Jackson menopause event highlights increased need for women’s mid-life care, impact on workforce

Event part of Michigan Women’s Commission ‘Menopause: It’s a Movement!’ statewide conversations

JACKSON, Mich. — The Michigan Women's Commission (MWC) recently hosted a menopause conversation moderated by Senator Sue Shink. These conversations will continue to take place around the state to create a safe space where women can openly share their mid-life health stories and find answers to the questions they have about menopause symptoms and treatments.

"When we create policies and workplace cultures that acknowledge and support women navigating menopause, we’re not only promoting health and dignity — we’re making a smart investment in our workforce and our economy,” said Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “Supporting women at every stage of their careers helps retain experienced talent, boosts productivity and fosters workplaces where everyone can thrive. The return on that investment is healthier employees, stronger businesses and a more resilient economy for all."

Panelists included: Dr. Diana Bitner, OBGYN, author, certified menopause practitioner, True Women’s Health; Amanda Wagenschutz, Vice President of People Operations, Consumers Energy and MWC Commissioner; Dawn Zuidema, engineer and multi-modality transformational coach at A New Dawn Arising; Dr. Carrie Karvonen-Gutierrez, director, Center for Midlife Science, University of Michigan; and Sarah Cohen, National Pilates Certified Program certified pilates trainer, Move Wellness.

"Menopause isn’t just a women’s health issue, it’s a community health issue” said Sen. Shink. “Healthcare is a human right, and that includes access to appropriate care for everyone at every stage of life. As we begin to prioritize menopause and women’s midlife health, we’re finally taking real steps toward building healthier, more resilient communities for all Michiganders. I thank the Women’s Commission for the work they’ve done to break the silence and advance this conversation.”

"As an epidemiologist and advocate for data-driven science, I deeply appreciate the Michigan Women's Commission's commitment to data collection on midlife health and menopause,” said Dr. Karvonen-Gutierrez. “This work builds on decades of progress, including studies like SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation), and brings attention to an area of health that is upsettingly overlooked. I look forward to the release of their report and the positive impact it will have on women’s health policy and research.”

“I'm incredibly proud to be part of the Michigan Women’s Commission and to see the positive changes we're driving around menopause and women’s midlife health,” said Commissioner Wagenschutz. “In my role as Vice President of People Operations for Consumer’s Energy, I’m honored that our women’s group was the first to take the menopause survey and I’m excited to bring these initiatives back to my workplace, where employee development, wellbeing, and safety are at the heart of what we do.”

In the United States, women make up 51% of the population and roughly 75 million women are in perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause right now with 6,000 more women reaching menopause each day. A Mayo Clinic study put a price tag on menopause and estimated the costs of worker productivity losses due to menopausal symptoms to be about $1.8 billion per year in the U.S. and related health care costs total over $24 billion.

In 2024, MWC launched a survey to women across the state regarding their experiences with menopause in the workplace. MWC will use the data to release a report making recommendations to employers and policymakers on how to create menopause-supportive workplaces.

"Addressing menopause in the workplace is essential to understanding the full scope of challenges women face across their careers and lives,” said Cheryl Bergman, executive director of the Michigan Women’s Commission. “This work shines a light on an issue too often overlooked, yet one that directly impacts women’s health, economic security and professional growth. As part of our mission to review the status of women in Michigan, highlight critical issues and celebrate their contributions, the Menopause Movement is a vital step toward creating policies and workplaces that truly support women at every stage."

On March 12, 2025, MWC hosted a Women’s History Month event with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Halle Berry, and Dr. Pauline Maki convening community members, policy makers and health care related individuals to bring awareness to the lack of information and research about menopause jeopardizing women’s health.

This event kick started conversations MWC is holding around the state to create a safe space for women to share their stories, include local policy makers and health professionals to destigmatize this topic and create policy solutions. Learn more about the Michigan Women’s Commission at michigan.gov/mwc.

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