| | | | Not that long ago, it was almost impossible to find a menopause specialist without digging through Google, asking in group chats or hoping someone actually “knew a good doc.” But that’s finally beginning to change—and fast.
In just three years, the number of clinicians certified by the Menopause Society has nearly tripled. Tripled! From just over 1,300 in 2021 to more than 4,000 today. That’s more than a statistic. It’s a signal. It tells us that doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are not only listening—they’re learning.
And that matters.
Because for too long, midlife women have walked into exam rooms with valid questions and walked out feeling dismissed or confused. But now? More clinicians are stepping up with the education, credentials and compassion needed to meet women exactly where they are.
This surge in certification—and the 450% increase in Menopause Society membership over five years—shows that menopause is no longer the medical afterthought it once was. It’s finally getting the attention, legitimacy and expertise it deserves.
And while we still have a long road ahead in terms of access and equity, moments like this remind me: we’re not just moving—we’re gaining momentum. Let’s keep going. |
| Meet the Policy Powerhouse Pushing the Menopause Movement Forward Jennifer Weiss-Wolf has never been afraid to push boundaries. Known as the “architect of the U.S. campaign to squash the tampon tax,” she’s long been a fierce champion for menstrual equity—and she’s been using that same energy to catalyze change around menopause policy. As co-author of The Citizen’s Guide to Menopause Advocacy , which she wrote with Dr. Mary Claire Haver, and the executive director at NYU Law’s Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center, Weiss-Wolf has helped shape an unprecedented wave of menopause-related legislative momentum in 2025—and she’s just getting started.
Flow Space recently caught up with her to talk strategy, state-level wins and what comes next in the fight for midlife women's health rights. |
The Citizen’s Guide to Menopause Advocacy is such a practical and accessible resource, and since its publication, many of the policy changes on its wish list have started happening. Do you see a correlation there? Yes, absolutely. This kind of policy motion requires patience and strategy; it doesn't happen overnight. But the idea that in just one legislative session in 2025, we saw more than two dozen states—I believe it’s 15, or maybe even 16, states now—introduce more than 25 bills all rooted in the ideas from the Citizen’s Guide is pretty extraordinary. Eight of them are now the law in seven states, with Illinois passing two. You create this idea, you put it in the ether, you get people taking it seriously, you have advocates pushing for it, you have lawmakers willing to get behind it, and then it starts to happen. And then, it just starts to happen more.
The guide has had an extraordinary impact in a short time. What's next for this policy movement, and what was the strategy behind the guide's timing? This wasn't the very first time menopause legislation has happened. In 2024, other things had passed in Louisiana and California; Louisiana was the first to mandate insurance coverage of menopause treatments, and California had passed an education bill. What was brand new in 2025 was that it was a concerted effort happening across states. So, for 2026, to me, the sky's the limit. We've now set the standard for where we want to go.
The timing of the guide was very strategic. In 2024, there was a lot of momentum federally for menopause research dollars, in particular. There were bills introduced in Congress and a presidential executive order signed by President Joe Biden. That was really where I think everyone saw the potential for progress. But the cynic in me was skeptical, and as soon as the election happened, I knew it was going to be the states—the states are where we're going to see this action.
So, it was really important to me to get the Citizen’s Guide out in January as the state legislative sessions were starting. I wanted my optimism to be true, and I was afraid that too quickly into the new administration, that momentum might dissipate. That was really why we published it when we published it. As a Flow Space Advisory Council member, you help us stay on top of policy issues. From your perspective, what’s a key shift you’re seeing in how menopause is being discussed at the national level, particularly with the FDA's recent involvement? The FDA is taking on the question about the labeling of hormone treatments , which is also in the Citizen’s Guide, and is a long-standing demand—the Menopause Society filed a petition a decade ago. Now, I don't think what's happening in the states was particularly influential to the FDA. But on the flip side, given how much distrust there is of federal agencies, I think it's really important to talk about the FDA’s work in the context of what's happening in the states. It shows that all of these leaders, across political stripes and different backgrounds, agree that menopause policy is an idea whose time has come and that correcting the wrongs from the WHI initiative and otherwise are a shared agenda. So, I don't think the states inspired the FDA, but I think we, as citizens and the media, should see them all as part of the same movement.
There's a rightful fear that the FDA might not follow full protocols here, and I want to go on record as saying I absolutely have to insist they follow protocols. Even if they do the right thing and they don't do it the right way, that will not be a win in my book.
How do you find flow—that moment, or ability, to be fully immersed and present in the moment—in your life? By writing. Writing is my flow space. Hours can go by and I'm in a complete state of euphoria, and I'm even more euphoric when I finish. That is where my mind and my body connect.It's also around framing policy stories. I really love to connect those dots. And I’m a really avid walker. All of my best thinking and planning and plotting happens when I'm walking, to the point that I have to text myself so I don't forget an idea. So, walking, writing and framing policies are all the times that my brain is in flow space. |
A New Era for Metastatic Breast Cancer For decades, a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis came with more questions than answers—and not always the most hopeful ones. But today, that narrative is shifting. Women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer are living longer, fuller lives, thanks to advances in treatment, growing survivor advocacy and a changing philosophy of care.
Still, the diagnosis can be overwhelming. Medical terms like “Stage 4,” “biomarkers” or “liquid biopsy” often flood appointments, making it hard to know where to begin. One of the most urgent clarifications? Yes—Stage 4 and metastatic breast cancer are the same thing. Both terms mean the cancer has spread beyond the breast to distant parts of the body, including the bones, liver, lungs or brain. But that doesn’t mean there’s no path forward. Understanding what’s happening—and how to respond—is a powerful first step.
Today, oncologists are increasingly viewing metastatic breast cancer as a manageable chronic condition, more in line with diseases like diabetes or heart disease. And while a cure remains elusive, treatment options continue to expand, offering patients better quality of life and, in many cases, a decade or more of survivorship. This shift is reshaping the doctor–patient dynamic. Care isn’t a sprint anymore—it’s a marathon that evolves over time, with shared decision-making at its core.
For patients and caregivers alike, this evolution opens the door to deeper engagement. Open communication—especially about treatment goals, side effect management and emotional well-being—is key. Caregivers, too, play a vital role in this journey, not just providing support, but often advocating alongside the patient, tracking symptoms, organizing questions and helping maintain a sense of control amidst uncertainty.
This new landscape doesn’t erase the difficulty of a metastatic diagnosis, but it does reframe what’s possible. From exploring complementary therapies to pushing for the right emotional support, patients today are empowered not just to survive, but to shape the way they live with breast cancer. |
SHARING an informative guide on "How to Raise Adults," from our sister publication SheKnows, which offers expert advice to help parents foster independence, resilience and life skills in their children who are on the verge of leaving the nest and will soon be entering adulthood.
READING Wreck, Catherine Newman’s heartfelt follow-up to Sandwich, which reunites us with the gloriously imperfect family we didn’t realize we missed this much. Equal parts hilarious and quietly devastating, this novel explores marriage, aging parents, adult children and the unsettling beauty of everyday chaos. If you’ve ever laughed through tears—or cried while doing the dishes—you’ll feel seen. liberating.
BUZZING with excitement over the most definitive research to date on the safety of hormone therapy (HT). In a new article published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed 20 years of data from more than 27,000 women ages 50 to 79 with moderate to severe menopausal symptoms and found that HT does not increase risk of cardiovascular disease in women under age 60.
WATCHING the award-winning new HBO Original Documentary Short The Devil Is Busy, which chronicles a day on the frontlines in the battle for reproductive rights at a women’s healthcare clinic, which is currently streaming on HBO Max. |
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