From left, Oregon authors Monica Drake, Cheryl Strayed and Lidia Yuknavitch pictured at OPB on Sept. 9, 2026, after being interviewed about "The Big M." The book is a collection of 13 essays about menopause, including stories by these three authors.
Geoff Norcross / OPB
Menopause is one of the biggest transitions women go through and, for some, the most difficult. For many, it’s a challenge to get medical care and other support during those years. That’s because research and education about menopause and perimenopause has been severely lacking, as well as the cultural space to center women’s experiences — particularly around menses, perimenopause and menopause.
Oregon author Lidia Yuknavitch aims to expand that space with a new book of essays she edited. “The Big M” is a collection by 13 different writers reflecting on their experiences of menopause and perimenopause. The book uses these distinct but unified perspectives to rebrand and reinvent our understanding of “the big change.”
Portland authors Cheryl Strayed and Monica Drake contributed their stories to the book. They join us, along with Yuknavitch, to discuss their essays and their perspectives about the cultural conversation about menopause.
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