World Menopause Day — [Mr Philip Hollobone in the Chair]

Paying tribute to MPs who have raised awareness of menopause, Andrea Leadsom highlighted the lack of education on the subject in medical schools and the inadequate response from GPs. She mentioned that 41% of medical schools do not teach menopause as a mandatory subject, and only 37% of women with symptoms are given hormone replacement therapy (HRT), while 23% receive antidepressants.

Paying tribute to MPs involved in menopause advocacy, Caroline Nokes expressed disappointment over the delayed government response to a Women and Equalities Committee report on menopause. She called for flexible working policies through an employment Bill, mandatory workplace policies led by BEIS, and the enactment of section 14 of the Equality Act 2010. Additionally, she urged the Health Minister to commit to women's health strategy and to trial menopause leave within large-scale public sector employers like the NHS. Ms Nokes questioned the consistency of previous statements by the Minister regarding delays in implementing changes, asking for clarification on whether consultations with professional bodies or technical system issues were causing the delay.

Expressed gratitude towards the hon. Member for Swansea East and highlighted the importance of appropriate treatment, noting that almost one in ten women leave the workforce due to menopause-related issues. Raised concerns about women from ethnic minority communities, trans people, and those on contraception missing out on necessary support and guidance.

Mr Danny Kruger acknowledged the importance of improving training for GPs to understand menopausal symptoms and avoid misdiagnosing them as depression. He supported recommendations from the APPG report, including the need for large employers to have proper menopause policies in place and for primary care to improve understanding of the menopause.

Mr Hughes spoke as the husband of a menopausal woman and praised his wife Clare and PHS Group for their support. He urged all men to understand more about menopause so they can provide better support to colleagues and family members.

Ms Clark acknowledged the efforts of MPs like Carolyn Harris and Caroline Nokes for championing women's issues. She highlighted that 84% of women feel their voices are not heard in healthcare, stressing the need for better medical education on menopause. Ms Clark also raised concerns about HRT shortages and increased costs due to prescription charges, as well as access disparities for black and minority ethnic women who require multiple GP appointments.

Mr Gerald Jones expressed concern about the significant impact of menopause on women's health, workplaces, and society. He highlighted that around 75% of menopausal women experience symptoms, with nearly one million leaving their jobs annually due to these issues. Mr Jones called for employers to raise awareness and implement supportive policies to address the taboos surrounding menopause in the workplace.

Jim Shannon highlighted the need for specialist menopause care in hospitals across the UK and advocated for better training for GPs to provide clear guidance on treatment options. He noted that 900,000 women have left their jobs due to menopausal symptoms and emphasised the importance of addressing mental health issues arising from menopause.

Ms Oswald highlighted the importance of discussing menopause openly and stressed that it is a common experience affecting over half of women. She mentioned local efforts in East Renfrewshire to support women through menopause, such as initiatives by Councillors Annette Ireland, Caroline Bamforth, and Angela Convery. She noted key statistics including the average age for reaching menopause being 51, one in 100 women experiencing it before age 40, 70% of women having mental health impacts during menopause, and symptoms lasting up to 15 years. Ms Oswald also discussed the need for structural support, emphasizing the importance of free HRT prescriptions and period products provided by the Scottish Government.

I thank the hon. Lady for bringing this vital debate to Parliament. Her speech is a wonderful contribution on what so many people have gone through. Does she agree that menopause is not just a physical condition or response in the body, but something with a mental health and wellbeing impact? People need access to specialist services and clinicians, so that their psychosocial needs can be met in a holistic way.

Expressed her own experience of misdiagnosis, highlighting the importance of improving recognition and treatment options for those suffering from menopausal symptoms.

As someone who went through menopause about 30 years ago, Marion Fellows emphasized the importance of talking openly about the subject. She noted the lack of understanding from employers and the need for younger colleagues to be aware of what menopause involves. Fellows praised MPs like Carolyn Harris and Caroline Nokes for their work in raising awareness.

Rachel Hopkins noted that 13 million UK women are peri or postmenopausal and that one in ten women over 50 quit jobs due to menopause symptoms. She highlighted inadequate support due to societal taboos, the high cost of HRT, and the need for better workplace policies to support menopausal women.

Selaine Saxby thanked Carolyn Harris for raising awareness about menopause and praised previous Health Ministers for their work. She highlighted the lack of employer support, policies, awareness, and training available to women experiencing menopause symptoms, urging more women to speak with their doctors about HRT.