Dear Neighbor,
Last week, I had the opportunity to speak at PeriPower, an event dedicated to a topic that has been overlooked for far too long: menopause and midlife women’s health.
What made this event so powerful was not just the information shared but the validation so many women felt. For too long, women experiencing symptoms have been told they are simply “stressed,” “aging,” or “overreacting,” when in reality they are navigating a significant biological transition at a critical junction in their lives that deserves real medical attention and support.
Menopause is not a niche issue. It is a universal life stage that affects millions of women, most often between the ages of 40 and 55, and many experience symptoms for years before and after. These symptoms can include sleep disruption, cognitive changes, anxiety, depression, joint pain, and increased risk for serious long-term conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.
And yet, despite how common and impactful this transition is, there are major gaps in care:
- Many medical professionals receive little to no formal training in menopause care
- Patients are frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed
- Insurance coverage for treatment is inconsistent or nonexistent
- Workplace policies rarely acknowledge menopause at all
These gaps don’t only affect health, they affect our economy.
More than 75% of women experience menopause while still in the workforce, often during their peak earning and leadership years. Research shows:
- 1 in 4 women consider stepping back from leadership opportunities
- 1 in 3 reduce their hours
- 2 in 5 consider leaving their jobs altogether due to symptoms
The financial impact is staggering. When women leave the workforce or scale back, businesses lose experienced talent, productivity declines, and leadership pipelines shrink. Nationally, this translates into billions of dollars in lost economic output each year.
Ignoring menopause is no longer just a health equity issue, it is an economic liability. Research from the Mayo Clinic estimates that menopause-related symptoms cost the U.S. economy $26.6 billion every year, including $1.8 billion in missed workdays alone, and when reduced productivity and workforce attrition are fully accounted for, total losses may reach as high as $150 billion annually. Data from the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research further shows that women experiencing menopause symptoms see earnings decline by approximately 10% within just four years, often because they are forced to scale back hours or leave the workforce altogether. With women in this stage of life making up nearly one-fifth of the U.S. labor force, this is not a marginal issue, it is a systemic economic challenge.
Failing to address menopause in our healthcare system and workplace policies is actively driving experienced workers out of the labor market, weakening business productivity, and shrinking leadership pipelines. Economists now describe this as a “menopause penalty,” similar to the “motherhood penalty.” Inaction on this issue is costing our citizens and our economy. Public policy must catch up, ensuring access to care, workplace protections, and education so women are not forced to choose between their health and their economic security.
As we learn more about poor policy planning around menopause on our healthcare access, workforce, economy and public policy, I am proud to help lead a comprehensive legislative effort here in Pennsylvania to address these challenges head-on. While my menopause education bill may have been one of the first bills in the country addressing this issue when I first introduced it, I am happy to say that it’s not the last and that we are expanding our efforts! Here are some of the bills pending committee votes in the PA House.
Education and Awareness
Legislation I introduced in the House, H.B. 1411, and Senator Collett introduced in the Senate, S.B. 1118, would require the Department of Health to develop a statewide education campaign so women have access to accurate, evidence-based information about menopause and perimenopause. Women deserve to understand what is happening in their bodies—and the options available to them.
Access to Care
We are working to ensure that both Medicaid and private insurance plans cover menopause-related care, including hormonal and non-hormonal treatments, behavioral therapies, and care for those experiencing surgically induced menopause. Access to treatment should never depend on income or insurance gaps, so Rep. Morgan Cephas and I introduced House Bills 1345 and 1346 and, Senator Collett introduced S.B. 1122.
Workplace Protections
Representative Cephas proposed legislation, H.B. 2135, that would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations, such as temperature control, flexible breaks, or schedule adjustments, so women can remain productive and supported at work. Just as importantly, the bill would protect employees from being penalized for requesting those accommodations. I am a proud co-sponsor.
Long-Term Health Outcomes
We are also addressing conditions like osteoporosis, which disproportionately affect women after menopause. Representative Shusterman introduced, and I co-sponsored, H.B. 1827, which expands coverage for osteoporosis prevention, screening, and treatment beginning at the onset of menopause to reduce long-term health risks.
This work is part of a broader movement.
At the federal level, bipartisan conversations are beginning to take shape around menopause research and care, particularly for women veterans and service members, who have historically been underrepresented in research.
At the federal level, several bills are advancing to expand menopause research and improve care, including:
- H.R. 2717 (Rep. Chrissy Houlahan) and S. 1320 (Sen. Patty Murray) – Supporting research on menopause among servicewomen and veterans.
- H.R. 219 (Rep. Julia Brownley) – Studying menopause care within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- S. Res. 480 (Sen. Cory Booker) – Recognizing Menopause Awareness Month and promoting education and access to care.
Locally, Philadelphia has already enacted protections to prevent discrimination and require workplace accommodations related to menopause and perimenopause.
Momentum is building, but meaningful change requires sustained advocacy, and that’s where I need your help!
Menopause has been pushed to the margins for too long. By bringing it into the policy conversation, we are not only improving health outcomes, but we are also strengthening our workforce, supporting families, and building a more equitable economy.
If this issue matters to you or to someone you love, I encourage you to get involved. You can visit my website and use the Action Center to contact legislative leaders and urge them to move these bills forward.
Together, we can ensure that every woman has the knowledge, care, and support she deserves at every stage of life.