Silence, stigma, and shame: a postmodern analysis of distress during menopause.

Because of the complexity of a midlife woman's life and the variation of the manifested symptoms of menopause, much remains inconclusive regarding the experience of distress during the menopause transition. The purpose of this narrative analysis study was to examine experiences of distress during the menopause transition using a postmodern feminist framework. Findings include experiences of shame related to symptom experience and prevailing social discourses on menopause and aging. Clinicians must be cautioned of the potential for silencing and withdrawal in women who may not be receiving adequate support, and must advocate for more choices for midlife women.