Clinician written
Menopause in Black women
A comprehensive guide examining why Black women often experience menopause differently to white women
Dr Itunu Johnson-Sogbetun
GP and family medicine consultant with a special interest in women’s health
Itunu is a UK-based General Practitioner with a specialist interest in women’s health and menopause care. She holds the DFSRH and DRCOG qualifications and has completed the Advanced Certificate in Principles and Practice of Menopause Care from the British Menopause Society. An active member of the British Menopause Society and committee member of the Primary Care Women’s Health Society, she is also a founding member of the RCGP Women’s Health Special Interest Group. Through her clinical work, teaching, and advocacy, she is committed to delivering high-quality, personalised care to women at every stage of life.
"The dominant narratives still centre on a very narrow idea of womanhood – usually white, cisgender, middle-class, and able-bodied."
Why are you passionate about women's health?
Because for too long, women have been under-researched, under-diagnosed, and under-heard. I’ve seen too many women blame themselves for symptoms no one ever explained – pain, fatigue, anxiety, weight changes, hormonal chaos – because we don’t talk enough, and we don’t listen well enough. Women’s health is not a niche issue – it’s a foundation of public health. I’m passionate about helping women understand their bodies, advocate for themselves, and make informed choices without shame or fear. That’s also why I wrote A Personal Guide to Menopause for Black Women – to bridge the silence and offer something honest, practical, and culturally relevant.
What one piece of advice would you give to our audience?
Trust your lived experience. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t brush it off – and don’t let anyone else dismiss it either. You are the expert on your body. Whether it’s fatigue, mood swings, heavy periods, or just not feeling like yourself – speak up. Keep asking questions. The right care exists, and you deserve to receive it.
What is missing from the current conversation around women's health?
Representation and nuance. We need to do better at acknowledging the impact of race, culture, trauma, and social inequality on women’s health outcomes. And we need to create space for different experiences, whether it’s early menopause, navigating HRT as a Black woman, or managing PCOS while trying to conceive. Women are not a monolith. The more diverse and inclusive our conversations become, the more effective – and empowering – our care will be.
CONNECT WITH ME
My work with Rockmy
Clinician written
Don’t be embarrassed: A guide to genitourinary syndrome of menopause
Rockmy's guide to genitourinary syndrome of menopause, urinary tract, vulva and vagina conditions that occur during menopause.
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