Why is it important that we talk more about menopause?
Christophe Clergeau: Menopause is a major women’s health issue that remains under-discussed and under-diagnosed, even though most women experience perimenopause and menopause and may live with its effects for decades. Europe needs focused action to deliver better answers and support.
Billy Kelleher: Despite its significance, menopause has long been treated as secondary, with too little diagnosis and too little research. Keeping it visible is essential to drive action, especially on research, innovation and better treatments for perimenopause and menopause.
Join the conversation: Tuesday 9th of June at the European Parliament in Brussels, The Parliament and Besins Healthcare Germany will gather key policymakers, including MEPs Romana Jerković and Kathleen Funchion, and high-level stakeholders from the health sector
What is the public health and economic case for a dedicated EU menopause strategy in this mandate?
CC: The issue is not only figures. Menopause affects the day-to-day life of a large share of workers, with consequences for quality of life at work and overall performance. It should be treated first as a health and equality issue.
Women’s health has been under-researched for decades and dedicated funding is a practical way to narrow that gap
BK: By 2030, around 1.2 billion women will be experiencing menopause globally and symptoms affect most women, often with a negative impact on lives and livelihoods. Without a dedicated strategy, inequality persists, especially in access to healthcare, research investment and the data needed to shape evidence-based policy.
As up to 85% of women experience menopausal symptoms, what are the broader social consequences when these symptoms are dismissed or untreated?
CC: When menopause is not properly addressed, it can lead to more serious problems later, higher healthcare costs and clear consequences for women’s daily lives, including family and social relationships, quality of life at work and work performance.
BK: Dismissal reinforces a male-centred health culture and deepens stigma, with real psychological impacts such as isolation and loneliness. It also feeds a loss of talent, as women become underrepresented in productive society when support is missing.
Across Member States, many women report inconsistent access to specialist menopause services. What European mechanisms could reduce disparities in access?
CC: Access to healthcare should be simple and consistent for menopause too. Today, women face uneven access across Member States, while some countries, such as Ireland, have developed specific strategies. Europe should learn from those examples and tackle disparities more seriously.
The main achievement that I call for are an immediate and practical set of measures rather than simply waiting for a future strategy
BK: The EU cannot mandate national health systems, but it can play a stronger coordinating role. That includes pushing a broader women’s health strategy, improving data and research, strengthening training and education for healthcare professionals, reducing stigma and supporting more equal access to treatment across the Union.
Should Horizon Europe include dedicated funding calls for gender-specific conditions such as menopause?
CC: Yes. More research, training, dedicated services and funding are needed to take women’s health seriously, including menopause. European policies should mobilise stronger efforts and resources.
BK: Women’s health has been under-researched for decades and dedicated funding is a practical way to narrow that gap. Horizon Europe should help drive innovation and investment in gender-specific conditions, including menopause.
Should menopause be addressed with its own dedicated initiative, similar to EU-level plans in other health areas?
CC: Menopause should sit at the core of a women’s health strategy. But while a dedicated strategy may take time, Europe should not wait. Concrete measures are needed now on research, data and improving healthcare services across Europe.
Women’s health has been under-researched for decades and dedicated funding is a practical way to narrow that gap
BK: I naturally support action, but I think we should be cautious against silos. Menopause is closely linked to other areas of women’s health, so it may work better within a comprehensive women’s health strategy that avoids separating interconnected conditions.
How can the upcoming EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030 lead to better access to prevention and treatment?
CC: Existing strategies and first measures are a start, but not enough. The priority is concrete action now, especially on evidence, research and stronger healthcare services, without waiting for longer-term frameworks.
BK: A strategy can create momentum. By naming equal access to high-quality physical and mental health as a priority, it can encourage Member States and the private sector to invest more in perimenopause and menopause, including research, innovation and better provision of care.
In the current political climate, is there the will to build a cross-party coalition on menopause?
CC: I believe that a political coalition is possible. Health issues can create more openness across political groups, and the Parliament can be a driving force if decisions stay evidence-based and grounded in women’s lived reality.
Europe needs focused action to deliver better answers and support
BK: I see real potential, and I would make the argument that this topic should be treated as a health issue instead of an ideological battleground. I do not see strong opposition to developing menopause and women’s health strategies, but I also think that we should urgently build policy momentum and feed it into both Commission proposals and Member State action.
If you could announce one concrete deliverable within this mandate, what would it be?
CC: The main achievement that I call for are an immediate and practical set of measures rather than simply waiting for a future strategy, and I believe that priority should be given to better research, stronger data and improved healthcare services across Europe on menopause.
BK: My priority would be achieving reliable sex-disaggregated data to address inequality and, crucially, to unlock investment in research and development for new therapies and medicines for perimenopause and menopause.
Join the conversation
The Parliament and Besins Healthcare Germany have partnered to host a series of policy-maker events to discuss and raise awareness of the issue.
Click here to register for the next event happening on Tuesday 9th of June at the European Parliament in Brussels, with MEPs Romana Jerković and Kathleen Funchion, and many other key policymakers and stakeholders from the health sector.
For more information on the menopause awareness campaign and background information, contact: dortiuslechner@besins-healthcare.com
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