53 million women. No plan.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary of Health and Human Services
Declare Menopause a Public Health Emergency
More than 53 million American women are in menopause today — with 1.3 million more entering every year — yet there is no national plan, no federal funding, and no coordinated medical response.
For over two decades, the U.S. health system has treated menopause as a footnote rather than a fundamental women’s health issue. This neglect has left millions of women suffering in silence, misdiagnosed, or forced into early retirement due to untreated symptoms.
The result? A $355 billion annual economic loss, a growing public health crisis, and a failure of national leadership.
We call on Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to immediately:
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Declare menopause a Public Health Emergency, and
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Allocate $1 billion to establish a National Menopause and Women’s Health Infrastructure Program to fund research, clinical education, and equitable access to care.
It’s time to end 20 years of systemic neglect and give women the visibility, respect, and medical support they deserve.
Join us — sign the petition to demand national action now.
Sponsored by
To:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary of Health and Human Services
From:
[Your Name]
We, the undersigned, urge the Department of Health and Human Services to declare menopause a Public Health Emergency (PHE) and take immediate, coordinated action to address one of the most pervasive and underfunded health crises in modern American history.
Today, 53 million women in the United States are living in menopause. Every year, 1.3 million more enter this biological transition — yet there is no national strategy, no required medical training, and no federally funded research initiative dedicated to understanding or treating it.
For over two decades, the absence of federal leadership on menopause has resulted in:
Misdiagnosis and mistreatment of millions of women by untrained clinicians
A surge in preventable diseases including heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and depression
Disproportionate health disparities among women of color and low-income communities
Economic losses exceeding $355 billion annually, driven by absenteeism, lost productivity, and early retirement caused by untreated symptoms
This is not a niche issue — it is a systemwide public health failure. Menopause meets every HHS criterion for a Public Health Emergency: scale, severity, preventability, and equity impact.
We therefore call on you to:
Declare menopause a Public Health Emergency to mobilize research, funding, and awareness across all federal agencies.
Establish a $1 billion National Menopause and Women’s Health Infrastructure Program under HHS to fund evidence-based care, clinician training, and equitable access nationwide.
Mandate inclusion of menopause education in all federally supported medical and nursing curricula.
Launch a national awareness campaign to end stigma, educate the public, and empower women to seek proper care.
This is not only a matter of health — it is a matter of equity, dignity, and leadership.
Fifty-three million women. No plan.
That is the definition of a public health emergency.
We call on you to act now — to lead the nation in recognizing and responding to this long-overdue women’s health crisis.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned