Every year, World Menopause Day, promoted by the International Menopause Society, invites institutions, doctors, and media to reflect on the role menopause plays in women's lives and in society.

Recent research has confirmed a central message: menopause is not just a biological event, but a matter of public health, equity, and productivity.

A global snapshot of menopause today

According to the SVB Innovation in Women’s Health Report (2024), investments in women's health have reached over 10 billion dollars, with a growing share dedicated to technologies and solutions for menopause management.

In parallel, the Institute for Fiscal Studies report (The Menopause Penalty, 2024) has documented for the first time in a causal way the impact of menopause on women's careers and income:

- average 20% reduction in income for those experiencing moderate or severe symptoms;

- increase in absenteeism and recourse to social benefits;

- decrease in full-time work participation.

Numbers that speak clearly: menopause is not just a matter of individual well-being, but a structural economic and social factor.

What scientific evidence tells us

The guidelines of the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) and data from the Menopause Empowerment Guide highlight that:

- vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) affect up to 75% of women;

- genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) affects about 50% of postmenopausal women;

- estrogen deficiency affects bones, heart, and metabolism;

- hormone replacement therapy (HRT), when personalized, is considered safe and beneficial for most healthy women.

Science confirms that the key is treatment personalization, based on medical evaluation and individual anamnesis.

Menopause and work: a still invisible topic

Research in recent years, including the Menopause in the Workplace Report (Carrot, 2023) and Censis data, show that over 60% of menopausal women experience difficulties in maintaining performance and motivation due to symptoms.

Many report decreased concentration, insomnia, and loss of confidence in their abilities.

Despite this, few companies have internal policies to support female workers during this phase. A lack that has direct consequences on productivity, retention, and organizational well-being. Implementing menopause-friendly environments means instead valuing the professional experience of women in the prime of their careers and fostering a more inclusive corporate culture.

Italy between awareness and delays

In the Italian context, awareness is growing but misinformation remains widespread.

The What Women Think About Menopause survey (CENSIS) showed that over 80% of women know about menopause, but only 7% follow hormone therapy and more than half do not receive structured medical guidance.

This reflects a gap in health education and a system still not very attentive to women's health in this phase of life. Filling this gap means investing in prevention, early diagnosis, and specialized medical training.

Why a change of narrative is needed

Menopause is not a disease, but a physiological transition that deserves listening, competence, and respect.

The message at the heart of World Menopause Day is simple but powerful.

A new narrative is needed, based on scientific knowledge, public policies, and positive communication.

Making menopause a visible topic helps women recognize themselves, confront, and ask for the support they are entitled to.

The Pausetiv vision: knowledge, community, change

Pausetiv promotes a scientific and human approach to menopause.

Through informative content, monitoring tools, and personalized medical pathways, it aims to help women understand their bodies and live this phase consciously.

Its mission is to transform knowledge into health: disseminate reliable information, create connections between women and specialists, and normalize the dialogue on a topic that affects millions of people.

The most updated research teaches us that menopause is a public health issue, of equity and innovation.

Recognizing it, studying it, and addressing it with competence is a collective responsibility.

Discover personalized pathways for menopausal health on www.pausetiv.com