Why this matters

Menopause is a normal life stage, but support is not equal. While public awareness has grown in recent years, many people are still left out.

We listened to people from:

• Disabled and neurodivergent communities
• Ethnic minority communities
• LGBTQIA+ communities
• People living in poverty or homelessness
• People who have experienced domestic abuse
• Women and people in prisons

These groups often face barriers such as:

• Lack of accessible and culturally appropriate information
• Healthcare that feels unsafe, dismissive or uninformed
• Little or no research about their experiences

This means many people do not get the care they need and lose trust in health services.

What the inquiry found

Across all communities, people said they want:

• To be listened to and taken seriously
• Information that reflects their culture, language and needs
• Longer, more understanding GP appointments
• Better coordination between services (GPs, specialists, prisons)
• Safe spaces to talk about menopause without shame or judgement

Specific problems included:

• Disabled and neurodivergent people struggle with short, inaccessible appointments.
• Black and Asian women are less likely to be prescribed HRT.
• LGBTQIA+ people face exclusion from “women-only” language and a lack of tailored guidance.
• People in poverty or homeless often can’t access care or medication easily.
• Survivors of domestic abuse find talking about their health scary or triggering and don’t always know they can ask for a female GP.
• Women and people in prison say it is hard to get medication for menopause and find prison life can make symptoms worse.

Key recommendations

The APPG calls for:

1. Better training for healthcare professionals – to understand cultural, gender, and disability differences.
2. Longer, more flexible GP appointments – and the option to see the same or a female doctor.
3. Safe community spaces – where people can share experiences and get support.
4. Accessible, tailored information – in different languages and formats.
5. More research – focused on the menopause experiences of underrepresented groups.

Progress on menopause awareness is welcome, but true equality means inclusion. To rebuild trust, the NHS and government must work with communities — not just for them — and make sure every person can get the care, understanding and respect they deserve.