Menopause, the big life stage no one really wants to deal with. At least that’s what it seems like to me, since the National Institute on Aging reports that “more than 1 million women in the United States experience menopause each year. Still, little is known about the health effects of this natural biological occurrence.” Thanks, guys! But honestly, who can blame any of us, from scientists to my mom, for not explaining this stage of life that begins with perimenopause and continues through to full menopause, defined as the cessation of menstrual periods.

The effects of this phase of life are highly individual, potentially comprising (but not limited to) hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, body aches, hair loss and more—and that’s just my Monday morning. Or, it was until I found a doctor who sampled my blood then put me on a regimen of hormone replacement therapy. My interventions didn’t stop there, and extended to many retail products and services that have truly made my menopausal life better. Here are 8 menopause essential products I swear by—and some expert commentary by a medical expert on why this stuff helps my mood, appearance and overall productivity.

Meet the Expert

Dr. Heather Hirsch is a board-certified internist, entrepreneur and women's midlife health expert. She is the author of the forthcoming The Perimenopause Survival Guide, out October 14, 2025 and the best-selling Unlock Your Menopause Type. Founder and CEO of The Collaborative, a concierge telemedicine practice for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, she created The Heather Hirsch Academy to train clinicians worldwide in midlife women’s care. She founded the Menopause and Midlife Clinic at Brigham and Women's Hospital and served as faculty at Harvard Medical School.

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