Women’s health is one of the most neglected and underfunded areas in global healthcare. This neglect stems in large part from systemic gender imbalance in leadership and decision-making roles, where women remain underrepresented. One of the most glaring examples of this neglect is the way society — and even the medical profession — treats menopause.

Menopause is still widely seen as a taboo topic, cloaked in shame and stigma. Most General Practitioners and even many Gynaecologists receive little to no formal education on menopause during their medical training. As a result, women experiencing menopause are often confused about their symptoms, and when they seek medical help, they are frequently misunderstood or misdiagnosed. This leads to delayed care, unnecessary suffering, and lost productivity.

This is not a niche issue. Women make up more than half of the healthcare workforce globally, and more than half of them are over the age of 45 — the age when menopause typically begins. We must support the carers who care for us.

We are calling for urgent global action to create and implement a Comprehensive Menopausal Education Curriculum, under the guidance of the United Nations, to ensure that:

Medical professionals are properly trained in menopausal health.
Women receive accurate information, timely diagnosis, and effective care.
Workplaces adopt menopausal-friendly policies that support health and dignity.
We end the stigma surrounding menopause once and for all.