Increased media attention on menopause

The increased media coverage of menopause helps to break taboos and promotes support for affected women. It also fosters a lucrative market driven by companies and social networks that benefit from the need for accompaniment.

Growing economic sector around menopause

Supplements, books, coaching, and other services related to menopause are becoming a growing economic sector, with a market value of 535 billion euros (600 billion US dollars). This evolution represents an important advance: menopause is more discussed, better understood, and gradually recognized as a public health issue.

Commercialization raises questions

However, this visibility is accompanied by strong commercialization, raising questions about whether it meets the needs of women or creates new markets based on their concerns, symptoms, and desire for well-being. The emergence of menopause as a market for consumption is characterized by a growing "awareness of the climacteric market" and by the progressive transformation of menopause into a space of commercial opportunities, body interventions, and self-optimization.

Demographic changes drive economic interest

The economic interest in menopause is partly explained by demographic changes. Women are living longer and now spend several decades in the post-menopausal period. According to some estimates, more than a billion women will be menopausal worldwide by 2030.

Companies target a neglected consumer segment

Facing this reality, companies have identified a consumer segment long neglected. The menopause industry now includes dietary supplements, cosmetics, clothing for hot flashes discomfort, tracking apps, or wellness retreats, although many of these products or so-called "solutions" have not demonstrated their effectiveness.

Media and social networks increase visibility

The current visibility of menopause is largely due to the media and social networks. Public figures, journalists, and health professionals have contributed to bringing the issue into the light. In the United Kingdom, documentaries produced by Kate Muir with Davina McCall have played an important role.

Social networks foster discussion and marketing

In France, an op-ed signed by several personalities from the political and cultural worlds in 2024 and a parliamentary report submitted to the government in 2025 have also contributed to the discussion. Social networks have amplified this movement, with thousands of women sharing their experiences, exchanging advice, and recommending solutions, thus contributing to reducing the sense of isolation associated with menopause.

Online communities and commercial influence

Spaces for speech or communities around menopause are developing on social networks, driven by hashtags such as #Midlifewomen, #PerimenopauseProblems, #Breakthemenopausetaboo, and #MyHormonesAreDrunk. These spaces have, however, become preferred locations for marketing strategies.

Vulnerability and varied access to care

Women affected can be particularly vulnerable. Sleep disorders, anxiety, hormonal changes, or professional difficulties sometimes lead them to actively seek solutions. This vulnerability can be exploited by certain marketing strategies. In the face of difficult symptoms, a promise of quick or natural relief can appear particularly attractive.

Inequality in access to solutions

Not all women have the same opportunities to evaluate the proposals they are given. Medical knowledge, access to care, and financial means vary greatly among individuals. Social inequalities play a major role, with women with high incomes having greater access to specialized consultations or expensive products, while those with fewer resources encounter more obstacles to obtaining appropriate care.

Commercialization includes questionable products

In the United Kingdom, for example, advertisements go as far as to promote chocolates that would relieve menopause symptoms, among other things. Faced with the expansion of the menopause market, regulation becomes essential.

Need for scientific oversight

Consumers must be able to distinguish information based on scientific evidence from mere commercial arguments. Health authorities have an important role to play in controlling the claims made by companies. Healthcare professionals also have a major responsibility to help women make informed decisions without relying solely on commercial discourse.

Balancing innovation and protection

The challenge is therefore to find a balance between innovation, information, and consumer protection. Menopause should be addressed as a health, equality, and social justice issue, and not simply as a market to conquer. The end of silence around menopause represents a major progress. It remains, however, to ensure that this visibility benefits primarily the women themselves, rather than solely commercial interests.