The science of menopause in 13 minutes | Dr. Jen Gunter

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Nov 17, 2025

Dr. Jen Gunter, an OB/GYN and advocate for women’s health, dives into the complexities of menopause, emphasizing its evolutionary benefits through the Grandmother Hypothesis. She explains that menopause isn’t a dead end, but rather a strategic shift that allows older women to support their families. The discussion covers symptoms, the significance of exercise, and the often misunderstood world of hormone therapy. Listeners learn how to discern fact from fiction in health advice and why understanding one’s body during this transition is crucial.

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INSIGHT

Menopause As An Evolutionary Advantage

Menopause may be an evolutionary advantage via the 'grandmother' or 'wise woman' effect that helps kin survive and thrive.
This frames menopause as retained social power and contribution rather than mere biological decline.

INSIGHT

Menopause Is A Multi-Year Transition

The menopause transition (perimenopause) is a multi-year hormonal winding down that precedes the final period and post-menopause.
Clinically, menopause is confirmed after one year without a period, typically between ages 45 and 55.

ADVICE

Make Exercise Your First-Line Strategy

Build a strong health foundation before and during menopause, with exercise as the top intervention for many domains.
Include both aerobic and strength training because exercise broadly mitigates menopausal impacts.

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**"Menopause isn’t the end—it’s an evolutionary power move."**

Most animals die after they reproduce, but humans? We keep going. Why? The **Grandmother Hypothesis** suggests menopause is a strategic advantage—giving older women the freedom to guide, protect, and strengthen their families. But the journey there? It’s no walk in the park.

From hot flashes to brain fog, the menopause transition can last up to **seven years**, bringing a storm of symptoms. What actually helps? Exercise is the gold standard, but when it comes to treatment, **hormone therapy is both misunderstood and controversial.**

In this eye-opening episode, we cut through the misinformation, expose the snake oil, and reveal **what actually works.** Should you take hormone therapy? Are “bioidenticals” a scam? And how can you separate science from marketing hype?

**Get the facts—because your health shouldn’t be left to influencers and guesswork.**

What can you do to support your health during menopause? “If exercise were a drug, that would be the one thing that we would be giving to everybody.”

If every facet of the reproduction process is based in evolution, how does menopause, something where reproduction is no longer possible, benefit our species? We think it's because of an idea called the wise woman hypothesis, says Dr. Jen Gunter, an OB/GYN and author. The wise woman hypothesis describes the idea that historically for humans, having a grandmother in your family unit meant you had an extra pair of knowledgeable hands that themselves weren't occupied with child-rearing. Someone who could go out and help gather food, build shelter, find water, and pass on historical knowledge from other generations. And so menopause represents evolution in the long game, the idea that we retain our power as we age. Dr. Jen Gunter explains both the science and common myths behind the biological process of menopause, and how to know who to trust to guide you while going through it.

About Dr. Jen Gunter:Dr. Jen Gunter is an OB/GYN and a pain medicine physician. She writes a lot about sex, science, and social media, but sometimes about other things because, well, why not?She's been called X's resident gynecologist, the Internet’s OB/GYN, and one of the fiercest advocates for women’s health. She has devoted her professional life to caring for women.

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