Good afternoon.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to discuss an issue close to my heart. This issue is women's health, both in their professional lives and in our society.
I've been a general practitioner for over 30 years. I'm also a speaker and a co‑author of two books on menopause. These books are Mieux vivre la ménopause, co‑written with Isabelle Huot, and Ma santé, mes hormones , which was published on September 16 of this year. In this book, we discuss the impact of perimenopause on women's professional lives.
My journey has led me to develop an interest in integrative medicine, prevention and healthy longevity. At the heart of this approach lies a conviction. To provide effective support for a woman, we must understand how her symptoms, physiology and daily life are interconnected. This has led me, for over 20 years, to focus on women's hormonal health, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. Behind the symptoms of fatigue, insomnia and mental health challenges lies a person trying to understand what's happening to her. She's a woman who embraces her responsibilities but who no longer quite recognizes herself as she navigates this period of hormonal change.
Perimenopause and menopause aren't diseases. They constitute a major hormonal transition that warrants understanding and support. Hormonal fluctuations can disrupt sleep, mood—as we've heard—physical well‑being and intimate relationships. Some women will go through this period with few difficulties, while others will feel the impact on both their relationships and their performance at work. So, it's important.
Sex hormones play a role in a number of multisystemic functions. Their gradual decline affects metabolism, so all the biochemical reactions in a woman's body that serve to produce energy, including at the cellular level. We must look beyond the reproductive years when it comes to these hormones if we want to talk about prevention. That's why I advocate for a comprehensive and personalized approach to health. We must focus on the individuals and on the patients. We must listen, assess, explain and work with each woman to develop personalized care tailored to her situation.
The problem lies in the fact that it's currently too difficult to access this support. For some women, the process of finding an available and trained professional, obtaining reliable information, discussing treatment options and receiving follow‑up care can turn into a real obstacle course. Women have the right to be informed. To make informed choices, they need people to listen to them and hear them. This takes time. In today's medical landscape, it's difficult to make this happen. They shouldn't need to burn themselves out and fight in order to get help. Imagine having to lead a meeting after multiple nights of interrupted sleep, teaching students while experiencing hot flashes—I've been there—or providing care while dealing with chronic fatigue. This may be a temporary challenge for women, but it can affect how others perceive them, particularly in terms of their skills and commitment in the workplace.
In 2023, the Menopause Foundation of Canada carried out an analysis on symptom management, which is allegedly tied to—get this—about 540,000 lost workdays each year in Canada. Between 50% and 75% of women in perimenopause will experience symptoms, while 30% of them will have severe symptoms. Between 10% and 20% of these women will see a decline in their productivity. One in ten menopausal women will leave her job because her symptoms become too severe or because they affect her quality of life too much.
That said, I would like to propose three priorities. First, we need to improve training for health care professionals and the information provided to the public about perimenopause, which can begin as early as the mid‑thirties.
Second, we need to improve access to assessments for personalized care based not only on evidence but also on clinical experience.
Third, we need to support workplaces by informing managers and educating both managers and employees. It's about confidentiality and respect. Flexibility is key, and accommodations should be made whenever possible.