A Changing Landscape: A Canadian Perimenopause & Menopause Policy Tracker
Where coverage, care and policy stand, federally and across all 13 provinces and territories.
After decades of being overlooked in research, policy and care, women’s health is finally getting the attention it deserves. Governments, health systems and industry are starting to close some long-standing gaps, turning attention into action.
Menopause and perimenopause discussions are one of the clearest signs of this shift. Provinces are funding menopausal hormone therapy, opening dedicated clinics and setting clinical quality standards. Federal research dollars are starting to flow. But momentum isn’t the same as measurable change. Each jurisdiction is moving on its own, creating a fragmented landscape where access to care still depends on where you live.
Santis Health built this tracker to show where commitments are turning into action, and action into impact. It gives an at-a-glance view of what each jurisdiction offers, where momentum is building and where gaps remain. It’s built for the innovators, advocates and leaders working toward better outcomes, better access and better health for the millions of Canadians in this life stage.
Note on terms: In this dashboard, “menopause” covers the full transition: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. See our glossary for other key terms.
Jurisdictional policy scorecard
How menopause policy varies across Canada
Source: Santis Health, Peri-Menopause and Menopause Canadian Landscape research matrix. [ADD PUBLICATION DATE AND METHODOLOGY LINK]
Latest menopause news in Canada
Research matrix
Menopause in Canada by the numbers
10M+
women aged 40 and older in Canada are affected by menopause, about a quarter of the population.
FP Analytics and Bayer, 2025
95%
of surveyed women aged 40–60 experience menopause symptoms, averaging seven each.
Menopause Foundation of Canada, 2023
25%
of women with symptoms seek medical treatment.
Menopause Foundation of Canada, 2023
75%
of working women say their employer isn’t supportive, or don’t know what support exists.
Menopause Foundation of Canada, 2023
1 in 10
women leave the workforce entirely because of menopause symptoms.
Menopause Foundation of Canada, 2023
1 in 2
waited a year or longer for effective treatment, and 1 in 3 waited over two years.
GreenShield–Ipsos survey, 2026
64%
say symptoms affect their job performance; 54% say finding care disrupts their work.
GreenShield–Ipsos survey, 2026
$3.5B
a year is the estimated economic cost of unmanaged menopause symptoms, mostly lost income.
Menopause Foundation of Canada, Menopause and Work in Canada, 2023
Glossary
Menopause definitions
Menopause is the one day of your life that marks one year since your last period. Perimenopause is the period before menopause, usually when the most symptoms are experienced. Postmenopause is everything after menopause and is an important phase for disease prevention and also symptom management.
Pre-menopause
The time before any menopausal symptoms begin.
Perimenopause
The transitional phase leading up to menopause is often associated with menopause symptoms and/or changes in the menstrual cycle. The term menopause transition is also sometimes used interchangeably; however, perimenopause also includes up to the 12 months after the final menstrual period when menopause is diagnosed. Perimenopause can occur anywhere from 4–8 years before the menopause, and in some cases it can be 10 years or longer.
Menopause
Defined as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
Postmenopause
Postmenopause refers to the time after menopause. It starts when periods have ceased for 12 months and lasts until the end of life. The terms can be confusing since this is how menopause is defined. Think of menopause as a point in time, whereas postmenopause describes a span of time. At this point, you are no longer ovulating.
References: SOGC Menopause Hub (opens in a new tab) and Government of Canada’s WDH Guide to Menopause (PDF, opens in a new tab)
About this dashboard
The landscape is moving fast, and this tracker moves with it. News is refreshed weekly. Policy and coverage information is reviewed quarterly, with major changes added as they happen. Every data point links to its source.
This tracker is for information only and is not medical advice; please speak with a health care provider about your own care.
Spot something we’ve missed? Let us know.
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