Dr. Weber Pierson Encourages Black Women To “Normalize” Menopause

September 24, 2026

California State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, an OB-GYN, collaborated with a Washington health nonprofit to host an educational event addressing menopause and health disparities affecting Black women. The presentation, led by menopause specialists Drs. Shereen Binno and Latisa Carson, highlighted that Black women experience significantly longer and more severe menopause symptoms than white women, lasting up to 10 years compared to 6.

Who is affected

Black women experiencing menopause (particularly ages 45-55)
White women experiencing menopause (for comparison)
Women under 50 facing breast cancer mortality disparities
Black women confronting healthcare access barriers and inherent bias
Cancer survivors who cannot use hormone therapy
Women in their mid-40s experiencing decreased libido

What action is being taken

Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson is partnering with the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease to present guidance on menopause
Drs. Shereen Binno and Latisa Carson are leading presentations to audiences of women at the Southeastern Live Well Center
Doctors are empowering Black women to advocate for themselves and come to appointments with researched questions
The panel is emphasizing preventive care, including blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol checks, and hemoglobin A1C testing

Why it matters

This matters because Black women face significant health disparities during menopause, experiencing symptoms for nearly twice as long as white women (up to 10 years versus 6.5 years) and at higher rates (80% versus 65%). The lack of research including Black women's experiences and the presence of inherent bias in healthcare means they are underserved and often suffer in silence. Additionally, menopause increases women's heart disease risk to equal that of men due to declining estrogen protection, making heart disease the number one killer of women. Black women also face higher breast cancer mortality rates despite lower incidence, making education about screening and symptom management potentially life-saving.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint