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

Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts is a nonfiction self-help and wellness guide that explores the physical, emotional, and societal dimensions of menopause. Published in 2025 by Crown Publishing Group, the book reflects Watts’s personal journey through perimenopause and menopause, blending candid storytelling with expert insights from leading medical professionals. Best known as an award-winning actor, Watts has become a vocal advocate for menopause awareness, launching the wellness brand Stripes Beauty to support women navigating this stage of life and contribute to the movement that is Redefining Aging for Women. In Dare I Say It, she challenges cultural taboos surrounding menopause by highlighting The Physical and Emotional Impacts of Menopause and offering advice about Taking Control of Menopause Through Information. She also emphasizes The Importance of Community and Expert Guidance, encouraging both self-empowerment and medical advocacy. Through a mix of personal reflection, medical expertise, and social critique, Watts provides an accessible and affirming resource for women seeking to navigate menopause with knowledge and confidence.

This guide uses the e-book version of the text, published in 2025 by Crown Publishing Group.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of sexual content, mental illness, and pregnancy loss.

Summary

Dare I Say It begins with Watts recounting her early experiences with perimenopause, which started when she was 36 and simultaneously struggling with infertility. Like many women, she was shocked by how little she knew about menopause, despite its inevitability. She reflects on her symptoms—hot flashes, brain fog, anxiety, and sleep disturbances—and the lack of open public conversation about these changes. She also highlights the emotional toll of infertility, which coincided with her entry into perimenopause, challenging the societal perception that women’s worth is tied to their reproductive capabilities. Watts underscores how menopause is often misdiagnosed or dismissed by medical professionals, which leads many women to seek alternative treatments or suffer in silence.

As the book progresses, Watts widens her discussion to include a variety of topics related to menopause, including sexuality, mental health, body image, and medical care. She dedicates a chapter to sexual health, discussing how menopause can impact libido, physical comfort, and emotional intimacy. She addresses medical biases that have historically overlooked women’s sexual well-being, contrasting the stigma surrounding vaginal atrophy with the mainstream acceptance of erectile dysfunction treatment. Drawing on expert opinions, Watts provides practical solutions, including hormone therapy, lubricants, and open communication with partners, advocating for a sex-positive perspective in midlife and beyond.

Another key focus of Dare I Say It is the impact of menopause on mental health. Watts compares menopause to puberty, describing the intensity of emotions, such as anxiety, rage, and grief, that manifest. She shares her struggles with mood swings and panic attacks, reinforcing that these experiences are not uncommon. Through interviews with medical professionals, she explores the relationship between hormone fluctuations and mental health, advocating for a holistic approach to symptom management that includes therapy, lifestyle changes, and, when necessary, medical intervention. She also discusses the societal pressure for women to remain composed and accommodating regardless of their physical and mental state, highlighting how these expectations make it difficult for women to openly express their struggles.

Watts also critiques the unrealistic beauty standards imposed on aging women. She reflects on the pressure to maintain a youthful appearance, particularly in Hollywood, where aging women actors often face career limitations. She acknowledges her own past insecurities and the societal double standard that allows men to age naturally while women are expected to look perpetually young. However, rather than rejecting beauty entirely, Watts encourages a more balanced approach—one that allows women to embrace aging while still taking care of themselves in ways that feel authentic. She discusses her own skincare and haircare routines, as well as her decision to launch Stripes Beauty, a wellness brand aimed at providing menopausal women with high-quality products.

One of the book’s central messages is the importance of medically advocating for oneself. Watts urges women to take control of their healthcare, recognizing that the medical system often fails to provide adequate support for menopausal patients. She recounts her own frustrating experiences with dismissive doctors, recounts similar experiences faced by her peers, and provides readers with tools to advocate for themselves, including how to find menopause-literate physicians and how to prepare for medical appointments. She emphasizes that menopause is not a condition to be “endured” but a natural phase of life that deserves medical attention and proper care.

Beyond individual health, Dare I Say It explores the broader social and professional implications of menopause. Watts highlights how menopause can impact a woman’s career, particularly in fields that prioritize youth, such as her career in show business. She shares stories of women who faced professional setbacks due to menopause-related symptoms and calls for more workplace accommodations and awareness. At the same time, she reframes midlife as a period of potential reinvention, encouraging women to embrace new opportunities, whether in their careers, personal lives, or creative pursuits.

As the book nears its conclusion, Watts focuses on community and connection. She stresses the importance of having open conversations with friends, family members, and romantic partners about menopause, recognizing that cultural discomfort has long prevented meaningful discussion. She provides conversation scripts and practical advice on how to discuss menopause with loved ones, ensuring that readers feel supported rather than isolated. She also explores the importance of friendships among menopausal women, describing how shared experiences can foster solidarity and mutual encouragement.

Watts closes Dare I Say It by encouraging readers to take an active role in their health, relationships, and personal fulfillment as they navigate midlife. She acknowledges that menopause presents challenges but argues that it also offers an opportunity for self-discovery, advocacy, and empowerment. Through a blend of personal reflection, expert guidance, and social critique, she provides a resource for women seeking both practical advice and a broader understanding of how menopause fits into cultural and medical conversations. By addressing menopause openly, Watts aims to break long-held taboos and encourage a shift toward more informed and supportive discussions about this natural phase of life.