Breaking the Silence, Ending the Global Neglect

Power in Menopause
A Global Declaration  

​

FRENCH     SPANISH 

​

Menopause is one of the most universal yet systematically overlooked realities in women’s lives, with enormous societal consequences.  

​

Menopause is not a disease. It is a decade-long transition that half of the world’s population will experience during their lifetimes. (i) By 2030, 1.2 billion women around the world will be menopausal or post-menopausal. (ii) 

​

And while everyone experiences menopause differently, four out of every five women experience profound physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms that impact their health, lives, and livelihoods. (iii) Too many of these women are forced to tolerate symptoms and discomfort in silence or without treatment.  

​

We are here to change this. The Power in Menopause campaign is a new global movement demanding action on menopause.  

​

Menopause: A Global Health Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight 

 

Menopause symptoms can affect every dimension of women’s health. Hot flashes can impact women’s sleep cycles, trigger mood swings, and leave women more vulnerable to depression. (iv) Hormonal changes that accompany menopause can drastically alter women’s metabolism and bone density, increasing women’s risk of long-term disability and heart disease. (v, vi, vii)  

​

Menopause symptoms can be so debilitating that every year, they rob the world’s women of 2.4 million healthy years of life. (viii)   

​

Yet millions of menopausal women suffer in silence due to a systemic lack of information, misdiagnosis, or stigma. In many cases, it’s celebrities, not health systems, who are encouraging women to openly discuss their experiences and seek support.    

​

And most health professionals are not specifically or adequately trained on menopause, so they may not know how to identify symptoms or counsel women experiencing menopause. (ix) As a result, women are exposed to misinformation and companies pushing unverified advice and products on the internet and social media.  

​

Even hormone therapy (HT) — a proven treatment for menopause symptoms — remains under-prescribed, misunderstood, or inaccessible in many parts of the world. The result: millions of menopausal women are forced to experience unnecessary discomfort that medicine can manage. (x,xi,xii)  

​

Much about menopause remains unknown because of existing data gaps and because it remains grossly under-invested and under-researched, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and among Indigenous and marginalized groups. (xiii, xiv)  

​

Menopause Policies are Beginning to Emerge — but Remain Exceedingly Rare

​

Despite its widespread impact, most countries still don’t treat menopause as a public health priority. 

Robust national frameworks are urgently needed to increase research funding, improve access to care and education, and expand workplace accommodations. 

​

A few countries, including the UK, Spain, and Kenya, are leading the way and offer a blueprint forward. These countries have initiated country guidelines and workplace initiatives. Without coordinated investment and leadership, tens of millions of women will continue to navigate menopause unsupported and underserved. 

​

Menopause is an Economic Imperative and a $120 Billion USD Opportunity  

​

Menopause is not just a health issue; it’s an economic one too. Perimenopausal women are the fastest growing portion of the workforce, so menopause symptoms have huge implications for companies and economies. (xv) 

​

Menopause symptoms can make work difficult, and disrupt women’s careers and economic productivity. (xvi, xvii) Research shows that nearly one in four working women have quit or considered quitting their jobs due to menopause symptoms. (xviii) 

​

But we have the power to change this. Helping women to better manage their menopause symptoms is not just a moral imperative, it’s also a smart financial decision that could add $120 billion USD to the global economy, every year. (xix) 

 

The Power in Menopause Campaign Issues a Global Call to Action

 

We believe that: 

• The neglect of menopause in medicine, policy, and public discourse is a global failure that must be addressed. 

• Every woman—everywhere—deserves better science, care and support. 

• No one should face menopause alone, uninformed, or untreated. 

• The world can no longer tolerate the quiet suffering of half the world’s population.