The release of a Senate inquiry report into issues related to menopause and perimenopause has lifted the veil on a historically taboo topic and paves the way for long-awaited action to support women experiencing menopause, COTA Australia says.
The multipartisan Senate report, which was tabled late Wednesday, calls for a range of actions to support women during menopause and perimenopause, including a recommendation that research be conducted into the economic impacts of menopause on women's workforce participation, income, superannuation, and age of retirement.
Chief Executive of COTA Australia - the leading advocacy organisation for older people - Patricia Sparrow, said the focus now turns to the response of the Federal Government and other bodies, like businesses, tasked with actioning the recommendations of the inquiry.
"We're finally seeing a public conversation about a topic that has historically seen as taboo," Ms Sparrow said.
"For too long the impacts of menopause and perimenopause on women have been completely ignored and even dismissed by many, including in our workplaces.
"This Senate inquiry has finally started to lift the veil on a topic that was seen as unmentionable by previous generations, but there's still a long way to go."
Ms Sparrow said the report, and COTA's submission to the inquiry, highlighted the impact menopause can have on women's career and personal well-being.
"In compiling COTA's submission to the Senate inquiry we were inundated with women with stories to tell about the impacts menopause and perimenopause has had on them - many who had endured their symptoms of menopause in silence, often sacrificing their personal well-being and career advancement.
Ms Sparrow said the personal stories heard throughout the inquiry process mirror recent research studies which have found that up to 25% of women take long-term absences from work and/or early retirement due to the severity of their physical and psychological menopausal symptoms. Some available data suggests that menopause has noticeably contributed to the superannuation gender gap.
"There's no question we need a better understanding the impacts of menopause and perimenopause on women's lives," Ms Sparrow said.
"The women who participated in this inquiry, including those who shared their stories with COTA, should be congratulated for their incredible role in helping to shine a light on this important issue. They've helped start this process, and now it's up to governments and others like businesses to move forward with some of the recommendations.
"The committee has recommended that a public awareness campaign should be designed in consultation with experts and people with lived experience so we're looking forward to being part of that process, and seeing the next steps around data collection, support for women in regional and rural areas, and improved access to Menopausal Hormone Therapy.
"Menopause is something that impacts 50 per cent of our population who are lucky enough to reach an older age. It's time to break the stigma around menopause and start providing women with the support they need."
