The High Cost of Silence: How Unmanaged Menopause is Draining Canadian Wallets
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Beyond the health struggle, menopause is an economic crisis costing the Canadian economy billions and stripping working women of vital income.
For too long, menopause has been treated as a private health struggle to be managed in silence. But when we look at the balance sheets, it becomes clear that this isn't just a medical issue—it is a massive, preventable drain on the Canadian workforce and the pocketbooks of women.
As CBC News first reported, the Menopause Foundation of Canada estimates that unmanaged menopause symptoms cost the Canadian economy $3.5 billion annually. That figure represents a staggering loss of 540,000 workdays every year. While the macroeconomic hit is severe, the personal financial toll is even more acute. Janet Ko, co-founder and president of the Menopause Foundation of Canada, told a House of Commons committee on the status of women that women lose $3.3 billion in income due to reduced working hours, taking on lesser roles, or exiting the workforce entirely.
This is a critical economic failure. As Ko noted, women over 40 represent one-quarter of Canada's workforce—the largest share in the nation's history. These women are in their peak working years, yet many are forced to navigate this transition without necessary support. Trish Barbato, co-founder and director of the Menopause Foundation of Canada, highlighted that five million working women in Canada are over 40, forming a high-value, experienced cohort that the economy simply cannot afford to lose.
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**Opinion: The Cost of Stigma**
We have to stop pretending that the 'taboo' surrounding menopause is a harmless social quirk. As Barbato pointed out to CBC News, this stigma places the entire burden on the woman, impacting her current income and her future retirement security and Canada Pension Plan. When we treat menopause as a secret, we aren't protecting women; we are ensuring they remain under-supported and financially vulnerable.
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The path forward requires treating menopause as a public policy priority. Barbato is advocating for a national quality standard on menopause care and mandatory menopause education in medical training to eliminate the barriers women face when seeking help.
Some employers are already recognizing that supporting women is a bottom-line issue. Barbato noted that over 250 Canadian employers have joined the "Menopause Works Here" campaign, including BMO, PWC, Sunlife, Ikea, Metrolinx, and Horizon Health. BMO, for example, has enhanced its benefit programs to include pelvic floor therapy.
However, the foundation suggests Canada should look to the United Kingdom for a more systemic approach. Under the 2025 Employment Rights Act, U.K. employers with more than 250 employees will be required to publish menopause action plans starting in early 2027.
Investment is another glaring gap. Dr. Kevin Whittingstall, director of the medical imaging and radiation sciences department at the Université de Sherbrooke, told the committee that while diabetes research in Canada has received roughly $300 million over the last decade, menopause research has received only $20 million. This disparity is dangerous, especially as Whittingstall noted that menopause increases risks for dementia, cognitive decline, and strokes.
If we continue to ignore the economic reality of menopause, we aren't just failing women—we are leaving billions of dollars and half a million workdays on the table.