Women’s Choice in Menopause: Empowerment Through Evidence and Options
At the recent ‘So Hot Right Now’ menopause conference held at the iconic Sydney Opera House, leading experts in women’s health delivered a powerful message: women deserve choices in menopause care—choices that are informed, validated, and tailored to individual needs.
In her key takeaway, Dr Louise Newson, emphasised this beautifully stating that women deserve to have a choice based upon evidence, both scientific, clinical and lived-experience. She acknowledged that whilst we can change our times, once we go through the menopause transition this is our situation forever, so we to make sure the choice is right for us.
This sentiment resonates deeply with the mission of Natural Menopause Research—to ensure that women have access to genuine, science-backed treatment options that empower them to take control of their health. But the reality is, not all choices are equally accessible. Despite advancements in research, women’s health funding remains skewed—prioritizing data collection and digital health tools over actual drug development for solutions that could transform menopause care.
For too long, menopause care has been dictated by a limited set of options either hormone therapy or symptom management through lifestyle changes. While these can be beneficial for some, they don’t address the diverse physiological needs of all women. The lack of dedicated research into botanical, non-hormonal, and evidence-based alternatives has left many women without real choices.
Dr Mary Claire Haver stated it clearly: “Menopause is inevitable, suffering is not. The last third of your life should be the best third of your life”.
The question we must ask is: Are we giving women the tools to ensure their best third of life?
Real choice means:
Access to evidence-based alternatives beyond conventional hormone therapies.
Investment in clinical trials that include whole-plant phytomedicines, not just pharmaceuticals.
Recognition of lived experience alongside clinical and scientific data.
A shift in funding priorities—directing resources toward research that delivers actual treatment options.
Dr. Vonda Wright reinforced this idea: “You are worth the daily investment in your health”
That investment should not only come from women themselves but from the entire healthcare system that serves them. If menopause lasts a lifetime, women deserve long-term, science-backed solutions that honor their unique physiology.
Awareness is growing, but without action, it remains just that—awareness. It’s time for policymakers, investors, and researchers to step up and fund the development of real, effective, and safe treatment choices.
Women shouldn’t have to choose between suffering in silence and settling for inadequate care. Choice should not be a privilege—it should be the standard.
At Natural Menopause Research, we stand by this principle. Through our work in advancing botanical, non-hormonal therapies, we are striving to expand women’s choices and challenge outdated models of menopause care.
The future of menopause treatment isn’t just about what’s available—it’s about what’s possible. Let’s make the best third of our lives the healthiest, most empowered third yet.