October 30, 2025
Mr. Booker submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Expressing support for the recognition of October 2025 as
World Menopause Awareness Month,
and expressing the sense of the
Senate regarding global awareness and access to care during the menopausal transition
and post-menopause.
Whereas October 18 marks World Menopause Day, a day when organizations and individuals around the world advocate to improve awareness of menopause and support options available for improving health and well-being;
Whereas, by 2030, the world population of menopausal and post-menopausal women is projected to increase to 1,200,000,000, with 27,000,000 new entrants each year;
Whereas, each year, women in the United States enter the menopausal transition with little guidance on what to expect before, during, and after their reproductive years;
Whereas, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, as many as 3 out of 4 women experience hot flashes, the most common menopause symptom, and other symptoms, including memory loss, urinary problems, depression, and anxiety;
Whereas menopausal symptoms can be severe and affect daily activities and quality of life, with hot flashes lasting an average of 7 to 9 years, and a third of women experiencing vasomotor symptoms for a decade or longer;
Whereas studies show that Black and Hispanic women may experience menopause earlier, with more intense symptoms, and for a longer period of time;
Whereas as many as 40 percent of menopausal women say their symptoms interfered with their work performance or productivity weekly, and nearly 1 in 5 menopausal women have left or considered leaving the workforce because of their symptoms;
Whereas menopause costs women in the United States an estimated $1,800,000,000 in lost working time per year;
Whereas, due to medical innovation, a variety of effective treatments for symptoms are available, including non-hormonal medication, hormone therapy, and low-dose antidepressants, that can help improve quality of life during perimenopause and menopause;
Whereas, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, menopause may increase the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and stroke; and
Whereas there is an ongoing need for additional clinical research and treatment options to manage menopause symptoms: Now, therefore, be it
Sec.
That the Senate—
(1)
expresses support for the designation of World Menopause Awareness Month
;
(2)
recognizes the impact of menopause on women at individual and societal levels and on the country’s health and economic development;
(3)
promotes the inclusion of training on menopause and treatment options in pre-service curricula for health workers;
(4)
supports women having access to appropriate health information and services to promote healthy aging and a high quality of life before, during, and after menopause;
(5)
encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs—
(A)
to provide information to women, patients, and healthcare providers with respect to menopause, including available screening tools and treatment options, with a goal of improving quality of life and health outcomes of women affected by menopause;
(B)
to conduct additional research on menopause and possible clinical options; and
(C)
to update information, tools, and studies currently available that relate to helping women live with menopause; and
(6)
respectfully request that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.