Women's Midlife Health Policy Institute Releases Report to Address Systemic Health Needs of Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women

Strategic Insights -

Women's midlife health has long been neglected, with 75 million women in the US experiencing perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause, representing a significant portion of the female population. The Women's Midlife Health Policy Institute (WMHPI) has released a report outlining four key goals to address the systemic health needs of women at this critical stage of life. The goals aim to raise awareness, enhance clinician education, reform health insurance practices, and cultivate workplace environments that support women's midlife health.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Women's Midlife Health Policy Institute (WMHPI) was created by the National Menopause Foundation in the fall of 2023 to advance research, education, and policies that improve the health and wellbeing of women at midlife and beyond.
  • Approximately 75 million women in the U.S. are currently perimenopausal, menopausal, or postmenopausal, with 1.3 million women entering menopause each year.
  • The four overarching goals identified in the report are:

- Raise national awareness about women's midlife health, the menopause transition, and menopausal symptoms to destigmatize this natural stage of life and educate women about increased health risks.

- Enhance clinician education and support to ensure comprehensive, informed care for women at midlife and those experiencing menopausal symptoms.

- Reform health insurance practices to include better coverage of midlife and menopause-related health needs.

- Cultivate workplace environments that acknowledge and actively support women's midlife health, contributing to greater job satisfaction and retention, and to pursue legislation to create fair workplace policies for women at midlife.

  • Claire Gill, founder and president of the National Menopause Foundation, emphasized that "the health needs of women at midlife can no longer be ignored" and that it's imperative for women's health advocates and organizations to collaborate on key issues to improve the health outcomes and quality of life for all women at midlife and beyond.

Statistics:

  • 75 million women in the U.S. are currently perimenopausal, menopausal, or postmenopausal.
  • 1.3 million women enter menopause each year in the U.S.
  • 1/3 to 1/2 of women's lives are spent postmenopausally.
  • 75 leading women's health advocacy stakeholders, women's health advocates, and clinicians participated in the Women's Midlife Health Summit in Washington, D.C., in March 2024.

Sources:

  • The Women's Midlife Health Policy Institute (WMHPI)
  • The National Menopause Foundation (NMF)
  • Peacock K, Carlson K, Ketvertis KM. Menopause. [Updated 2023 Dec 21]. In: StatPearls[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.