WRDI Watch

Twenty years ago, while working in consumer products marketing, I spent several days listening to women talk about menopause during research interviews.

What struck me most wasn't any specific symptom. It was how alone so many women felt.

Many were searching for answers—from doctors, friends, mothers, anyone who could help explain what was happening. I remember calling my own mom afterward and realizing how little support seemed to exist around a life stage experienced by millions of women.

Reading this month's articles brought many of those conversations back to me.

For decades, menopause was treated largely as a private challenge rather than a public health or policy issue. Today, states are beginning to address it through insurance coverage, Medicaid programs, and other initiatives that can directly affect women's lives.

It's one of the more interesting—and encouraging—developments we're tracking right now.

Thanks for reading.

— Julie

Why This Matters

The policy response to menopause has lagged far behind its impact on women, employers, and the broader economy: