menopause.film

Although half of the world’s population will experience menopause — and many women suffer symptoms so severe that their daily lives are affected — this life phase remains under-researched. Common symptoms include hot flashes (80%), sleep disturbances (26%), memory problems (41%), and an increased risk of depression. Yet, the underlying causes are still poorly understood. Researchers around the world are now searching for answers.

In the movie, director Louise Unmack Kjeldsen, who is herself affected, embarks on a personal and scientific journey to explore the effects of declining estrogen on the body and brain.

She speaks with leading scientists investigating whether menopausal symptoms may be linked to women’s threefold higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, to depression, or to the high suicide rate among women aged 45 to 54. The film also explores why effective medications are often not prescribed.

The documentary breaks taboos, exposes myths and misinformation, and sheds new light on menopause. It reveals how historical prejudice has contributed to a lack of knowledge and understanding — leaving many women to suffer in silence.