The Greens have secured support for a Senate inquiry into menopause and perimenopause to understand its health impacts and its economic impacts on women and people who menstruate, and the impacts on the broader economy.
Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:
“People experiencing physically and mentally debilitating menopause and perimenopause symptoms have for too long been forced to suffer in silence.
“Women are sick of being invisible and their health needs neglected. We need evidence-based policies to reduce the impact of menopause and perimenopause on women’s participation in the workforce, and the adequacy of existing leave entitlements.
“We also need more awareness both by GPs and by patients of the symptoms of peri and menopause, so that people know what treatments are available to them, and make them affordable.
“The gendered cost of treatment is yet another financial burden faced by women, on top of the costs of a lifetime of menstruation.
“I am pleased this inquiry received consensus support to be established, and I look forward to hearing from individuals, health professionals, employers and experts about that federal funding and policies need to be developed to support women in this phase of life.”