World Menopause Day: support women, strengthen systems

Perimenopause and menopause can extend for more than a decade. At any given moment, more than 450 million women around the world are going through this transition. According to research by the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health, closing the women’s health gap related to menopause alone could lead to an estimated 2.4 million disability-adjusted life years each year and nearly $120 billion in annual GDP gains. These numbers represent fewer lost work days, more stable household incomes, and less pressure on health systems. It also represents a life of greater comfort, clarity and confidence. Numbers sum up the risks, but lived experience explains them.

What stands in the way is not a lack of need, but a lack of preparedness across the systems that touch women’s lives. Diagnosis and care are often late, inconsistent, or inaccessible. And there’s evidence to back this up – a Yale University review of insurance claims showed that while 60% of women with noticeable menopausal symptoms seek treatment, nearly 75% are left untreated. Training is part of the problem In one study, half of family medicine physicians reported only one lecture on menopause during training, and one in five reported no lecture at all. The workforce impact is clear. Research suggests that one in four women considered leaving work during the transition period, and one in ten who worked during menopause left work because of their symptoms. This is not only a story of productivity, but also of opportunity cost. It is a story about the decline of experienced leaders, of teams losing their footing, and of families internalizing avoidable pressures.

As an expert member of a unique multi-stakeholder platform, the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health, as well as an expert medical advisor to the celebrated actress, director, producer, advocate and entrepreneur, Halle Berry’s menopause care platform, Respin Health, I see how quickly the conversation can shift when evidence meets implementation. These organizations help translate science into clinical standards and policies for employers, while informing policy frameworks that leaders can adopt and fund. Advocacy is meaningful when it leads to actions that are easy to imitate, measure, and sustain. Our work with Halle Berry, who recently joined the Global Alliance for Women’s Health as an Ambassador-at-Large, demonstrates the tremendous desire and momentum that exists to redefine menopause and empower women to be stewards of their own health. The road is known. What remains is to follow.

“When we leave women to face menopause alone, we pay a high price in terms of health, productivity, and dignity,” Halle Berry said. “We have to normalize this conversation about menopause. We have to make guidance usable. We have to improve access to quality care, and we have to invest in research and innovation.”

Healthcare is the first place to start

Menopause should be part of routine primary care, not a specialized service accessible only to a few. Screening can begin during routine visits for women in their 40s and 50s, with clear pathways to counseling and treatment. Evidence-based options include lifestyle approaches, non-hormonal therapies, and hormonal therapies, when appropriate and safe, guided by informed choice. Care must take into account mental health and cardio-metabolic risks, since sleep disturbance, mood changes, and metabolic shifts often co-occur. Referral pathways must link primary care, gynecology, mental health and cardiovascular services, so that women are not left to navigate a maze of contradictory advice. This is not about boutique clinics for the few. It’s about equipping the front lines to meet needs everywhere.

Workplaces are the next lever. Simple adjustments can make a meaningful difference. Flexibility where possible, paid leave for symptomatic days, and practical measures such as temperature control and quiet rest areas reduce the friction that turns symptoms into wasted days. Benefits must clearly name menopause, so women know that coverage exists. Manager training should normalize support without forcing disclosure. Employers who measure employee retention rates, error rates, and team performance before and after adopting these practices will find what many have already learned. Small investments stabilize teams and pay for themselves.

Research and product design must bridge the data gap and scale up solutions. Studies should reflect the diversity of real women, including race, age, and existing conditions. Endpoints need to be comparable so doctors and consumers can know what works for whom. Digital tools and consumer products targeting sleep, cognition, thermoregulation, and pelvic health should be evaluated according to evidence standards and priced for broad access. Innovation is welcome. As well as strictness. Women deserve both.

Policy and finance can transform best practices into the baseline

Basic menopause services belong to national primary health care packages and are in public and private insurance coverage. Governments can accelerate employer adoption of these policies through clear standards, public recognition, and targeted incentives that reward organizations for implementing menopause-friendly policies. Public information campaigns can replace stigma with practical knowledge for women, partners, managers and doctors. Countries should publish a small set of indicators that are relevant to everyday life. Time to diagnosis, access to treatment, and workforce engagement are easy to understand and robust to track. Accountability becomes easier when the metric is clear.

Why does this matter outside the clinic and the workplace? Because when women’s health is prioritized, families and economies function better. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment reduce absenteeism. Menopause-supportive workplaces keep experienced talent on the job and reduce turnover. Good care prevents avoidable complications that are later costly. These mechanisms are repeated across millions of women and thousands of organizations. The cumulative effect appears in national productivity. But the most important return is the human being. Better sleep, clearer thinking, more stable moods, and restored confidence are changing the way women live in midlife. This is growth measured in dignity and opportunity.

Effective advocacy combines public leadership, technical depth, and coordinated action. Public figures help make an issue relevant. Researchers and clinicians define what good care looks like. Cross-sector forums align employers, health systems and governments on practical standards and timelines. This combination transforms awareness into responsible implementation. This is where platforms like the Global Alliance for Women’s Health and the International Menopause Society bring real value to the conversation – by bringing together experts and leaders to make the shift from intention to action.

What should happen now?

Health systems can add a brief screening and consultation step to routine primary care visits and build simple referral pathways that don’t collapse under real-world pressure. Medical schools and continuing education providers can enhance training, so the next generation of doctors starts on more solid ground. Employers can post a menopause policy, train managers, and update benefits language so support is easier to find. Researchers can design studies that reflect the diversity of women and use common endpoints that allow for transparent comparisons. Policymakers could include menopausal care as a core benefit package and require transparent reporting of access and outcomes. None of these actions is considered a major success. Each option corresponds to what we already know.

Cultural change moves hand in hand with policy change. Partners can listen without judgment. Friends can share what helped them. Community leaders can include menopause in health conversations that already reach women where they live and work. Tone is important. Accuracy is important. The plan is important. Together they create an environment where women do not have to spend years searching for a name for their symptoms or a way to relief.

worldmenopauseThe day shouldn’t be a once-a-year reminder. It should be an annual moment of accountability that asks a simple question: Have we made it easier this year for women to find accurate information, timely care, and practical support? If yes, the benefits will be seen in clinics, workplaces, homes and countries.