By Nelson A. King
WASHINGTON, Oct 8, CMC – Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke has joined Louisiana Republican Congresswoman Julia Letlow in introducing a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to designate October as World Menopause Awareness Month and October 18 as World Menopause Day in the United States.
Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Cory Booker of New Jersey have introduced a companion resolution in the US Senate.
Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Thursday that the observances would contribute to greater awareness of menopause and access to care during the menopausal transition and post-menopause.
She said they would also provide organisations and individuals around the world with an opportunity to advocate for resources and support for the 75 million American women in perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause.
“Throughout our lives, women deserve the support we need to confront every trial and embrace every triumph each of our chapters has in store for us,” said Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Menopause is a natural experience that we all must face. Yet, the stigma that follows it continues to inflict needless ridicule and shame on women at a time when all we ask for is acceptance and understanding.
“World Menopause Awareness Month and World Menopause Day will be the bridges to normalising menopause and ensuring the women confronting it have the resources, care, and confidence they need to tackle their new horizons head on, and I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation to see both codified as national observances,” Clarke added.
Letlow said that, “Through any stage of life, women need access to reliable information to make educated decisions about their health.
“World Menopause Awareness Month shines a light on the millions of women undergoing menopause every year, and the need for women to better understand the treatments and options available to them.”
Blunt Rochester said, “Generations of women have faced the transition to menopause. Yet, for too long, this experience has been overlooked, under-researched and treated as taboo.
“It’s far past time we ensure women have the care and support they need to feel their best in all phases of life,” she added. “I’m proud to introduce the World Menopause Awareness Month Resolution to elevate the challenges of menopause and encourage further investments into research that will help women meet this transition with confidence.”
Booker said the US health care system “has failed women struggling with menopausal symptoms that disrupt their livelihoods, and this unfortunate reality disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic women.”
“This resolution is a reminder that we must do more to support women navigating menopause and provide them with the resources they need,” he said. “Menopause should not be a barrier to the quality of life every woman deserves.”
Donna Klassen of Let’s Talk Menopause said the resolution introduced by Clarke represents “another important step toward breaking down the barriers that have too often left women without the information, care, and relief they need throughout the menopause transition.”
“We proudly support this resolution and applaud Congresswoman Clarke’s leadership in bringing greater attention to menopause, expanding access to trusted health information and care, and ensuring women have the resources they need to navigate this stage of life with confidence and support,” she added.
Lindsey Miltenberger of the Society for Women’s Health Research said menopause is “a universal experience for women, and, yet, for too long menopause has been understudied.”
“This has left us with significant knowledge gaps about menopause itself, including its symptoms and treatments, but also about the effects of menopause on overall health and healthy aging,” she said.
“Fortunately, we now have momentum to course correct.
“The Society for Women’s Health Research thanks Representative Clarke for her leadership on the resolution designating October as World Menopause Awareness Month and Oct. 18 as World Menopause Day,” Miltenberger added.
“We must collectively continue raising awareness about menopause, which can help shape research priorities and ensure women and health care providers have the evidence and information needed to make informed decisions about menopause care.”
Clarke said menopause is more than a personal biological transition, with lasting implications for women’s health and well-being, as well as families, workplaces and society.
Dr Ifeoma Udoh of the Black Women’s Health Imperative said her group endorses the resolution “to recognise October as World Menopause Awareness Month and expand awareness, provider education, and access to the resources and care that women, particularly Black women, need for a healthy, dignified menopause.”
The resolution is also endorsed by several associations and organisations, including the American Medical Association; Astellas; Greater New York Hospital Association; Healthcare Association of New York State; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda; Mount Sinai Health System; National Medical Association; National Minority Quality Forum; Novo Nordisk, Inc.; NYU Langone Health; One Brooklyn Health System; Reproductive Health Access Project; Ritual; The Fibroid Foundation; and The White Dress Project.
CMC/nk/ed/2026