Sudden bleeding and depression... What's the reality of menopause really like!?

Dentsu Inc.'s cross-functional internal organization 'Femtech and BEYOND.' views femtech as relevant not only to women but to society as a whole, driving various initiatives.

This series explores the evolving trends in femtech and its significance through the organization's initiatives, exchanging perspectives with diverse companies and media outlets.

This time, members of the " Hormone Hug Project " gathered for a roundtable discussion. This initiative, born from the collaboration between "Femtech and BEYOND." and Anfer, aims to support women navigating hormonal changes, including menopause. Sayako Shimokawabe from Shogakukan, Miho Arai from Lacalup, Michiko Yahata from Anfa, and Aiko Ishimoto from Dentsu Inc. Femtech and BEYOND. discussed the hardships of menopause, challenges, coping methods, and the project's future.

About the Hormone Hug Project:
This project, run by volunteers across industries and sectors, addresses health challenges related to hormonal balance changes, such as menstrual pain, PMS, and menopause for both men and women. Led by "Femtech and BEYOND." and Angfa, activities commenced in March 2025, with a media briefing held at Dentsu Inc. Hall on May 22nd of the same year. We are continuously seeking supporters for our activities and brands/manufacturers interested in sponsorship.

(From left) Anfa's Michiko Yahata, Shogakukan's Sayako Shimokobe, Lacarp's Miho Arai, Dentsu Inc.'s Aiko Ishimoto

The Hormone Hug Project launched through the collaboration between Dentsu Inc. and Anfa

Ishimoto: The Hormone Hug Project launched this March. Since then, we've gradually been sharing information about menopause and fostering discussion, involving volunteer influencers and companies dealing in femtech products.

The project began when I happened to attend a femtech event and met Anfer. We exchanged business cards and started chatting, and the conversation quickly became lively about women's health issues. We immediately clicked and decided we wanted to collaborate on something new.

Yahata: While Anfa is often perceived as a company specializing in men's hair loss care products, our foundation actually lies in healthcare... We collaborate with university institutions and others to develop a wide range of products based on preventive medicine perspectives. We also handle many products for women, such as eyelash serums, women's hair care products, and intimate care products.

At Anfa, I handle promotions for our women's brands and have long engaged with women's health and beauty challenges. Through this work, I naturally began thinking about questions like, "How can we stay healthy and beautiful throughout our lives?" and "What does it take to age gracefully and actively—to achieve active aging?"

It was around this time that I happened to meet Ms. Ishimoto at an event exhibition and learned about the activities of "Femtech and BEYOND." I immediately thought, "This is fascinating!" and remember telling her I wanted to collaborate.

We had a great conversation with fashion editor Naoko Oogusa, and she later introduced me to Sayako Shimokobe from Shogakukan. Our network gradually expanded like this, and Mihoko Arai and Emi Takibuchi, who run Lacalup, joined us.

Ishimoto: As we all talked openly, we realized, "Actually, menopause was really tough for me," and "Many women must be struggling with menopause. Now that femtech is gaining traction, this is the perfect time to take action!"

Irregular bleeding, depression symptoms. Learning to coexist with a difficult menopause changed my life.

Ishimoto: What surprised me when we launched the project was hearing everyone's "menopause stories." Since I haven't experienced menopause myself, I couldn't fully imagine what "it" was like. So, hearing stories from those who've lived through it gave me many realizations: "Oh, that happens?" "It's okay to talk about this so openly?" "It brings positive changes, not just challenges."

Since we're here, I thought it would be great to hear some of your personal menopause stories today... How about starting with you, Ms. Arai?

Arai: I started noticing discomfort around age 50. Before approaching menopause, I was very healthy, eager to work, full of dreams and hopes—basically, I was always on the go. In 2012, I founded a PR company specializing in organic lifestyle beauty, and since then, I feel like I've been running nonstop, driven by my ideals.

But when I turned 50, suddenly, my body and mind just stopped moving. I couldn't sleep, couldn't get up, my skin became extremely dry, and the abnormal bleeding wouldn't stop. I wanted to work but couldn't, I wanted to get along with my colleagues and friends but couldn't... The balance between my body and soul completely collapsed, and I fell into a depressive state.

"What is this?" I realized it was menopause. From then on, I tried all sorts of treatments. First, I got my hormone levels tested, started taking herbal medicine, reviewed my lifestyle habits like diet, exercise, and sleep, and even tried meditation. Still, there was no improvement. Finally, I arrived at a treatment involving natural hormone replacement therapy. Now, I can work at the same level of performance as before.

While I was in the thick of it, it just felt unbearably painful. But looking back now, I think menopause was a time to "reform my body and mind." It was a time to notice the changes, pause, reconnect with myself, and update who I am. It also helped me understand the feelings of female employees struggling with similar issues and became a catalyst for reviewing our company's environment and systems to support women working vibrantly for longer.

Many people associate menopause with negative connotations, but it's not solely about suffering—it holds real meaning. Having experienced it myself, I now see it as a life event essential for living healthily in this era of 100-year lifespans.

Wait, both that senior colleague and this senior colleague at work don't have periods anymore!? The shocking truth about menopause

Ishimoto: I hear you, Shimokawabe-san, have often felt the "power of hormones" since you were young. How did your relationship with hormones develop to where you are now?

Shimokobe: The first time I truly grasped hormones' power was during pregnancy and childbirth. Since I'd handled women's health pages in fashion magazines from a young age, I thought I had some knowledge about hormones. But when I actually gave birth, the moment I delivered, tears just flowed, my skin broke out, I gained weight, I swelled up... I distinctly remember thinking, "Hormones have an incredible influence..."

Later, through work, I became involved with novels and films featuring gay characters. Here too, I felt the "power of hormones." My network gradually expanded, giving me more opportunities to hear stories from LGBTQ individuals. Some were undergoing hormone therapy. The people I spoke with were genuinely astonished by the physical changes brought on by hormones, saying things like, "After starting testosterone replacement, not only did I grow facial hair, but my sex drive increased too," or "I started to understand why men cheat." Hearing these stories everywhere made me think, "Hormones really are powerful." Looking back, it feels like I've been living my whole life aware of how incredible hormones are (laughs).

Then, after turning 45, my own menstrual patterns suddenly changed. I'd have unexpectedly long periods of abnormal bleeding, followed by skipping my period for about three months, and then suddenly bleeding heavily again. At first, I worried it might be uterine cancer and got tested, but it wasn't cancer. My doctor suggested, "Could it be menopause?"

What shocked me then was learning that "the average age of menopause is around 50" (※). I vaguely knew this fact intellectually, but I'd never really internalized it as something that applied to me personally. So I was stunned: "Huh!? No way! That means I only have two or three years left?!" At the same time, I was hit with the realization: "So that senior colleague at work, and that other one too... they don't have periods anymore?!" "Everyone was going through menopause?!"

※Reference: I Won't Let Menopause Beat Me! Reiwa-Era Women in Their Late 40s Confronting Menopausal Symptoms

It might be partly because we're in the beauty and fashion industry, but everyone was silently struggling and enduring it without telling anyone. They always looked stylish and put-together, but in reality, they were dealing with physical and mental discomfort from menopause while working hard at the office and facing childcare or caregiving responsibilities at home. This is incredibly tough. I realized it's a huge societal issue.

Fortunately, I had access to knowledge and support, so I immediately consulted friends and acquaintances. I was able to take countermeasures with hormone replacement therapy before my menopausal symptoms worsened. However, in situations where women "don't know" or "can't talk about it," they are left with no choice but to endure. That's precisely why I believe disseminating accurate information and creating spaces where they can talk is crucial. This is why I support the Hormone Hug Project.

Menopause is a hidden social issue. What are the coping strategies and future outlook?

Ishimoto: Hearing your stories, I was shocked to learn that active, vibrant women like Ms. Arai, Ms. Shimokobe, and Ms. Oku and Ms. Takibuchi—who spoke at the Hormone Hug media briefing recently—struggled so much with menopause... As Ms. Shimokobe said, it truly is a "hidden social issue."

Shimokobe: I agree. In the past, fewer women worked, so it was less visible. But now, more women reach management positions and work until retirement. Precisely because more women are working, more are struggling to balance work and menopause. And because they're out in the world, more are concerned about visible issues like thinning hair. What's more, menopause often coincides with children's rebellious phases and caring for aging parents. While grappling with menopause, they must also handle child-rearing, housework, caregiving, and demanding jobs or promotions. It's impossible for this not to be overwhelming. I think our generation, made more conscious of professional success by the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace, is a kind of pioneer generation, forging careers while juggling work, family, and menopause.

Ishimoto: Thinking about it that way, everything piles up, and there are no role models—it's incredibly harsh... Hearing these stories made me realize, "Menopause is absolutely not something you can overcome alone." I felt, "It's something you coexist with, embrace, and learn to navigate." What do you think is necessary to navigate it?

Shimokobe: Having knowledge allowed me to connect with medical care early and manage it, so I believe acquiring proper knowledge is crucial first. Also, don't endure it silently. It's not uncommon for what you thought was menopause to actually be something else, like cancer. Don't think, "It's just menopause anyway" or "I'll manage if I endure it." Whether to treat menopause itself or to prevent serious illness, if something feels off, I urge you to see a gynecologist early.

Arai: I hope people can embrace it positively, without fear. While it can be tough, as I mentioned earlier, menopause also brings many positive changes. It's like a renewal period in life – a chance to reassess your lifestyle, let go of what's unnecessary, and learn how to live the second half of your life better. It brings so many good insights; you gain enlightenment (laughs).

Yahata: Creating an environment where you can talk about it is also crucial, right? I still think many people carry it alone, thinking "Menopause is embarrassing" or "It's not something you tell people." Sharing that fuzzy feeling with someone will surely lighten your heart. You might find coping methods, and it can also lead to sharing knowledge and experience with younger generations.

Arai: If it's hard to talk about directly, maybe start with related topics like intimate area care or gut health instead of saying "menopause" outright. If the person is male, you could use male menopause or your partner's discomfort as a starting point.

Shimokobe: That's a great idea. If men gain a deeper understanding of male menopause, they'll naturally come to understand female menopause too.

Yahata: Seminars are another great option. At our company, we regularly hold various seminars from a preventive medicine perspective, so our menopause seminars seem to be accepted quite smoothly. Presenting facts from an expert perspective, like a doctor, makes it easier for men in particular to accept the information without resistance.

Ishimoto: Our mission at the "Hormone Hug Project" is to disseminate accurate information about hormones, including menopause, and to create spaces where people can connect, empathize, and feel reassured. Moving forward, we want to continue creating spaces for conversation nationwide, working with many influencers and experts, including Mr. Yahata, Mr. Arai, and Mr. Shimokawabe.

At the same time, we want to invigorate the menopause-related business sector. Globally, various menopause products are emerging, but in Japan, services and products are still scarce. Even when they exist, they seem scattered... Companies entering the market are operating independently, and it doesn't feel like there's much significant movement yet.

Arai: I understand. Menopause isn't solved by addressing individual symptoms. As mentioned earlier, you have to exercise, change your diet, take herbal medicine, go to the hospital for blood tests, and research hormone therapy. It's incredibly busy and demanding.

Shimokobe: Exactly. It requires money, time, and knowledge—it feels like a highly complex problem that needs solving.

Yahata: That's why I don't think this field is something one company can tackle alone. We need to break down corporate barriers, pool our strengths, create a new platform, and address it holistically. We need to adopt a different approach than what's been done before.

Ishimoto: The "hug" in Hormone Hug carries more than just the meaning of "embrace." It also implies "hub" and the idea of connecting people. We want to build a solid business model that connects various people and companies to solve these challenges. The menopause and menopause technology field in Japan is currently a blue ocean. We aim to establish a strong presence there and create an environment where women can live comfortably for longer.