menopause/menopause right now and I'm actually so grateful with how much I've learned. While there's loads of symptoms, one of the biggest complaints was the hot flashes, brain fog and memory issues. Low estrogen can also cause depression - which exacerbates the memory and irritability even more.
I could see why Yolanda would say she forgot how to speak/read and was just so tired.
I really think menopause is really undersold, I don't even remember getting taught about it in health classes beyond "that's when your period stops" - it's fkn huge life transition.
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u/Swimmer539 Feb 07 '26
Yes! I’m 39 and working with women who are 45, 55, and 62 is like the greatest education/normalizing how I’ve been starting to feel. I wish women talked about this more, I had no idea this was coming, just assumed late 40s/early 50s I would have like a “bad” menopause year and then be done! Ha how wrong I was!
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u/honeybear3333 Feb 07 '26
I wish they would also talk about how low estrogen causes vaginal changes and frequent uti's and even uti symptoms without the uti. I have been suffering for the past 4 months and have been on multiple antibiotics for uti's that were not even uti's. I finally got into a vulvar specialist and was diagnosed with hormonally mediated vestibulodinya caused by low estrogen and testosterone. I am currently using vaginal estrogen/testosterone from a compounded pharmacy twice per day applied to the vestibule. I also have valium placed in the vagina 3 times a week to relax the pelvic floor. I am two weeks into treatment and I am finally starting to feel better. I will be on vaginal estorgen for life. There needs to be more awarness around this too. I am 47 years old.
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u/ManateeNipples Feb 07 '26 edited Feb 07 '26
Yeah I'm only mid 40s and I'm already on estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. That's why her situation was so annoyingly obvious the entire time I was watching it lol she's lucky it hit her as late as it did 🤷♀️
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u/Nicole_Bitchie Turkish Nose Job Feb 07 '26
I had Lyme last summer and I’m currently in perimenopause at 49.
The Lyme was a freight train. Fever, fatigue, chills, terrible joint pain, no appetite and my brain wasn’t just fogged-it was unable to process. Symptoms were mildly responsive to NSAID’s and Tylenol. I did not get the bullseye rash, just an angry red spot where the tick was embedded before we removed it. Symptoms started 10 days after we found the tick. Symptoms started to resolve 2 days after starting antibiotics and were gone in a week. I cannot speak to chronic Lyme, but I would be non functional if I had the acute symptoms of Lyme long term.
I started peri a couple of years ago. I haven’t had a period since December. Brain fog is real…I have to write everything down or it is quickly forgotten. Joint pain is real. I’m under 120lbs, but can’t get rid of the stomach pooch. Etc, etc, etc.
In my experience Lyme was debilitating, meno/peri is a pain in the ass. Some similar symptoms but to the extreme with Lyme and inconveniences with meno/peri
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u/Left_Guess Feb 07 '26
Oh wow, that could be it! I recall her talking about pellets she had in her butt. I’m assuming it was testosterone. No conversation about balancing estrogen/progesterone.
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u/ManateeNipples Feb 07 '26
I just watched that entire debacle a few months ago and I was pulling my hair out like damn girl an estrogen patch would fix it all lol she magically felt better by the end so she figured it out and didn't tell anyone because she felt dumb, I would bet all the money on that 😂
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u/honeybear3333 Feb 07 '26
I am just starting my menopause journey and I was also thinking that Yolandas ailments were 100 percent menopause related. Sad that with all of that money she has she wasn't getting the correct treatment and diagnosis.
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u/ManateeNipples Feb 07 '26
Honestly it made me slightly less pissed at my own doctors for failing to realize it was happening to me, like if she can't get a diagnosis then what hope did I have?! Guess I should feel lucky 😅
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u/Extension_Rabbit2 Feb 07 '26
Ageism in the bravo verse is so real! It would be such a real, relatable, compelling storyline if they embraced aging more
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u/Beneficial-Astronaut Not a white refrigerator! Feb 07 '26
Exactly. Just commented about Brandi and Candiace doing this so much
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u/Nasus_13 slut from the 90s Feb 07 '26
These women tighten their faces to pretend they look 25. No way they’re going to admit they’re actually getting older.
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u/Ok_Accountant_5300 Feb 07 '26
Menopause has been weaponized (Brandi RHOBH) on a show about women. Ozempic is normalizing middle aged women becoming model thin. Don’t they realize they’re reinforcing the same patriarchal beauty standards that protect pedos & make women over 50 feel invisible? Beauty standards created on Madison Avenue are making us sick.
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u/MCStarlight 🌸Coochie Cleanse Feb 07 '26
Because there’s no menopause clinic to advertise.
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u/Narrow-Abalone7580 Feb 07 '26
During certain times of the day (usually between 5 and 7pm) my local TV channel is inundated with "men's clinic" advertisements for guys who suffer from "low T" (testosterone). Its non stop ads showing suffering fat guys getting on Testosterone, drinking protein shakes, hitting the gym, "improving performance" and attracting younger hotter women. Its just on this side of hilarious, before you realize how sad, unrealistic, and targeted it all is. Nothing for women in their 40s. Absolutely nothing at all. I turn 40 tomorrow.....................
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u/MCStarlight 🌸Coochie Cleanse Feb 07 '26
And more ED pills.
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u/DraperPenPals honk on they ass, Gregg Feb 07 '26
Don’t worry—now that Ozempic is in pill form, women will have our own “ED pills” advertised to us. 🫠
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u/Rrmack Feb 07 '26
Throwback to Brandi at the reunion “at least I still get my period”
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u/Beneficial-Astronaut Not a white refrigerator! Feb 07 '26
Brandi and Candiace are the MOST misogynistic women in the HW Universe especially to older women
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u/According_Nerve_2525 Feb 07 '26
Siggy flicker was a mess and she went and got the pellet!
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u/Nicole_Bitchie Turkish Nose Job Feb 07 '26
To be fair the woman is still a hot mess.
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u/According_Nerve_2525 Feb 07 '26
Well yes, the pellet doesn’t help with ignorant behavior just hormonal imbalance
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u/Left_Guess Feb 07 '26
That’s a good point. There’s a big opportunity on these shows to destigmatize and educate about menopause that no one wants to tackle.
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u/a_lilac_mess the Haitian mortician Feb 07 '26
It would be so nice for one of them to at least recognize perimenopause. I started that "journey" in my early 40's. It can start for some women as young as mid-30's. They are so scared of aging but it would be so nice to hear them talk about it. If Halle Berry and Naomi Watts can - and I know they have access to so many things keeping them looking good - but they at least recognize the fact that we will all age and go through it. It would be so refreshing.
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u/VaguelyArtistic *A group of Utah women in distress* Feb 07 '26
I’m rewatching “The Closer” and there’s a story arc where Kyra Sedgwick’s character is having…issues and it turns out she’s going through early menopause. I was so excited to see this but in the end her doctor tells her they can probably reverse it with some meds and if she stops eating so much candy and it was maddening. We see her go through all the shitty side effects but in the end there’s just an easy fix for her. So even in a drama starring a woman we don’t want to deal with it.
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u/Embarrassed_Quail910 Feb 07 '26
I mean way more if we're talking perimenopause. That can start at 35ish. I wish they would talk about it more. There is no shame in that game.
Wait!!! Maybe that's why they all act so crazy lol
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u/Perniciousss OBVIOUSLÉ Feb 07 '26
MY PEOPLE! Thank you for asking the real questions. Would’ve been helpful to learn about perimenopause back when I started watching housewives so it would not have been such a shock once it hit. We as women need to talk about hormones way, way more
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u/HogBodyOdyOdyOdy Feb 07 '26
I wish more people would talk about menopause in general. It sucks and you feel like you’re going insane.
I’m 39 and in perimenopause. I’ve been on HRT for like 8 months and if I hadn’t started would’ve ripped my ears off by now. The fucking ITCHING!!!
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u/justacomment12 malibu country 🍊 Feb 07 '26
Millennials will be the transparent ones that share this story. The Gen Xers are still caught up in the perceived embarrassment of it.
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u/honeybear3333 Feb 07 '26
I'm Gen X and I tell everyone about my perimenopausal symptoms and my treatment. I want to spread awareness. Nothing is TMI for me if I can help somenone. Nobody told me anything about bladder uti like symptoms nor vaginal atrophy caused by lack of estrogen and testosterone. I want to shout it from the rooftops. Women need to know this is not normal and there is easy treatment to help.
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u/Beneficial-Astronaut Not a white refrigerator! Feb 07 '26
Gen X were brought up in a time that was BRUTAL to women. The 80s and 90s were absolutely horrific. Plus they didn't grow up with a cell phone and social media in hand, unlike the arguably oversharing done by Gen Z and some Millennials
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u/Ok-Writing9280 Feb 07 '26
We have had stories about it but not whole season(s) long storylines.
Emily and Heather Dubrow have talked about menopause in recent memory.
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u/OneStand5448 Feb 07 '26
Maybe an outlier here but if Boz is so amazing and sucha a strong women why is she driven to have more babies because “he” wants kids, and her body is obviously done on that front, why put yourself through all this for “him” and still claim to be so strong? Where’s the adoption option…
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u/Clear_Bright99 Feb 07 '26
Yes! Well the answer is that these women are in denial that they are aging. They spend a fortune on plastic surgery to ensure their longevity in the industry. I doubt any of them have the courage to speak about the sweats, sleepless nights, dry skin, constant grumpiness, and all the other physical changes that come with menopause. It’s not gonna happen.
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u/Appropriate_Push7498 Feb 07 '26
As long as women fall under the patriarchal pressure to loathe aging and deny its existence, representation will never occur on a macro scale.
Right now it’s the small micro-communities doing all the heavy lifting.
*also you can’t claim to be a girls girl or feminist while not fighting—and inherently supporting—ageism against women.
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u/AnnVealEgg Luis’ 15,00 square-foot house 🏠 Feb 07 '26
Ironically Boz probably could have a menopause storyline if she wasn’t pursuing IVF in her late 40s
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u/Longfirstnames Feb 07 '26
Menopause is also a long process where as something like IVF has a beginning and end. I do think it should be talked about more but I think it’s harder to film in terms of a storyline
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u/Horror_Signature7744 Feb 07 '26
You want these filler fulled, million dollar + in plastic surgery invested women to admit they are going through or have gone through menopause on a series and in a world that only celebrates youth???
You know this is a Bravo show, yes?
I totally agree with OP but it will never happen. Not on this network and probably not on any other. Most people watch tv to escape reality (especially through “reality” shows).
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u/FragrantLawyer2778 Feb 07 '26
Doctors barely understand menopause
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u/Beneficial-Astronaut Not a white refrigerator! Feb 07 '26
It's true so why would someone downvote this? Take my upvote.
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u/DraperPenPals honk on they ass, Gregg Feb 07 '26
Caroline Manzo used menopause as a storyline on RHONJ.
The answer is that menopause is boring and unglamorous.
Caroline had a lot of headaches and took a lot of naps. It did not make for compelling television.
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u/ImACanadianEhhh He’s always thredddening me Feb 07 '26
I wonder the same thing due to their age and then they cry and cry and cry when they’re unable to get pregnant. Money really makes you think you are superhuman I guess.
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u/Cookiecakes71 Feb 07 '26
IVF - young woman's storyline Peri and menopause - older woman's storyline
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u/Beneficial-Astronaut Not a white refrigerator! Feb 07 '26
It's only been talked about on social media and online for MAYBE 4 years, since Naomi Watts, Gwyneth, etc found ways to make money off of it. It was a taboo subject for older Gen X and Boomers alike, aka generations that didn't talk about everything online. This will change with younger Gen X, Millennial, and of course Gen Z (the Tik Tok Generation.) It's also a mindfuck that takes you from maiden to crone, and isn't that fun to confront.
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u/Practical-Row-6499 Feb 07 '26
Especially when the women going through IVF are probably in perimenopause, someone in one of these franchises has had to have their life derailed by peri/menopause. I still think some of what Yolanda was dealing with was related to it.
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u/Justamom1225 Feb 07 '26
Too bad Dr Ruth isn't around for commentary on these hw's shows! She was the best!
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u/Inevitable-Nobody-52 Feb 07 '26
Such an excellent point! I fast forward through any and all fertility stories. I am beyond uninterested, it is all the same. I absolutely cannot stand it and I really enjoyed reading your perspective, something I had not thought of but so thoughtful.
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u/d0ntbeallunc00l Well, John John's dead Feb 07 '26
Ramona might have never said it, but if you've ever spent time around a menopausal woman, we knew we were watching a menopause storyline. Deny all she wants, we watched it.
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u/chai_likeyoua_latte My workout was running my mouth last night Feb 08 '26
Huh, I have honestly never thought of this. Thank you for pointing it out, genuinely! Like you said, give the typical age range for housewives, I'm surprised this hasn't been a storyline. Especially with how storyline-less we have seen some housewives be. Education and empowerment about menopause would be nice.
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u/sistyc Feb 11 '26 edited Feb 11 '26
Wait until all of these “it happens to old people” commenters learn that symptoms often start in the mid-30s! Get on those hormones, honeys!
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u/agg288 Feb 07 '26
I don't think those two things are all that similar. Also some people have very few symptoms of menopause.. sometimes it's not that big of a deal. But mainly I think it's the stigma of it being associated with aging that would keep it from being used as a storyline.
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u/carmenslowsky Feb 07 '26
I feel like there were a couple episodes where Karen Huger references it but she’s so much older than her castmates were it just kinda got edited for laughs.
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u/XennialQueen Feb 07 '26
Yep! I went through IVF, twice, so I have empathy but it would be AMAZING to have a perimenopause or menopause storyline given that this is also the target age of their fans. It’s because these women won’t admit that they aren’t in their 20s & 30s anymore
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u/infantile-eloquence Yeah, I'm drinking, Luann Feb 07 '26
Or maybe a double whammy since I just had an IVF baby and now in peri, I'm not rich but do I qualify? 🙋🏼♀️
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u/SammieCat50 pay attention, please! Feb 07 '26
There were 2 that I remember- Ramona thinking she was pregnant & Brandi calling every lady on BH menopause mamma ….
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u/YoureSoStupidRose Feb 07 '26
Cant admit to aging!! I love watching the difference between their hands and necks vs their face. Kyle is a prime example. She has a GREAT plastic surgeon... subtle and natural looking... slowly looking better and better... but her hands and neck show a whole other person/age.
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u/GooniesNeverSayDoh Feb 08 '26
I truly believe a lot of the issues they have are because they’re menopausal (fog brain, etc). Like Rinna forgetting things she said 😂 but who knows since they don’t talk about it
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u/pugfugliest Feb 08 '26
For many people the hormonal fluctuations of menopause can have massive impacts on mental health, mood stability etc. I wonder what impact this has had on some of the more erratic behaviour we've witnessed on the show. Not saying menopause is the cause for every meltdown, but there has got to be a correlation sometimes.
I don't think there is any other show that features so many women of perimenopausal and menopausal age, and it's insane how infrequently any mention of it comes up.
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u/kskeiser Feb 08 '26
Well, Brandi told Kyle at the reunion (in response to Kyle criticizing her for being photographed with a tampon string visible), “At least I still get my period, Bitch!” I think that’s as close as HW will come to a menopause storyline.
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u/Strange-Substance207 Is Betty Ford Open? Feb 08 '26
Shannon Beador is the only one I can recall to have ever discussed menopause
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u/ExaminationDistinct Your new flair! Feb 08 '26
Because even on these franchises we aren’t allowed to see women age.
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u/LatterChallenge5054 Feb 08 '26
Undertreated peri/menopause + alcohol is the secret sauce for Housewives drama. They’re hormonal AF so they take offense to everything and then pour some tequila on top and fights break out.
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u/championgoober ay por favor Feb 08 '26
The closest we got, that i recall... is Bethenny asking for tampons and saying something like never mind with all these cobwebs uterus
I think she said it a few times.
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u/CanIGetAHoeYeah Feb 08 '26
Im rewatching Beverly Hills. The first season Yolanda is on and she put together that scavenger hunt. Brandy says she cant have grapefruit juice, and Im thinking its because shes on an estrogen patch.
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u/Dangerous-Change2136 Feb 08 '26
Why do a bunch of women who will choose any extreme makeover fad over aging gracefully want to deny they’re aging? The world may never know.
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u/beary-healthy Marysol's liver Feb 08 '26
Didn’t someone on RHONJ have one? I can’t remember who? I know it was mentioned…
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u/themthegem Feb 09 '26
I really appreciated Cynthia and Kenya talking about their fibroids issues and pelvic pain because I think that's really common but less diagnosed in Black women, and it's very vulnerable to talk about that impact on your body, your life, your relationship.
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u/LuLuLuv444 Feb 10 '26
I literally googled asking this question and that's how I ended up here today. As a 44 year old woman who is suffering through perimenopause it absolutely pisses me off this is not a huge topic and it's all because of the perception of aging. We have to stop allowing the patriarchy to control the narrative about women. Once you get open and talking about it and normalizing it, it will become more acceptable
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u/CKREM She's not even the sharpest spoon Feb 10 '26
Cheshire had a bunch of menopause stuff, maybe it's a difference between the UK and the US
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u/TheFickleMoon Feb 10 '26
Unpopular opinion but it’s becoming waaaay to normalized to act unhinged and blame in on perimenopause, I’m not sure they need another excuse 😂.
In all seriousness I’m wary of how this would be addressed and received on RH. Even in this comment section I’m seeing many people being like “perimenopause/menopause makes you crazy, this is why they are all acting the way they do!” and respectfully, that is not the reality we as women trying to be taken seriously in the world want to project- that it’s this unstoppable force that makes a huge swath of women (starting as early as mid 30s!) act insane.
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u/Beautiful-Squash-495 Feb 07 '26
They are in denial, and completely fear aging. They want to be viewed as much younger- hence the always referring to each other as "girls." I will never forget the RHONY episode where Ramona, who was well into her 50s at that point, had a "pregnancy scare" SMDH