Breaking Down Barriers to Menopause Care for the BIPOC Community

Understanding Menopause

The menopausal transition is a universal stage of life marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years, when the ovaries no longer produce eggs and menstruation stops. This life stage can begin any time between early-to-mid 30s to early 50s and can last anywhere between three to seven years. While some women don’t experience any symptoms during perimenopause, others experience a variety of debilitating symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, irritability, moodiness, depression, vaginal dryness, or any combination of these.

Overlooking Menopause Widens the Equity Gap

The disparities within women’s healthcare often hinder, or completely derail, women at a critical time in their careers. The impact is even greater among the BIPOC community; members of which tend to enter perimenopause and menopause at earlier ages, have longer transition periods, and experience more intense, debilitating symptoms—as shown by The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). After following 3,300 women in the U.S. as they aged, SWAN discovered BIPOC women (Black, indigenous, or other people of color) were disproportionately affected by menopause symptoms as compared to white women. In fact, symptoms in BIPOC women often start 8.5 months earlier and last longer—10 years, on average, as compared to the 6.5 years reported by white women. Not only do BIPOC women experience symptoms earlier, they experience them more frequently with greater severity. Some BIPOC women reported hot flashes six days or more per week, while white women’s symptoms were shown to taper off through perimenopause. Further, studies show BIPOC women are also 50 percent less likely to seek treatment for their symptoms.

Insufficient Menopause Support and Care Navigation Incurs Billions of dollars

By 2030, the world population of menopausal and postmenopausal women is projected to increase to 1.2 billion, with 47 million new entrants each year. Despite the staggering need for menopause care, only 1,500 physicians worldwide are certified by the Menopause Society, leaving many women underserved, misdiagnosed, or untreated.

• 99% of women feel menopause symptoms have negatively affected their career
• One in five women consider leaving work due to menopause
• 59% of women reported taking time off due to symptoms—18% for 8+ weeks
• Black women are 50% more likely than white women to report hot flashes
• More likely than white women to experience incident depression over 7 years of follow-up

Since menopause disproportionately impacts BIPOC women, women of color are at a greater disadvantage when it comes to balancing symptom management with their careers and lives.  Employers providing support and care for all women through perimenopause and menopause can improve retention of their older, female, BIPOC employees, sustaining a more diverse and equitable workplace.

How WIN PowerPause^SM Can Help

WIN PowerPause is the market-leading solution for end-to-end perimenopause and menopause support and care coordination, designed to help employees navigate the path to healthy aging. WIN PowerPause helps employers boost recruitment and retention, increase productivity and performance, and realize higher ROI.

WIN PowerPause Program Components

• 24/7 clinical guidance via Nurse Care Advocates – our approach is proven to be a low-cost option that drives high ROI
• deep expertise in perimenopause and menopause – 100% of WIN Nurse Care Advocates receive perimenopause and menopause training
• evidence-based treatment protocols – employees get the most appropriate treatment, for their unique circumstance
• nation-leading network and expert navigation – Nurse Care Advocates navigate health plan networks, and refer to those in-network
• PowerPause behavioral health support – evidence-based mental support to navigate this universal stage of life
• seamless end-to-end patient experience – no change to insurance cards, deductibles, or benefit tracking methods
• superior digital experience – in-app appointment scheduling, educational tools, and more
• WIN PowerPause community – community event series offers a safe space to connect

Investing in comprehensive menopause support not only enhances the well-being of women navigating this universal life stage, but also promotes a workplace culture that values and support diversity and inclusivity. Together, we can break down barriers to menopause care for the BIPOC community, boost employee loyalty, and pave the way for a more equitable future in the workplace.  

Interested in adding WIN PowerPause to your benefit solution? Take the first step by requesting a demo.