Menopause in the EU

Approximately half of the EU population will experience menopause, marking the permanent end of ovarian follicular activity and natural fertility. Clinically, menopause is confirmed retrospectively, after 12 consecutive months without menstruation (amenorrhea). This follows a perimenopausal transition — often lasting several years — characterised by hormonal fluctuations, menstrual irregularity and a wide spectrum of physical and psychological symptoms. In western populations, the average age of onset is 51 and the menopausal transition commonly begins in the mid-to-late 40s. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) (often known as premature menopause) affects approximately 1 % of women before the age of 40, carrying distinct clinical consequences, including substantially elevated risks of accelerated bone mineral density loss (osteoporosis) and cardiovascular issues that require prompt hormonal intervention, regardless of symptom presentation. Cancer and several oncological treatments — including chemotherapy, pelvic radiotherapy and surgical oophorectomy — are recognised causes of treatment‑induced premature menopause, also with well‑documented implications for long‑term bone and cardiovascular health.

Symptom burden is both wide and prolonged. Clinical studies document vasomotor disturbances — hot flushes and night sweats — in up to 80-85 % of women, alongside sleep disruption, mood changes (including a higher risk of depression), cognitive difficulties, joint and musculoskeletal pain and genitourinary symptoms, collectively described as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Menopause can also be accompanied by ocular symptoms, particularly dry eye disease. This is largely related to reduced estrogen levels, which contribute to tear-film stability and ocular surface protection. Around 25-30 % of women experience moderate to severe symptoms, noticeably disrupting daily activities, with effects persisting for 7-14 years on average. In addition, recent longitudinal evidence underscores the role of menopausal symptoms in future health and longevity. Long-term health consequences of unmanaged menopause include osteoporosis, increased cardiovascular risks from oestrogen withdrawal, and amplified urogenital morbidity. A study across six European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) found that 30 % of women aged between 55 and 75 reported urogenital ageing symptoms significant enough to require management. A separate analysis found that only around 60 % of women with urogenital symptoms had used Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) for relief, demonstrating that many symptomatic women still do not receive appropriate treatment. More broadly, although 60 % of women seek medical care for menopause-related issues, only around 25 % receive treatment and fewer than 5 % of midlife women across Europe currently use MHT.

No EU-wide standardised data exists on menopause prevalence, symptom severity or health service utilisation. However, national studies and European reviews converge on the scale and significance of the issue for working women. A narrative literature review identifies menopause as a significant occupational health issue that remains largely unaddressed in organisational contexts across the EU. Institutional taboo is cited as a primary barrier to both workplace disclosure and employer action, and research on the topic remains scarce, despite its clear impact on work ability. The European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) reports that menopausal symptoms contribute to absenteeism, reduced working hours and early exit from employment, particularly in inflexible or physically demanding sectors. A 2024 study using linked health and administrative data from Sweden and Norway identified a significant 'menopause penalty' in earnings and employment, with disability insurance claims rising sharply as women exit the workforce during this transition.These findings are echoed in emerging national data on working menopausal women. A recent Belgian study from Maturitas of 760 employed menopausal women shows that 53.3 % of those surveyed who were currently experiencing menopause symptoms reported difficulties in performing their work. Meanwhile, 41.2 % had a high need for recovery after work, an established predictor of burnout. In the survey, 61.1 % of women reported additional work-related problems due to menopause. A high need for recovery was associated with poor work-life balance, higher physical workload, discomfort from cognitive demands, low organisational justice and limited social support. This led the authors to underline the importance of workplace cultures in which menopause can be discussed openly and appropriate adjustments be made. Research estimates that untreated menopausal symptoms cost Germany around €9.5 billion annually, through 40 million work-absence days, strengthening the economic case for workplace support. No comparable EU-wide figure currently exists — a gap that is itself a reflection of the broader failure to collect standardised data on the economic and societal costs of menopause at a European level.

Vulnerable groups bear disproportionate burdens. Low-income women often face barriers to accessing specialist consultations and evidence-based treatments such as MHT. Women in manual or shift work report symptom exacerbation from heat exposure, stress and inadequate rest facilities. This gap is particularly acute among socially deprived women, where MHT uptake remains significantly lower; owing to cultural barriers, healthcare professional awareness gaps and systemic inequities.

This structural gap is further compounded by limitations within the healthcare system itself. Despite the scale, duration and the clinical consequences of menopause outlined above, practitioner preparedness remains uneven, with evidence highlighting significant shortcomings in training. A 2025 survey by the British Menopause Society found that 72 % of healthcare professionals believe newly qualified practitioners lack sufficient menopause education, while 55 % report insufficient evidence-based training, even among qualified professionals. This deficit contributes to delayed diagnoses, insufficient treatment and inconsistent care outcomes.

A deeper structural cause underlies these gaps. Until the 1990s, women were systemically excluded from clinical trials as their hormonal cycles were deemed 'troublesome variables'. The consequences are still apparent in menopause care today. Drug dosages, treatment protocols and diagnostic thresholds across cardiology, psychiatry, rheumatology and neurology were developed on demographics that do not reflect menopausal women's physiology. Perimenopausal women continue to be routinely excluded from clinical trials owing to hormonal variability — meaning the timeframe where there is the highest symptom burden and the greatest window for preventive intervention remains the least studied. The European Society of Endocrinology published its first Clinical Practice Guideline for Menopause and Perimenopause only in October 2025, 130 years after menopause was formally described in medical literature. This research deficit weakens the evidence base available to EU policymakers and national health systems alike.

EU policies

Public health organisations, employment conditions and social policy remain primarily Member State competences under the EU treaties. Nevertheless, the EU supports action on menopause-related issues through its competences in gender equality, non-discrimination, occupational safety and public health; hence providing legal, policy and financial instruments to complement and reinforce national efforts.

Member States' initiatives

Across the EU, a growing number of Member States are addressing menopause through targeted healthcare as well as workplace and public-awareness initiatives. These measures commonly seek to improve access to appropriate care, foster menopause-friendly working environments, increase public awareness, and support research and innovation.

Across all Member States, most documented interventions focus narrowly on menopause rather than the broader continuum of reproductive health across working life, so evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of workplace measures remains insufficient.

Stakeholders' positions

European Parliament's position

The European Parliament increasingly considers menopause as a cross-cutting policy matter, encompassing gender equality, women's health, employment and ageing. In its 2021 resolution on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), Parliament identified menopause, alongside infertility and reproductive cancers, as an issue that impacts women's entitlement to accessible, high-quality healthcare throughout their lives. The resolution called for appropriate rehabilitation and support services and for the Commission to report on EU programmes supporting sexual and reproductive health.

This sentiment has been maintained during the current legislature. Written Question E-003429/2025 invited the Commission to clarify what measures it does and could take to improve awareness of menopause, address persisting data gaps and consider the case for an EU strategy on menopause. A further written question draws attention to period and menopause poverty.

This work has been reinforced through committee activity. The Committee on Public Health (SANT) conducted a public consultation on women's health to gather the views and experiences of citizens and stakeholders. On 24 March 2026, the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and the (SANT) committee held a joint public hearing on menopause care in the EU. The hearing examined potential EU-level approaches to tackling stigma and misinformation, strengthening care and research, and promoting cooperation among Member States.

These developments are complemented by the own-initiative procedure entitled 'Menopause beyond a health issue: turning menopause into an economic, working and social priority' (2026/2055(INI)). Together, they indicate a growing recognition within Parliament that menopause has implications extending beyond clinical care, including for employment, social inclusion, health literacy, research and gender equality, while respecting Member States' primary responsibility for organising and delivering health services.