Bias in menopause refers to the attitudes, assumptions, and systemic practices that influence how menopause is understood, treated, and experienced—often to the detriment of those going through it. These biases can be personal, cultural, or institutional, and they shape everything from medical care to workplace policies.
For decades, menopause has been marginalized in medical education and research, leading to widespread knowledge gaps among healthcare providers. This neglect often stems from gender bias—where women’s health issues are seen as less important or are dismissed as emotional or inevitable. As a result, people experiencing menopause may be told their symptoms are “normal” and offered little support or treatment.
Cultural bias also plays a significant role. If menopause is stigmatized or silenced, those communities who already face oppression and/or discrimination in health care settings, are even more impacted in seeking and obtaining care. For others, menopause may be viewed through a narrow lens by health care systems, overlooking traditional, or community-based approaches to wellness which may have been followed and trusted for generations.
Bias in menopause intersects with race, class, and geography. Black, Indigenous, South East Asian and other women, for example, have not been included in research enough and remain more likely to face barriers to respectful, effective care.
Recognizing and addressing these biases is critical to making menopause care more equitable, inclusive, and empowering for all. It starts with listening, learning, and ensuring every person navigating this transition is seen, heard, and supported.
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Dr. Malhotra sees patients in person in West Kelowna, British Columbia. Canada. Click here for more information.