Thank you to Dr. Corinne Menn for authoring this guest blog post .
Dr. Corinne Menn is a board-certified OBGYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She is also an over 23 year survivor of breast cancer and premature menopause, a BRCA carrier, and uses her experience to help women navigate their own health challenges. She has dedicated her medical practice to menopause management, the unique healthcare needs of female cancer survivors, and those at high risk for breast cancer.
Dr. Menn is also one of our leading experts for our upcoming retreat, Thriving After Breast Cancer. Learn more here.
In this blog post, I’m sharing an incredible resource for healthcare professionals - A Citizen’s Guide to Menopause Advocacy.
By reading this guide, you’ll gain the tools to take meaningful steps at your own pace while learning how policy impacts you or the women you care about.
As a board-certified OB-GYN and medical advisor, I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Mary Claire Haver to discuss the groundbreaking A Citizen's Guide to Menopause Advocacy. Spearheaded by the incredible Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, this comprehensive menopause advocacy guide outlines critical menopause policy goals to transform menopause care in this country.
During our conversation, Dr. Haver and I reflected on our professional journeys. Like many of our colleagues, we were not always the best menopause doctors early in our careers. The stark reality is that medical training often fails to adequately prepare providers for post-reproductive health. As a result, countless women have been underserved for far too long. But change is possible, and this guide is a game-changer.
The guide outlines six essential policy goals that empower citizens to take action and drive systemic change in menopause healthcare:
Reset the Record on Menopause and Hormone Therapy
The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study left behind a damaging legacy of fear and misinformation surrounding hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Outdated and inaccurate information still dominates many trusted resources. We must demand updates with the latest, evidence-based menopause care guidelines.
Prioritize Menopause Research
Currently, menopause research receives a mere 0.3% of the NIH budget. This is unacceptable for an issue that affects all women for a significant portion of their lives. Increased funding and a broader research focus are essential to understanding menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and bone density.
Mandate Menopause Education for Healthcare Providers
Menopause treatment should not be limited to OB-GYNs. Women in perimenopause and postmenopause interact with a wide range of clinicians, from primary care physicians to endocrinologists and oncologists. Ensuring all healthcare providers are educated on menopause management is crucial for comprehensive, compassionate care.
Make Menopause Treatments Affordable
The staggering cost disparities in menopause medications—such as the 100-fold price difference between Medicare Part D and Mark Cuban’s pharmacy for vaginal estrogen—are simply unacceptable. Affordable menopause care is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
Remove Outdated Warning Labels
Unwarranted warnings, particularly on vaginal estrogen therapy, continue to mislead both patients and providers. The “Unboxing Menopause” campaign, led by Dr. Sharon Malone and others, highlights the need for advocacy to destigmatize menopause treatments and ensure proper access.
Implement Meaningful Workplace Interventions
Menopause symptoms can significantly impact women in the workplace. Employers must step up by providing access to menopause-trained healthcare providers and fostering an environment that normalizes menopause and supports menopausal employees.
As we advocate for these changes, we must also center the most vulnerable populations, including cancer survivors, women experiencing premature menopause, and those facing socioeconomic barriers. Every woman deserves individualized menopause care that meets her unique needs.
This guide is more than just a document—it’s a call to action. It provides a menopause advocacy roadmap for citizens to demand the changes we need in menopause healthcare policy. We can no longer wait for those in power to act. It’s time to take matters into our own hands.
Download the guide, share it with your networks, and join us in this crucial movement to empower women through menopause advocacy.
To listen to our conversation, find our Instagram Live here.