By Julia DeLuca, SWHR Communications Intern
Every year, 1.3 millon women transition into menopause in the United States, and 80% of women experience menopausal symptoms. Yet, many women go through the menopause transition without adequate support and knowledge about the different stages, symptoms, treatment, and care for this natural life stage. In an effort to draw attention to this issue, prominent women such as Oprah Winfrey, Drew Barrymore, Tamsen Fadal, Gwyneth Paltrow, and many others have been engaging in conversations about menopause.
As the menopause conversation heats up, women are still left with barriers to receive adequate care for their symptoms. In 2022, SWHR published the Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Women’s Empowerment Guide to support women through major menopause milestones and prepare them for conversations with physicians, families, and friends.
Building on this effort to support women going through menopause, the new Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide provides valuable information about treatment options for menopause symptoms; providers equipped to support menopause care; insurance policies and coverage for menopause care; tips for engaging in productive conversations about menopause; and the impact of menopause on the workplace.
There is a growing demand, specifically, for workplace practices that support those going through or post-menopause, as a recent report indicated that 64% of employees want menopause-related benefits. SWHR also created the new Roadmap to Menopause-Friendly Workplaces to help company employees, leadership, and other key stakeholders cultivate an environment that supports menopausal employees at work. Creating these supportive policies is a smart investment for both the organization’s people and its performance. Laid out in the roadmap, the key steps organizations should take to create a menopause-friendly workplace include:
- Accountability
- Assessment
- Action
- Appraisal
SWHR is deeply grateful to our Menopause Equity Working Group and all of the menopause experts we’ve had the privilege of working with other the years.
As part of SWHR’s Menopause Program, these resources aim to continue the growing conversation about menopause treatment, care, and influence on the workplace. Explore some of the Society’s other menopause resources online here.