Global Coalition Calls for Support for Women During Menopause

On World Menopause Day, a coalition of health experts, women’s health advocates, and industry leaders launched the Power in Menopause Declaration, a global advocacy campaign calling on the World Health Organization (WHO), national governments, and corporations to prioritize menopause and implement policies supporting women and health workers.

The campaign, led by 20 figures across sectors and countries, seeks to address a health issue often overlooked. By 2030, 1.2 billion women worldwide will be menopausal or post-menopausal, with up to 80% experiencing symptoms that affect their health, relationships, and careers. In Mexico, over 6 million women are in menopause, and by 2030, women aged between 45 and 60 years will be among the fastest-growing cohorts, explains Mayra Hurtado, CEO, Hormony, on MBN.  

As women enter menopause, they experience significant hormonal shifts, particularly the decrease in estrogen levels. This transition marks the end of the reproductive phase, and it profoundly affects various aspects of health, including body composition, bone density, muscle mass, and fat distribution, reports MBN. Debilitating menopause symptoms are estimated to cost women 2.4 million years of healthy life annually. 

This phase is a key moment of development in a woman’s life journey, yet it is frequently overlooked and underrecognized. Treatments exist but are under-prescribed or inaccessible in many regions, while few countries maintain official menopause policies. Advocates warn that the lack of information, misdiagnosis, and societal stigma leave millions of women to suffer in silence.

“Menopause is a universal experience that radically reshapes women’s lives,” says Katja Iversen, Co-lead, Power in Menopause Declaration . “The Power in Menopause campaign gives visibility and validation to this natural transition that is too often dismissed and misunderstood.”

The campaign also highlights menopause as an economic issue. Women in or approaching menopause represent the fastest-growing segment of the global workforce, and nearly one in four have considered leaving their jobs due to symptoms. Research suggests that improving management of menopause symptoms could contribute an additional US$120 billion to the global economy annually.

The Power in Menopause Declaration invites stakeholders worldwide to sign on, advocating for comprehensive clinical guidance, workplace initiatives, and policies that recognize the needs of women experiencing menopause.