Jenna Bush Hager Opens Up About Perimenopause: “It’s Time We Start Talking About It”

For years, Jenna Bush Hager has been an open book — whether sharing heartwarming stories about her family, emotional moments from her time on Today, or reflections on growing up in the public eye as the daughter of a U.S. President. But now, as she prepares to turn 44, the Today co-host is opening up about something far more personal: her health.

In a candid new interview with People, Bush Hager revealed that she is in the early stages of perimenopause — the natural transition period before menopause — and she’s ready to talk about it openly, hoping to help other women do the same.

“There was no conversation when I was young,” Bush Hager admits. “My mom and her friends weren’t really talking about it, and now it’s all my friends are talking about. Since I posted about it on Instagram, a million friends have texted me and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, thank you for this.’”

Bush Hager, who has long used her platform to discuss motherhood, mental health, and body confidence, says this new chapter of her life has been a learning experience — one she refuses to keep private.

Breaking the Silence Around Women’s Health

For decades, conversations about perimenopause and menopause were often avoided — treated as taboo or even shameful. But Bush Hager says that’s changing, and she wants to help lead that shift.

“There’s still such a lack of information about women’s health,” she says. “Because I get to have these conversations all the time [thanks to my job], I just felt like it was time for me to start talking about it.”

Now, she’s teaming up with Midi Health, a women’s health platform focused on midlife and hormonal care, to raise awareness and make education more accessible.

Midi Health offers telehealth consultations and hormone management services designed specifically for women navigating perimenopause and menopause — an area of medicine that has historically been underserved.

Bush Hager says the partnership is personal: “There are doctors who really specialize in women our age and what needs to happen in your forties so that your fifties are excellent,” she explains. “I want to help women know that we don’t have to just push through it — there’s support out there.”

Recognizing the Signs

For Jenna, it started subtly — small mood changes, restless nights, and emotional swings that she first chalked up to stress or parenthood.

“I thought at first that it was related to work or being in my forties with more to worry about, my three little kids who I love,” she says. “But no, it’s very hormonal.”

Her symptoms — primarily mood swings and trouble sleeping — led her to start asking questions and talking to others. While she hasn’t experienced hot flashes yet, she’s learned that perimenopause can manifest in many ways, from anxiety and irritability to memory fog and irregular cycles.

“I’ve had mentors and friends and colleagues who are ten plus years older than I am,” Bush Hager explains. “I watched Hoda [Kotb] be like, ‘I’m having a hot flash!’ So I’ve had conversations that I don’t know that many 43-year-olds have had.”

Learning from Her Parents — and Paying It Forward

Jenna also credits her parents, former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, for teaching her the importance of honesty and openness — values that now drive her willingness to speak publicly about health and womanhood.

Her mother, Laura, was known for her quiet strength and advocacy for women’s education and healthcare during her time as First Lady. Jenna says that example continues to inspire her.

“My mom has always been graceful, calm, and open-minded about change,” she says. “She never made aging or womanhood feel like something to hide.”

Her father, too, has offered support in his own way. “He’s just proud of me for using my voice,” Jenna adds with a laugh.

A Conversation That Resonates

The response since her revelation has been overwhelming — and deeply emotional. Women across the country, many of them fans of Today, have reached out to thank her for breaking the silence.

“Since I started talking about it, the number of texts and DMs I’ve gotten is unbelievable,” she says. “Women feel seen. And that’s what matters.”

Experts say public figures like Bush Hager can play a crucial role in changing perceptions about menopause. By using their platforms, they help normalize discussions that once stayed behind closed doors.

Dr. Emily Fields, a women’s health specialist, notes: “When someone like Jenna shares her story, it validates what millions of women are experiencing. It tells them, ‘You’re not crazy, you’re not alone, and it’s okay to talk about it.’”

Looking Ahead with Optimism

Despite the physical and emotional challenges, Jenna approaches this new chapter with the same humor and heart she brings to Today every morning.

“I’m learning as I go,” she says. “But I know that talking about it — really talking — helps. It helps me, and I hope it helps other women too.”

For Jenna Bush Hager, perimenopause isn’t the end of anything — it’s the beginning of a new, more open conversation about what it really means to be a woman in midlife.

And if her candor is any sign, that conversation is just getting started.