Despite Deep Partisan Divides, Lawmakers Unite on Menopause Research
WASHINGTON — Despite deep partisan divides on issues like abortion and contraceptive access, lawmakers from both parties appear to have forged a cautious consensus on another women’s issue: menopause.
Unlikely Allies
A bipartisan group of female senators introduced legislation earlier this year to increase federal research on menopause and coordinate the federal government’s existing programs related to menopause and midlife women’s health for the first time.
At a press conference with actress Halle Berry in May, Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., touted the bill outside of the Capitol.
The Need for Research
According to Kathryn Schubert, the CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research, the issue is one drawing consensus during a time of divisiveness on other women’s issues.
“We’re seeing this as an issue where people can sort of coalesce around in the women’s health space,” she said.
Schubert explained that a key issue hindering research on menopause is the inability to track it to begin with. Unlike other chronic or debilitating health conditions, menopause lacks Research, Condition and Disease Categorization codes at the National Institutes of Health.
A Lack of Understanding
Another reason advocates say there’s been a lack of research on menopause is the fallout from the Women’s Health Initiative, a series of clinical trials from the NIH that began in 1991 and focused on strategies for preventing heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
The findings of a portion of the Women’s Health Initiative, which have since been found to be flawed, found that there was an increased risk of developing breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke and pulmonary embolisms in those who took hormones.
Consequences of Ignoring Menopause
Schubert said support for federal research on menopause spans both sides of the aisle, and other women’s health issues, like research on conditions such as endometriosis, are emerging in a similar way.
In April, California Sen. Laphonza Butler, a Democrat, and Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, a Republican, introduced a bill that would fund maternal mortality research annually for seven years as well as approve research that would target disparities associated with maternal mortality and reduce preventable causes of deaths, among the bill’s other provisions.
White House Involvement
In addition to bipartisan bills in Congress, the departing Biden administration has backed increased research funding for menopause as part of President Joe Biden’s investment in women’s health.
In November 2023, Biden announced the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, led by first lady Jill Biden and the White House Gender Policy Council.
Conclusion
Despite deep partisan divides, lawmakers have been able to come together on the issue of menopause research. The shared understanding among female lawmakers of what it’s like to go through menopause has united them in their efforts to increase research funding and support for women’s health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is menopause research important?
A: Menopause research is important because it can help improve the lives of millions of women who experience menopause each year. It can also help identify new treatments and therapies for menopause-related symptoms.
Q: Why has there been a lack of research on menopause?
A: There has been a lack of research on menopause due to several factors, including the lack of tracking codes for menopause at the National Institutes of Health and the fallout from the Women’s Health Initiative.
Q: What is the current state of menopause research?
A: The current state of menopause research is that there is a lack of understanding about the symptoms and experiences of menopause. However, there are efforts underway to increase research funding and support for menopause research.
Q: What can individuals do to support menopause research?
A: Individuals can support menopause research by advocating for increased funding for women’s health research and by educating themselves and others about the importance of menopause research.
Q: What is the future of menopause research?
A: The future of menopause research is promising, with efforts underway to increase research funding and support for menopause research. With continued advocacy and support, menopause research is likely to continue to evolve and improve the lives of millions of women who experience menopause each year.
