Menopause is a gender equity issue that requires immediate action.

The Menopause Foundation of Canada

The Menopause Foundation of Canada (MFC) is a registered non-profit organization that advocates for the support women need in their menopausal years from the health care system, government, business and the broader community. Women enter menopause in the prime of their lives, while they are making outsized contributions to their families, workplaces and society at large. Ending the silence, misinformation and stigma of menopause benefits us all. Ensuring women have access to care and treatment options through their health care journey, and that they are supported in the workplace, is critical to Canada’s success.

MFC is grateful for the guidance and support of a Medical Advisory Board that includes many of Canada’s leading menopause specialists.

professional woman sitting at a desk

Our Advocacy Goals

  • Close the Menopause Knowledge Gap

    Our top priority is to raise awareness of menopause in Canada. The topic is taboo and that harms women’s health. We need to close the menopause knowledge gap so women can navigate all stages of menopause. Menopause shouldn’t be a mystery each woman struggles to solve on her own.

  • Improve Access to Menopause Care and Treatment

    Women require access to knowledgeable health practitioners who can offer care through all stages of menopause. That means physicians and specialists need to be better educated about menopause, resulting in confidence to properly assess and provide patients with options for preventative care and potential treatment. Creating robust training in medical schools and residency programs across Canada is required. Improved coverage of menopause treatments on both public and private health plans is also needed. Socioeconomic, geographic and other factors should not be a barrier to accessing menopause care.

  • Create Menopause Inclusive Workplaces

    Supporting women through perimenopause and menopause must be a top priority as employers look to improve diversity, equity and inclusion. Too many women feel unsupported at work and data indicates that 1 in 10 may leave the workforce because of unmanaged symptoms related to menopause. Menopause may be the missing link to explain why more women aren’t breaking through the glass ceiling.

Grateful to the Menopause Movement

  • A global movement is working to break the stigma of menopause and advocate for better support for women. We are grateful to leaders who shared their wisdom, including Diane Danzebrink (Menopause Support, UK), Donna Klassen and Samara Daly (Let’s Talk Menopause, US), and Claire Gill (National Menopause Foundation, US). Their work helped shape our own. We also acknowledge Dr. Jen Gunter’s The Menopause Manifesto for inspiring us to challenge the silence around menopause. Special thanks to trailblazers Dr. Wendy Wolfman and Carol Mitchell (Mitch), whose philanthropy created the Carol Mitchell Chair in Menopause at Sinai Health — the first in North America. Dr. Wolfman, Director of the Menopause Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital, has dedicated her career to advancing menopause care. Through fundraising for the chair, we saw the need for a national advocacy organization to address menopause inequities.

Menopause and Health Equity

Access to menopause care isn’t equal, and for many women and gender-diverse people, getting help is harder than it should be.

Here’s why:

  • Missing voices, missing care. Members of Indigenous, Black, racialized, newcomers to Canada, gender-diverse, and other marginalized communities face systemic health inequities compounded by discrimination and racism, including in menopause care. Research into the needs and experiences of underserved communities, culturally aware menopause information, and better access to diversity-informed care are needed.

  • Minimal training for healthcare practitioners. Most doctors get minimal menopause education in medical school, leaving many unprepared to provide comprehensive menopause care. This guide will help you, help them.

  • Millions don’t have a regular health provider. About 5.4M Canadians (17%1) go without, and rural and remote areas are hit hardest. New options, like virtual menopause clinics, are gaining traction.

  • Coverage for medicines depends on your plan – or where you live. Access to therapies like menopause hormone therapy (MHT) depends on which province you call home or what your private plan covers. Advocates are pressing for change.

  • Every experience is unique. Menopause is universal, but the experience is individual. Personalized care discussions are needed, particularly for women with more complex health histories, such as breast cancer, heart disease, or premature or surgically induced menopause.

  • Outdated stigmas persist. Menopause remains a taboo topic in many families, communities, and workplaces. Talking about it helps break the silence and build support.

“Access to menopause care should not depend on income, postal code, race, gender identity, or whether someone has a regular healthcare provider. We need to do better. Menopause care must be equitable, accessible, and responsive; care that is culturally safe, respects our differences, and meets people where they are, based on their needs and goals.”

Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe, Family Physician and Menopause Specialist
Toronto, Ontario
MFC Medical Advisory Board Member

[1] Statistics Canada. Key Findings from Health of Canadians Report, 2025.   https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250305/dq250305a-eng.htm