Two Bipartisan Bills Could Finally Improve Menopause Care. Here’s What You Should Know.

Menopause has been ignored in medicine and policy for decades - leaving millions of women without answers. But for the first time, Washington is paying attention

Two bipartisan bills—The Menopause Research and Equity Act and the Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act—are now in Congress. They aim to fix what many women already know: menopause care is often too little, too late, or just missing altogether.

Here’s a plain-language breakdown of what these bills are, what they could do, and why they matter.

Wait, What’s the Problem?

Until 1993, women weren’t even required in clinical trials. That blind spot shaped medicine around men - leaving women under-researched, under-treated, and overlooked. The cost? Billions in lost productivity and countless women told to "just deal with it"

That history has lasting effects. Many providers still aren’t trained to recognize or treat menopause symptoms. There’s no national awareness campaign. And research funding for menopause? It's almost impossible to track.

Meanwhile, symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, and insomnia are costing U.S. women an estimated $1.8 billion a year in lost earnings—and that’s just the start. (Mayo Clinic, 2023)

The Bills at a Glance

The Menopause Research and Equity Act (H.R. 6749)

Introduced in December 2023, this bill focuses on identifying and closing gaps in menopause research. It would:

• Require the NIH to assess past and current menopause-related studies

• Identify underfunded areas and propose new research priorities

• Develop a strategic plan with input from doctors, scientists, and public health experts

• Increase transparency about how much NIH funding actually supports menopause research

See the full bill

The Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act (S. 4246)

Introduced in May 2024 by a bipartisan group of senators, this bill proposes $275 million over five years for:

• Research on menopause and related chronic conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis

• Training for healthcare providers, including medical schools and continuing education

• Public education campaigns to increase awareness and reduce stigma

• Care improvement, especially for underserved communities

• Centers of Excellence focused on menopause care and professional development

See the full bill

Why This Matters

• 75% of women report feeling unprepared for menopause

• 36% feel uncomfortable discussing it with their doctor

• And even when women do seek care, three out of four don’t get effective treatment
  (The Menopause Society, 2023)

These bills are a response to that reality. They represent a rare bipartisan effort to close long-standing care gaps - and to treat menopause as the public health priority it is.

What You Can Do

• Share this post with someone who needs to know

• Email your representatives (even a sentence helps: “Please support current menopause legislation”)

• Support advocacy groups like Let’s Talk Menopause or The Menopause Society

Better care, awareness, and outcomes don’t just happen - they’re fought for. And right now, that fight is in Congress. Let’s make sure women win.