By: Julie Miller, SWHR Development Director
Midlife, typically defined as starting at age 35 and going through age 65, represents about 63% of women in the United States, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet, health research focused on this critical window for healthy aging interventions in women has been understudied. Beyond their reproductive years, in the prime of their careers, and not yet Medicare beneficiaries, women during this time are challenged by many health issues, including but not limited to the menopause transition, osteoporosis and bone fracture risk, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, sleep disorders, and breast and gynecologic cancers. Many women during this life stage also are caregivers for children and/or aging parents, potentially impacting both their physical and mental health.
As the doorway to the second half of life, the midlife transition provides a critical opportunity for women to seek a proactive approach to future wellbeing and longevity. Preventive measures – particularly lifestyle approaches – have the power to promote cardiovascular, cognitive, bone and emotional health, while combatting obesity and associated disorders, including cancers and chronic diseases. Many women don’t start thinking about their bone health until later in life or after a fracture happens, yet bone loss can begin as early as perimenopause, with as much as 3-5% of bone loss per year in the first five years. Many women are also unaware of the impacts of heart disease in women – that it is the leading cause of death for women, killing more women than all types of cancer combined. Stressors such as changes in family relationships and caregiving expectations, in hormones and metabolism during the menopause transition, and in financial resources and security nearing retirement pose additional health challenges for many midlife women.
It seems that for every piece of information available, there are more questions than answers when it comes to midlife health. According to the 2023 Memorandum on the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, “to address pervasive gaps in our knowledge of women’s health, we must accelerate research on the unique health needs of women across their lifespans” – and this includes midlife. Research gaps are especially acute for diseases and conditions that are more associated with women’s midlife and later years, including perimenopause and menopause. Gaps are often even more significant for those who have been historically underrepresented in, or excluded from research, such as women of color. How do we ensure that women in this life stage are getting accurate, evidence-based information that empowers them to be active participants in their own health care? It takes all of us across the health care ecosystem to raise up midlife health as a crucial part of women’s health span, the same way we focus on puberty and adolescent health for girls, and reproductive and maternal health for adults (not to say these spaces could not also and always use additional focus!).
The Society for Women’s Health Research is excited to develop and launch new women’s midlife health resources in the coming year that will highlight key information for women in this life stage, as both patients and caregivers. These materials will build on SWHR’s other science and policy work that overlaps with midlife health in bone health, gynecologic health, pain, eye health, and menopause preparedness.
According to TIME Magazine, some midlife conditions like menopause are finally “going mainstream.” Today, public figures like Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Drew Barrymore are openly talking about their menopause journeys and changing the stereotypical way culture has stigmatized this time in a woman’s life. Conversations around women’s midlife health are part of the new zeitgeist. When women start talking about their midlife health experiences, they often learn about treatments. Technology that addresses women’s health, often referred to as femtech, was an industry worth $52 billion in globally in 2023 and is expected to surpass $100 billion by 2028. Femtech aims to right the wrongs women may experience when interacting with the health care system by specifically focusing on women’s health needs. Investing in women’s health care has the potential to drive positive social changes across the care ecosystem and beyond.
The Women’s Midlife Health Journal began in 2015 and closed publication in 2023 with editors noting that scientific knowledge around midlife had increased significantly in the years the journal was open. At the same time, they warned that the scientific community “need[s] to remain vigilant to the unique and evolving stressors facing midlife women as they provide an important understanding of the social context for women’s health.”
Navigating midlife health concerns can be challenging and complex, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. When we empower midlife women to take charge of their health – and when we educate providers and policymakers about the importance of supporting midlife women – we improve health outcomes of all women and girls.
Do you have a midlife health story to share? You story can help support other women who may be going through a similar experience and educate policymakers and researchers in this space. Share your story with SWHR by visiting swhr.org/shareyourstory and you could help inform future resources.