Menopause
Menopause is a natural biological transition experienced by 51 percent of the population, yet it remains one of the more under‑recognized and under‑supported phases of women’s health globally. Spanning the years before, during, and after its onset, menopause typically happens between the ages of 45 and 55, and constitutes a significant portion of women’s lives.
For many women, this transition coincides with a high burden of caregiving and domestic responsibilities and, for many, professional work-related responsibilities. Both can exacerbate the impact of physiological changes related to menopause. Symptoms can affect well-being and daily functioning, and the dismissal of these by health professionals, families, workplaces and communities can limit women’s access to appropriate care.
At the World Health Organization (WHO) and HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction), menopause is being addressed as part of a life-course approach to women’s health and a key transition period for the healthy ageing of women, acknowledging its importance as a public health and women’s right imperative.
The limited attention to menopause has resulted in significant gaps in evidence, care, and policy. As populations age and more women spend a substantial portion of their lives in post-reproductive years, there is an urgent need to better understand and address menopause to improve women’s health in later years.
Closing these gaps requires stronger research, greater investment in neglected areas, and a commitment to gender equality and human rights as part of improving women’s health equity. Evidence must reflect the diversity of women’s experiences, values and preferences, recognizing that menopause is shaped by biological, social, cultural and economic factors and is experienced differently across contexts.
Generating and translating this knowledge into practice can support more effective services, strengthen health worker capacity, increase awareness, and improve access to health promoting care. Ultimately, greater attention to menopause can help improve women’s health, well-being, dignity and quality of life. It can also contribute to the economy, as menopause related symptoms can contribute to absenteeism, early exit from the work force, and earnings decline among women.
Every woman, everywhere, should have access to the information, care and support she needs to navigate menopause with dignity, make informed decisions about her health and continue to thrive throughout midlife and beyond.
This vision will be achieved by strengthening the evidence base on menopause and ensuring that women’s experiences, priorities and voices shape the global response. This includes advancing research, developing recommendations to guide health workers to deliver quality care, improving awareness among women and health professionals, addressing stigma or neglect and misinformation, and supporting health systems to better meet women’s needs.
