Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause

Dr. Mary Claire Haver, author of The New Menopause, collaborated with Naomi Watts as a medical expert for Watts’s company, Stripes Beauty—a company that centers on educating and assisting perimenopausal and menopausal women. While treating patients in her clinic, Dr. Haver noticed that women often seek self-help resources to deal with menopausal symptoms. This, combined with her respect for Watts, has resulted in her strong support for Dare I Say It.

Dr. Haver describes Watts as “wonderfully open” in her menopause advocacy efforts. She acknowledges the social stigma surrounding menopause, which has led to a lack of awareness, making Watts’s open communication on the topic critical—“By being honest about her own and her friends’ experiences in dealing with the shock of menopause, Naomi offers validation to other women and makes them feel less alone” (xii). Dr. Haver also emphasizes the depth of Watts’s research, noting the large number of experts Watts consulted.

Watts was informed she was in perimenopause—a transitional phase leading up to menopause marked by fluctuating hormones, irregular menstrual cycles, and occasional menopausal symptoms—when she was 36 and trying to get pregnant.