✨Menopaussible✨
Menopause doesn't just change your body. It changes the questions you're willing to ask. Menopaussible is a bi-weekly newsletter for performance-driven women who want the science, the straight talk, and a clear-eyed look at what comes next.
Apr 14 • 5 min read
💰 Someone Is Getting Rich Off Your Menopause. Let's Talk About It.
💰 Someone Is Getting Rich Off Your Menopause. Let's Talk About It.PLUS: Doctors are pushing back on menopause marketing + two women taking on Big Pharma Welcome to the April 14th edition of Menopaussible—bringing you the news you can use and the ⚡ energy ⚡ you need to support your menopause journey. I’m Maria Caracci Ciccolella—mindset coach and menopause advocate. (Connect with me IG or LinkedIn!) Tomorrow (April 15th) is Tax Day in the US—a day where money is very much top of mind as those who file hope to see a refund rather than more money leaving their savings accounts. Which in a round-about way brings me to today’s newsletter topic—the Menopause Gold Rush: the moniker being used to describe the flurry of businesses looking to service the growing menopause consumer base. As with all business opportunities, the menopause market attracts both good and bad actors—and thanks to a lack of education and knowledge, women are in an especially vulnerable spot, making it easier for businesses to make money and for women actively seeking answers to be taken advantage. This newsletter exists precisely because information matters—so let's talk about what's happening out there. Last Fall, women’s health academics at the University College London (UCL), published a paper in the medical journal Post Reproductive Health, calling for a national education program to combat the misinformation and unregulated advice currently being dispensed to menopausal women. The “menopause gold rush”—as they termed it—left people “vulnerable to financial exploitation” and was likely “to amplify existing menopause-related health inequities.” At the root of this was the fact that the majority of women they surveyed lacked even a basic understanding of the menopause transition, with only 1 in 5 women stating that they felt well-informed. Further, for those seeking out information, more than half (53%) were sourcing it from social media, with Instagram the most popular platform. As one woman in the study noted: “There is a lot of variability and false information especially in private Facebook groups. The Market Behind the Moment Once a taboo subject, the drive to normalize menopause in society has led to a market boom: in 2024 the global menopause market was valued at $17.79B (USD). Current projections have the market reaching $24.35B by 2030, driven largely by increasing awareness around post-menopausal syndrome, and the expected proliferation of women’s health apps. There is no question women are in need of solutions—but therein lies the invitation to exploit. In fact, one of the biggest catalysts for growth is expected from dietary supplements, where regulation and research both run thin. Where the Exploitation Lives—Social Media and the Fear Economy “The female brain literally eats itself during menopause if you don’t replace [estrogen] with menopause hormone therapy.” This was the line uttered by Louisa Nicola, a prominent neurophysiologist, while in conversation with Kelly Casperson, a urologist, in a Reel that has since racked up over 500,000 views on Instagram since it was posted last October. It also drew immediate response from other medical professionals—among them Dr. Pauline Maki, Dr. Ayesha Sherzai, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, and Dr. Jen Gunter—who immediately set to allay the fears of women already unnerved by their changing bodies. This post, while one of the more extreme, unfortunately is not one of the more unique. In fact, posts of this nature abound on social media, coming not simply from menopause influencers but even “credentialed” individuals: physicians. The common denominator among the two groups, however: financial incentive. For some the financial incentives can be easily identified, “proprietary supplements” with their name and branding on it, for example; but for others, it’s less apparent: the engagement with the content alone—the likes, the comments, the shares—drive a financial return from the platform which the algorithm only encourages. As the platforms know, fear is the most powerful engagement tool on social media—so fear, literally, pays when anxiety around menopause runs deep. How to Be a Discerning Consumer of Menopause Information
The Best Defense Is a Good Foundation of Credible Sources Just as the University College London identified: knowledge is the key to overcoming this misinformation challenge. A more informed woman is a woman who makes better decisions for herself and her life. That said, you deserve care that is rooted in evidence and not engineered around your anxiety. Here are some experts not just talking about menopause (and health), but who use their platforms to explain the science behind it.
Plus: It's Not Just Social Media If you needed any more proof that the menopause marketing surge is real, the Associated Press published a story on it just last week. Doctors are now warning that women are being bombarded with lotions, serums, dietary supplements, and gadgets—everything from light masks to cooling blankets—many of which are no different from regular products ingredient-wise, yet marketed specifically to menopausal women. As one OB-GYN professor put it, "The marketing has gotten very, very aggressive. It's pervasive." The advice from physicians is consistent: when in doubt, seek evidence-based care from a provider—not a product page. When the System Doesn't Deliver, Women Do Sometimes the most trustworthy solution is the one built by people who actually live the problem. Faced with rolling HRT patch shortages across Australia, two women—Johanna Wicks, a women's health advocate, and Raisa Monteiro, a Stanford-educated materials engineer—are fundraising to launch Lorai Health, a new women's HRT company. Their next-generation patch features body-identical hormones, improved adhesive, and longer drug delivery. Wicks' take on waiting for Big Pharma to solve it? "Let's give them the finger and do it for ourselves." Women building solutions for women. That's the origin story the market actually needs. All the Paussibilities This issue has been about the importance of being a discerning consumer of information— knowing who to trust, what to question, and what's actually in your best interest. That same instinct? It applies to your life, not just your health choices. A lot of women in this transition find themselves getting quieter about one particular question they can't quite shake: What do I actually want now? Not what looks good on paper. Not what made sense ten years ago. What's true now—for who they're becoming. If that question is alive for you—even quietly— what's holding you back? 👉 Hit reply and let me know—I’m here to help. |
Menopause doesn't just change your body. It changes the questions you're willing to ask. Menopaussible is a bi-weekly newsletter for performance-driven women who want the science, the straight talk, and a clear-eyed look at what comes next.