The Elusive M Word

In today’s society, it seems like everything is talked about openly now and nothing is kept private. But there is one thing that still isn’t talked about: Menopause.

Let’s address the facts first: When a person experiences their first menstrual cycle, it’s often seen as a symbolic shift into adulthood. Pregnancy and becoming a parent are also celebrated as positive milestones, yet the final chapter of entering menopause is not only completely ignored, it’s also stigmatized. 

Menopause is biologically inevitable for anyone who menstruates, so why is it shamed? Did you know that some leave the workforce at the height of their career because they aren’t supported by their employers as they go through it? And the medical community almost reinforces our society’s silence around it by not regularly training our gynecologists to treat menopause’s most common 34 symptoms. 

In 2022, the menopause industry is worth $600 Billion and big-name investors, like Katie Couric Media, Alexis Ohanian, Stacy London, and Alloy, are taking notice. But why now? According to Embr Labs, it’s all generational. 

With the baby boomers, you had a large number of women who believed that they should just suffer in silence like their mother’s and grandmother’s did. They didn’t have technology at their fingertips like Gen X-ers, who have found their own way. They have been taking on the transition to menopause care and advocating for a better process. And while Get X-ers have started the process, it’s truly Millennials (the oldest of whom are starting to enter perimenopause) who will ensure the progress made now isn’t temporary. 

As the demand for information and tools increases, the medical field is simultaneously evolving to provide a better standard of care. There are definitely more resources, more communities, and more education available for providers to learn how to treat menopause patients. There are more courses available, there is attention being paid in residency programs and in medical school.

Lastly, it seems people experiencing menopause want to come forward to share their experiences, learn, and create communities with people navigating similar issues. There have been so many questions about health and wellness, finding the right doctor, and libido on digital platforms and in person events that prove women are seeking connection and education around what they’re experiencing.

With all of this industry development, progress in the medical community, and destigmatization in the menopause space happening in parallel paths, there's hope that the estimated 1.1 billion people worldwide who will experience menopause by 2025 will be able to do so with a newfound openness, medical and professional support.