With 'Dare I Say It,' Naomi Watts aims to help menopausal women feel less alone
Feb 5, 2025
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Actor Naomi Watts shares her personal journey through menopause, revealing the isolation and panic she felt after an unexpected diagnosis. She emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare and discusses the often-taboo topic of hormone replacement therapy. Watts also encourages women to see menopause as a transformative phase, inviting them to embrace new opportunities and redefine their identities. With her insights on aging, skincare, and nutrition, she aims to foster a supportive conversation around a common experience that impacts millions.
Naomi Watts highlights the importance of advocating for oneself in medical settings to navigate the challenges of menopause.
In her book, Watts emphasizes the significance of hormone replacement therapy in alleviating debilitating menopause symptoms and encourages informed discussions.
Deep dives
Navigating Menopause: A Personal Journey
The experience of going through menopause can be shocking and isolating, particularly for women like Naomi Watts who faced unexpected news from their doctors. At just 36, Watts was informed that she was close to menopause while trying to get pregnant, leading to a sense of panic and a realization of the lack of open conversations about this life stage. Despite the fact that millions of women enter menopause each year, societal norms have created a stigma that leaves many feeling alone in their struggle. Watts emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself in medical settings, gathering information, and seeking help to better navigate the physical and emotional challenges that accompany menopause.
The Impact and Options of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been a controversial topic, yet Naomi Watts passionately shares how it significantly improved her own experience with menopause. She highlights the various forms of HRT, such as patches and gels, which helped alleviate debilitating symptoms like night sweats, anxiety, and brain fog that could impact daily life. Watts encourages women to approach their doctors for a comprehensive understanding of the options available based on their medical histories. By sharing her journey and advocating for informed discussions surrounding menopause and HRT, Watts aims to empower other women to take control of their health and join a broader conversation about this natural yet challenging life phase.
At age 36, actor Naomi Watts visited her doctor in hopes of starting a family. Instead, she was told that she was close to menopause. She says she felt panicked and alone, despite the fact that tens of millions of women experience menopause each year. In a new book, Dare I Say It, Watts tries to open what she sees as a closed conversation around aging. Her advice-based book covers her own fertility story, her experience with menopause symptoms, skincare, nutrition and more. In today's episode, Watts speaks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about learning to be her own advocate at the doctor's office, hormone replacement therapy, and returning to herself in this new chapter of life.
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