NMF is launching the NMF Women’s Midlife Health Policy Institute in the fall of 2023!
NMF Women’s Midlife Health Policy Institute (WMHPI)
The NMF Women’s Midlife Health Policy Institute (WMHPI) seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of women as they journey to and through menopause by advancing research, education, and policies related to women’s health at midlife. The objectives of the Institute include:
- Improving education and awareness of menopause-related health issues among policymakers, healthcare providers, and the general public.
- Supporting research initiatives that advance our understanding of menopause and its impact on women’s health and wellbeing.
- Advocating for better policies and resources for women’s health, particularly those related to menopause and post-menopause.
- Engaging women and the general public in supporting menopause-related initiatives and promoting greater understanding and support for women going through menopause, including management of menopausal symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms, sleep disturbance, weight gain, incontinence, and more.
Stay tuned for more information!
Women’s Midlife Health Summit
The Women’s Midlife Health Policy Institute (WMHPI) aims to create a shared agenda on behalf of multiple women’s healthcare advocacy groups.
In order to gain alignment on needs and priorities, NMF will bring together leading women’s health advocacy stakeholders, patients and clinicians in an inclusive and facilitated process to uncover opportunities for a shared policy agenda & action plan. This by invitation only event will be held in Washington, DC in early 2024. Information about the Summit and the outcomes will be shared here in the future.
For more information about the Summit and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Claire Gill at cgill@nationalmenopausefoundation.org.
The Menopause Research and Equity Act of 2023
The National Menopause Foundation and Let’s Talk Menopause supports enactment of the bipartisan Menopause Research and Equity Act of 2023 introduced by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY-11). This much-needed legislation will bolster the study of menopause at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to understand what we know and don’t know about a challenging healthcare phase that every woman in the country will experience. Menopause is a critically understudied stage in a woman’s healthcare journey, and there are significant gaps in our knowledge of how to meet the unmet health needs associated with menopause.
This soon to be introduced, new legislation requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate completed and ongoing federally funded research pertaining to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women’s health. The evaluation includes assessing the results and status of the research as well as identifying any gaps in knowledge regarding treatments for menopause-related symptoms and their safety and effectiveness.
The NIH Director is required to determine the amount of funding allocated by the NIH for such research over the past five fiscal years. Within 180 days of the bill’s enactment, the NIH Director must submit a report to Congress on the NIH’s findings and develop a strategic plan to address the identified gaps in knowledge and research. Additionally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the NIH Director, is authorized to conduct and support further research. The Secretary is allocated $100,000,000 for FY2024 and FY2025 for this purpose.
Join the Menopause Movement! Something BIG is coming. Learn more about the upcoming Menopause Bill being introduced in Congress. SIGN UP HERE & let us know how you want to be involved.
Additional Resources:
- Bank of America and Menopause in the Workplace — In partnership with the National Menopause Foundation, Bank of America wants women to know they’re not alone on their menopause journey
- Bank of America’s June 2023 report “Break Through the Stigma: Menopause in the Workplace” reveals that half of peri- and post-menopausal women (51%) report menopause has negatively impacted their work life, yet only 14% believe their employers recognize the need for menopause-specific benefits.
- Read about the report in the Bank of America June 1, 2023 Press Release
- Read/download the report: Break Through the Stigma: Menopause in the Workplace
- Bank of America’s Checklist to Help Women Navigate Their Menopause Journey. This PDF checklist includes tips to help you thrive during menopause, tips to help you have menopause conversations and why it matters.
- Bank of America’s June 2023 report “Break Through the Stigma: Menopause in the Workplace” reveals that half of peri- and post-menopausal women (51%) report menopause has negatively impacted their work life, yet only 14% believe their employers recognize the need for menopause-specific benefits.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) ClinicalTrials
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) maintains a database of ongoing clinical trials where people can find information about specific clinical trials in their area. People who are interested should talk with their doctor and visit: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov to learn more about clinical trials that may be appropriate.
Additional Legislative News:
- 10/24/2023: US House of Representatives Press Release — Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Congresswoman Julia Letlow (R-La.) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing World Menopause Awareness Month. The goal of the resolution is to raise awareness and access to care during menopause and post-menopause.