Janet Ko
President & Co-Founder,
Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC)
Knowledge is power when it comes to managing menopause’s different stages and advocating for appropriate care.
Everyone born female who reaches a certain age will experience menopause, and yet the stigma and misconceptions about this inevitable and universal life phase persist.
“Menopause is overwhelmingly viewed as negative in our society,” says Janet Ko, President and Co-Founder of the Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC). “We tend to devalue women as they get older, and as a result, menopause has been shrouded in secrecy for centuries, leaving many women alone to navigate it.”
Ko is intent on closing that knowledge gap and changing the narrative. “The reality is that many women report menopause as being the most exciting time of their life, where they find a new sense of freedom, energy, and purpose,” she says. “The conversation needs to shift.”
Changing the narrative
Shifting the conversation on menopause starts with understanding where we’re currently at. “The MFC’s landmark 2022 report, ‘The Silence and the Stigma: Menopause in Canada,’ revealed that one in two women feel unprepared for menopause, and 72 per cent found their health care provider interactions unhelpful,” says Ko.
The research also revealed that many women lack understanding of menopause’s different stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. “Menopause is a profound hormonal shift that often begins earlier and lasts longer than you’d think,” says Ko. The average age to reach menopause (defined as one year period-free) in Canada is 51, with most women entering it between the ages of 45 and 55. The time before reaching menopause, perimenopause, can last up to 10 years, and while menopausal symptoms typically subside within four to seven years after menopause, they can persist for much longer for some women.
Women need to educate themselves about menopause to become their own best health advocate
Raising awareness
A common misconception is that menopause is only about menstrual changes, hot flashes, and night sweats. “In reality, there are over 30 symptoms,” says Ko. These include heart palpitations, migraines, vaginal discomfort, sleep issues, mood and mental health changes, brain fog, function challenges, joint pain, and more.
“When women don’t understand these changes, they can’t prepare for them, leaving many women in the dark, unable to connect the dots,” says Ko. “This lack of knowledge is compounded by the limited menopause training and education among health care practitioners.”
Many women also lack awareness of the potential health risks of menopause-related issues that aren’t addressed early. “Once you reach menopause, because of estrogen decline, you’re at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and the genitourinary syndrome of menopause,” says Ko.
Improving access to information and care
This lack of understanding has consequences not only for individual women — and for their ability to live life to the fullest, support their families and communities, and work in ways that are meaningful to them — but also for society overall. “Our second report, which came out in 2023, quantified for the first time the staggering $3.5 billion economic impact of unmanaged menopause symptoms, resulting in more than 500,000 missed workdays annually and $230 million annually in lost productivity,” says Ko.
Through resources like a downloadable symptom tracker, information to help women have high-quality conversations with their health care provider, and information for partners looking to support their loved one going through perimenopause or menopause, along with a recent Menopause Works Here campaign aimed at fostering more supportive workplace environments, the MFC is on a mission to close the menopause knowledge gap, improve access to menopause care and treatment, and create menopause-inclusive workplaces.
Advocating for yourself
To navigate menopause health care effectively, Ko encourages women to visit the MFC’s website and explore its resources. “Women need to educate themselves about menopause to become their own best health advocate,” she says. “We recommend booking a specific health care appointment about menopause and tracking symptoms beforehand to clearly convey their impact on your health and quality of life.”
The MFC’s website also offers a tool to help women find health care practitioners with menopause-related credentials.
Finally, focusing on self-care during this critical phase of life can help women feel better and reduce the severity of symptoms. This includes prioritizing movement and exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, managing stress effectively, tracking symptoms, and seeking appropriate gynecological care when needed.
“You’re not alone, and you don’t need to suffer through this stage of life,” says Ko. “There are many options to help you take control of your menopause journey, including lifestyle changes, medications, gold-standard treatments like menopause hormone therapy, and non-hormonal therapy options.”
Talk to your primary care provider to discuss your concerns and to learn about the available treatment options or visit menopausefoundationcanada.ca to learn more.
This was made possible by the support of Pfizer Canada.
