Menopause: A Moment of Clarity in the Political Arena
The Unspoken Force Shaping the 2022 Elections
Perhaps you’ve heard: Menopause is having a moment. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Drew Barrymore have begun speaking out about coping with symptoms and self-worth. Halle Berry shouted from the steps of the Capitol: “I’m in menopause, OK?!” As menopause advocates, we have long seen this “moment” as overdue, spurring necessary conversations for millions who would otherwise suffer through menopause in silence and shame.
Beyond the Headlines: The Impact on Menopause
It is not at all crazy — and bodily autonomy is not solely about pregnancy and abortion. Menopausal women have a lot at stake on the ballot this year. Like our younger counterparts, we too must be able to make informed choices about our health. We deserve access to affordable, competent medical care and treatment from trained professionals. We have every right and reason to demand lawmakers and political leaders invest in our well-being, our dignity, our humanity.
Three Critical Issues Affecting Menopause Care
Equity in Federal Funding for Research
The National Institutes of Health allocates only 10.8% of its $45-billion budget to women’s health, according to the most recent tally (2020), although women make up more than half of the U.S. population. Of that, only a tiny fraction goes to research targeting midlife and menopause — an amount so small it can’t even be computed, given that menopause-specific research is part of a “subcategory of a subcategory,” according to neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi. In March, President Biden signed an executive order creating a national task force, the White House Women’s Health Research Initiative, with a call for a $12-billion investment in women’s midlife and menopause research. As part of that commitment, just last month the U.S. Department of Defense announced a new $500-million disbursement. We must pay attention to funding for women’s health research when we go to the polls.
Menopause in Down-Ballot Races
Menopause shows up in down-ballot races too. Governors, state legislators, city council members and other officials such as health commissioners and members of boards of regents can reinforce federal commitments via oversight roles — including of publicly funded universities and other entities that produce medical and scientific research. Many of these offices also have the power to increase — or decrease — access to affordable care.
Education is Essential
Education is essential. Although half the population in the U.S. will experience menopause, most patients struggle to find a doctor who can help them. Why? According to a Mayo Clinic survey, 20% of U.S.-based medical residents in the fields of obstetrics, family and internal medicine reported having zero menopause training; a mere 7% of those surveyed said they felt adequately prepared to treat menopausal patients. One of the House bills, a bipartisan effort, would create a national public awareness campaign and fund nationwide medical education initiatives.
Conclusion: Empowering the Menopausal Majority
Voters who are menopausal — as well as those who have menopausal family members or may be on the brink of perimenopause themselves, typically women in their 30s and 40s — are a mighty force. Reproductive health is their fight too. Anthropologist Margaret Mead famously stated: “There is no greater power in the world than the zest of a postmenopausal woman.” Zest is great. So is a robust policy agenda. Women should vote like their lives depend on it, because they do.
FAQs
- Q: What is the significance of menopause in the 2022 elections?
A: Menopausal women have a lot at stake, including access to affordable healthcare, robust research funding, and education. - Q: How do down-ballot races impact menopause?
A: Governors, state legislators, and other officials have the power to increase or decrease access to affordable care. - Q: What is the current state of menopause research funding?
A: The National Institutes of Health allocates only a small fraction of its budget to research targeting midlife and menopause. - Q: What can be done to improve menopause care?
A: Equity in federal funding for research, education, and increasing access to affordable care are essential.
