Hot News Flash
My wife is constantly freezing. We go for walks in the morning, and I will have on a sweatshirt and shorts, while she is decked out in her winter coat and snowpants. That’s why I was a bit concerned when, lately, she’s been throwing the covers over me at night. She claims to be waking up in a sweat and is roasting.
I would believe that she is experiencing perimenopause, which means “around menopause” and refers to the transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years. Symptoms include hot flashes and sleeping trouble.
At any given time in the U.S., 75 million women are either in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause, with 6,000 more women reaching menopause each day. However, there are few federally funded clinical trials on menopause and menopausal hormone therapy and very little menopause education for doctors. Only 30% of U.S. residency programs offer a formal menopause curriculum according to a recent survey, and 80% of OB-GYN residents admit to being ill-prepared to discuss menopause.
That’s why Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin is one of several bipartisan senators introducing the Advancing Menopause and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act. The measure would devote tens of millions of dollars to strengthen and expand federal research on menopause, health care workforce training, awareness and education efforts, and public health promotion and prevention to better address menopause and mid-life women’s health issues.
“While half of Americans will experience menopause in their lifetime, many women are forced to suffer in silence with sometimes debilitating symptoms and limited options for treatment,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to stand with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to introduce legislation that makes a long overdue investment in menopause research, helping us better understand and treat the symptoms of menopause for millions of Americans.”
In addition to Baldwin, the bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Patty Murray from Washington, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, Susan Collins from Maine, Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, and Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia.
“Menopause is not a bad word. It’s not something to be ashamed of. And it is not something Congress or the federal government should ignore,” Murray said. “There is no excuse for shortchanging this issue when it comes to federal dollars.”
She claims that when she came to Congress, issues like childcare, paid leave, workplace harassment and women’s health were “an afterthought at best.” But Murray believes the country has come a long way with women’s representation in Congress and attention to these issues. “There are still so many ways women’s needs are ignored, overlooked, or stigmatized, and menopause is a great example,” she said. “For too long, menopause has been overlooked, under-invested in and left behind.”
The bill has also gotten some Hollywood clout to support it. Actress Halle Berry, who has done extensive advocacy around menopause, has championed the legislation. At a press conference to announce the bill, Berry shared her story to challenge the stigma around menopause.
“By advocating for my own health and wellbeing during menopause, I am not only standing up for myself but for all women,” Berry said. “Because, if we are fortunate enough to live this long, we will all experience this phase of life. Today is a call to action for each and every one of us to stand together and demand the care and attention that we so vitally deserve,” she continued.
“It has to be destigmatized,” Berry said. “We have to talk about this very normal part of our life that happens.”
If my wife struggles with hot flashes, I’ll quote Joan Rivers’ outlook on menopause. She said, “I don’t have hot flushes. I have short, private vacations in the tropics.”
Reg P. Wydeven
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