Emmy Award-winning journalist Tamsen Fadal remembers vividly the day she was anchoring the news at PIX11 when she suddenly felt heart palpitations and a hot flash— and couldn’t finish the newscast. After following up with several doctors, she recalls opening her patient portal and seeing the words “in menopause—any questions?”
“I was 49 and thought I was too young,” Fadal told New Jersey Family. “I had no idea what was going on—I was exhausted, forgetful, gaining weight, and totally foggy. I went to multiple doctors. I was prescribed antidepressants. Not one person said the word menopause until that test result.”
That result, and the lack of support around what to do, inspired Fadal to begin a life-changing deep dive into menopause. She has since become a mid-life bestie and women’s wellness advocate. Her groundbreaking documentary, The MFactor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause(PBS), has galvanized a global movement as has her World’s Hottest Menopause Party in Las Vegas.
Her new book, How To Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better than Before, releasing Tuesday, is the result of years of research, interviews with over 42 experts, and her own journey. From hot flashes and mood swings to memory lapses, hormone therapy, sleep issues and bone health, Fadal covers it all in the book. How to Menopause goes well beyond solutions for menopause and perimenopause, also diving into nutrition, movement, mindset, finding community and life after menopause.
“I wrote the book I wish I had,” says Fadal, who will be coming to Loopwell, a wellness space in Montclair created to support women through all life stages, on March 27th. We’re giving away two tickets to ”How to Menopause” Book Launch & Fireside Chat with Fadal and Loopwell’s Founder Deb Looney on Instagram. The event includes a screening of The M Factor, cocktails, mocktails, and apps, a swag bag and a chance to purchase a signed copy of How to Menopause (in partnership with Bookends in Ridgewood).“I wanted to create something that would help women feel less alone, less confused—and way more powerful.”
When Fadal was 20, she lost her mother to cancer. Looking back, she realized her mom had gone through medical menopause due to breast cancer, but it had never been acknowledged. “She used to be dripping with sweat in restaurants, and we all laughed about it—she did too. But now I feel so sad knowing she was probably suffering through it alone.”
Now Fadal is on a mission to make sure women never feel alone during menopause. “There are so many of us,” she says. “And nobody’s talking about it. We deserve better.”
Beyond the many ways menopause affects our health, Fadal’s book also explores how menopause can impact our relationships, our confidence, even our style. “It’s not just a doctor’s office issue,” she says. “Menopause touches every part of your life—your brain, your body, your career, your sense of self.”
She hopes women will see menopause not as an ending—but as a beginning.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that we’re past our prime. That we can’t be sexy, or strong, or useful. It’s just not true. This is our prime—we just need support to step into it.”
Fadal credits community and self-care as two of the biggest keys to getting through it all. “I never knew how important it was just to be seen,” she says. “Community gave me strength when I didn’t have any of my own.”
Fadal believes in making some kind of daily self-care a non-negotiable, no matter how busy life gets. She says hers is walking—and Fadal was walking while we did our interview over Zoom. “Even for five minutes. It clears my head and helps me slow down.” She also takes vitamin D, magnesium for sleep, and tries to never lose perspective: “When I’m having a bad day, I remind myself—I get to be here. My mom would’ve given anything for one more day.”
One of her biggest messages for women is to never settle when it comes to medical care. “If your doctor dismisses your symptoms or doesn’t have answers, it’s okay to find a new one,” she says. “We can’t be mad at doctors for not knowing what they weren’t taught—but we can advocate for ourselves.” She recommends telehealth options like Midi, Alloy Women’s Health, or Maven Clinic for access to expert menopause providers.
Menopause and everything that comes with it hits women at an already demanding time in life when we are caring for our kids and elderly parents. It can feel pretty overwhelming to find time for ourselves with so much hitting us at once. Fadal’s advice: “Start small. Take five minutes a day to ask yourself: ‘What do I want?’ That question changed everything for me. We’re so used to putting everyone else first, but this is the time to start showing up for ourselves.”
To enter our giveaway for two free tickets to “How to Menopause” Book Launch & Fireside Chat with Fadal and Loopwell’s Founder Deb Looney on March 27, head to our Instagram.
For more info about the event and ticket info, head to Loopwell’s site.
Read More:
Look Out for These 5 Signs of Perimenopause That Happen as Early as Your Mid-30s
