Doctors Applaud TV Show’s Health Plot Line for Women

In the latest season of “Your Friends & Neighbors,” Amanda Peet’s character, Mel, delves into the topic of menopause just eight minutes in. This may be par for the course for middle-aged women like Mel, but it’s still groundbreaking for TV. Most shows either make menopause a punchline or ignore it altogether. But representation matters.

By the second episode, Peet’s character is seen Googling symptoms like brain fog, lack of concentration, and night sweats—all part of perimenopause. It’s refreshing to see menopause conversations becoming more mainstream in podcasts, comedy, and now TV shows.

Dr. Fatima Naqvi, an OB-GYN and menopause provider, applauds the inclusion of a menopause storyline, calling it a good start. She hopes future shows can capture the nuances of perimenopause and menopause, emphasizing that it can be a positive phase of life, not the end of anything.

Peet, who is also experiencing perimenopause in real life, has praised the show’s creator for shedding light on this topic. She finds it empowering to portray her rage, destigmatize the conversation, and even discuss the safety of hormone therapy.

While some viewers argue that the show may not depict menopause with enough complexity, the fact that it’s being discussed on a popular TV show is a step in the right direction. Many women in their 40s and 50s are only now realizing that symptoms like dry eyes and itchy skin are signs of perimenopause. Finding proper treatment and understanding from healthcare providers is still a struggle for many.

Menopause has been largely absent from screens, with only a small percentage of films mentioning it in a study by the Geena Davis Institute. Actress Naomi Watts believes that discussing menopause in movies can help women feel less isolated, removing shame and stigma from the conversation.

Perimenopause will continue to be a central theme in Peet’s character arc this season. While the topic might start with a dry vagina on the show, the hope is that it will encourage more women to seek help for their symptoms and prioritize their heart and bone health. Let’s keep the conversation going.