We did it MM 40+

Session Summary: Historic Victory for Women's Health

This session marks a monumental victory for women’s health as the government announces that menopause will now be included in the NHS Over-40 Health Check, a change long championed by Menopause Mandate through their MM40+ campaign. This landmark moment is made possible thanks to the tireless work of Mariella Frostrup, Chair of Menopause Mandate, and Carolyn Harris MP, whose relentless advocacy in Parliament has driven this important change.

Key Moments from the Discussion:

• Carolyn Harris MP shared her immense pride in the inclusion of menopause in the health check, noting how long overdue it was. She emphasized the significance of this shift in social policy and women’s health, acknowledging the power of grassroots movements and the incredible work of Menopause Mandate in bringing this issue to light.
• Mariella Frostrup spoke to the broader implications of this change, highlighting the desperate need for information around menopause. Citing findings from Menopause Mandate’s Mega Survey, she explained how this change will empower women to make informed choices about their health, particularly regarding HRT, and will improve workplace outcomes as well.
• The conversation reflected on the challenges faced by women who, for years, have navigated menopause without proper support or recognition. The absence of menopause in previous health checks was deemed an oversight that should never have happened, and now, this change will help reduce misdiagnoses and improve overall healthcare for women.
• Carolyn Harris MP also discussed how this change would address the issue of misprescribing, particularly in mental health, where many women were wrongly prescribed antidepressants instead of receiving appropriate menopause treatment like HRT.
• Mariella Frostrup emphasized how grassroots campaigning and the voices of women were at the heart of this success. She shared how the combined efforts of Menopause Mandate’s community of women, along with significant contributions from over 15,000 women in their Mega Survey, made this victory possible.
• The role of the NHS was also discussed, with the impact of this change expected to save money in the long run by preventing costly misdiagnoses and the development of long-term health conditions that result from untreated menopause symptoms.

Reflection on the Impact:

• Both Mariella and Carolyn agreed that this is a cultural shift, not just a medical one. It signals a turning point in how we talk about women’s health, aging, and menopause, and sets the stage for a more inclusive future where women’s health issues are taken seriously.
• There was a shared commitment to continue pushing for further changes, ensuring that women’s voices remain central in shaping policy and healthcare.

Final Thoughts:

The session concluded with a sense of pride, joy, and hope. Both Mariella and Carolyn expressed how this victory would benefit future generations of women, including their daughters, who will enter menopause with greater awareness and support than ever before. This is a triumph not only for policy but for women’s empowerment, marking the beginning of a much-needed shift in societal attitudes toward menopause and women’s health as a whole.