MENOPAUSE 2.0 - a global virtual conference about perimenopause and menopause
Menopause 2.0 is a global virtual conference covering perimenopause and menopause as a societal, economic, workplace and healthcare issue.
Following the success of our 2024 and 2025 conferences, we are bringing it back again in 2026!
Join us for a half-day of insightful talks, educational panels, thought-provoking discussions, groundbreaking research and a showcase of best practices and innovations.
We are bringing together key stakeholders: researchers, scientists, clinicians, startup founders, pharma, investors, policymakers, organisations, and media to have a conversation about perimenopause and menopause.
Why are we doing this? Because it’s time we talk about these numbers and do something about them:
Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with a global average of around 51 years.
Perimenopause usually begins in the mid-40s and lasts around 4–8 years, though symptoms can start in the late 30s and continue for a decade.
By 2050, about 1.2 billion women worldwide will be aged 60+, meaning many will spend one-third of their lives post-menopause.
75–85% of women experience menopausal symptoms during the transition.
Studies show that over 80% of perimenopausal women report symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, or sleep disruption.
Researchers increasingly suggest symptom-based diagnosis, rather than relying solely on menstrual cycle changes; hormone-related physiological changes can begin more than 10 years before the final menstrual period.
A 2026 survey found 62% of people under 40 have little or no knowledge of menopause or perimenopause.
Menopause-related career interruptions and reduced earnings are estimated to cost over $15 billion annually in lost income and retirement savings in some analyses.
Postmenopausal women face 2–3x higher risk of osteoporosis due to declining estrogen levels.
One of the biggest shifts in 2025 was cultural - menopause is increasingly being reframed from a taboo topic to a mainstream health conversation, appearing in workplace policy, consumer products, and digital health platforms.
Agenda (*all timings are in BST)
2pm-2:05 pm - Welcome words by organising team
2:05pm - 2:35pm - Opening keynote talk by Bayer x Clue - Partnering to Better Understand Symptom Burden in Perimenopause
Speakers:
Carina Dinkel-Keuthage, Senior Real World Evidence Researcher at Bayer
Kirsten Weber PhD, Senior Research Data Scientist at Clue
2:35pm - 3:20pm - Panel discussion ‘Policy, Culture, and Menopause: Making Workplaces Inclusive’
Menopause affects millions of working women, yet workplaces often overlook the physical, emotional, and cultural challenges that come with this life stage. ‘Policy, Culture, and Menopause: Making Workplaces Inclusive’ is a dynamic panel discussion exploring how organizations, leaders, and policymakers can create environments that support women during midlife. The conversation will cover strategies for addressing stigma, implementing inclusive policies, and fostering workplace cultures that acknowledge and accommodate menopause-related needs. Panelists will share insights on how cultural attitudes, legal frameworks, and organizational practices intersect to impact women’s experiences at work, while highlighting successful approaches to creating supportive and equitable workplaces.
Speakers:
Cass Pratt, Chief Human Resources Officer at Progyny
Dr. Mia Chorney, DNP, FNPBC, MSCP, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of The Pause Technologies, Inc.
Jennifer Barsky, founder and Executive Director of Menoglobal
Jana Rose Stewart, founder and CEO of VelaHR
3:20pm - 3.50pm - Keynote talk by Science&Humans ‘The Overlooked Crisis: How Hormonal Health Impacts Women’s Work and Wellbeing’, delivered by Dr. Kristy Prouse, Chief Medical Advisor, Women’s Health, at Science&Humans
Hormonal health is one of the most under-recognized drivers of productivity, mental well-being, and workforce retention among women. This keynote explores how hormonal changes across life stages, from early career to menopause, affect cognitive performance, emotional resilience, and overall workplace outcomes. Through clinical insights, real-world case studies, and economic data, the session highlights the hidden cost of untreated hormonal conditions and the significant opportunity for employers to better support women’s health. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the problem and actionable strategies to build more inclusive, productive, and supportive workplaces.
3:50pm - 4:35pm - Panel discussion ‘Redefining Midlife, Wellness, and Longevity’
A panel discussion ‘Redefining Midlife, Wellness, and Longevity’ will explore how evolving perspectives on health, lifestyle, and aging are reshaping what midlife means today. Experts will discuss the shift from viewing midlife as a period of decline to recognizing it as a dynamic stage for growth, reinvention, and proactive health management. Panelists will highlight the importance of preventive healthcare, mental well-being, physical activity, and nutrition in extending both lifespan and healthspan, and will also emphasize the role of purpose, community, and lifelong learning in maintaining vitality and resilience during midlife and beyond. The conversation will address how technology, personalized medicine, and changing social norms are empowering individuals to take greater control of their aging journey.
Speakers:
Dr. Alyssa Dweck, MS, MD, FACOG, MSCP, Chief Medical Officer of Bonafide Health
Emily Capodilupo, Senior Vice President of Research, Algorithms, and Data at WHOOP
Kiran Kumar, founder and CEO of Timeless Biotech
Dr. Nirusha Kumaran, Chief Medical Officer at Founders Health and Medical Director at Menovivre Clinic
4:35pm - 5:05pm - Fireside chat ‘Menopause Around the World: Cultural Perspectives and Shared Experiences’
Menopause is a universal life stage, yet the way it is understood, discussed, and supported varies widely across cultures. This fireside chat brings together global perspectives to explore how cultural beliefs, social norms, and community structures shape the menopause experience for women worldwide. The conversation will highlight shared challenges—such as stigma, lack of information, and gaps in healthcare—while also celebrating the growing movements that are reframing menopause as a natural and empowering transition. Through discussion and storytelling, the session will explore how advocacy, education, and community initiatives are helping to create more open conversations and better support for women navigating midlife.
Speakers:
Kausar Tahir, CEO and Founder of MeNOW
Gabriela Rojas, founder and CEO of Mujeres Sin Reglas AC and SinReglas
Joanne Ho, founder of Menopause Asia
5:05 pm - 5:50pm - Panel discussion ‘Understanding Perimenopause Before Menopause’
A panel discussion ‘Understanding Perimenopause Before Menopause’ will focus on raising awareness about the often-overlooked transitional phase that occurs before menopause. Experts will discuss what perimenopause is, why it occurs, and how it can affect women physically, emotionally, and cognitively. Panelists will also explore the early signs and symptoms of perimenopause, including hormonal fluctuations, changes in sleep, mood, metabolism, and menstrual cycles. The discussion will highlight the importance of education, early recognition, and open conversations so that women can better understand what their bodies are experiencing and seek appropriate support. The panel will also address strategies for managing symptoms through lifestyle changes, medical guidance, and holistic health approaches.
Speakers:
Samantha (Sam) Smith, co-founder and CEO of Amissa Health
Dr. Jewel Kling, Professor of Medicine, Chair of the Division of Women’s Health Internal Medicine, Assistant Director of the Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Center
Denise Pines, co-founder and CEO of FemAging Project, co-founder and CEO of Women in the Room Productions
Dr. Elina Berglund Scherwitzl, co-founder and CEO at Natural Cycles
5:50pm - 6pm - Conclusions and closing words by the organising team
Supported by funding from:
Women’s Health is in Bayer’s DNA. As a global leader in women’s healthcare, Bayer has a long-standing commitment to delivering science for a better life. Additionally, Bayer intends to provide 100 million women per year in low- and middle-income countries by 2030 with access to family planning by funding multi-stakeholder aid programs for capacity building and by ensuring the supply of affordable modern contraceptives. This is part of the comprehensive sustainability measures and commitments from 2020 onwards and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Progyny is a global leader in women’s health and family-building solutions, trusted by leading employers, health plans, and benefit purchasers. They envision a world where everyone can achieve their dreams of family and optimal health. Their outcomes demonstrate that comprehensive, inclusive, and intentionally designed solutions benefit employers, patients, and physicians alike.
Bonafide Health was launched with a simple mission: to provide women with safe and highly effective symptom relief throughout their menopause journey. As part of Bonafide's scientific research and product development process, the brand prides itself on its deep understanding of the biological and physiological changes that affect women due to hormonal fluctuations experienced with age. Trusted by more than 11K healthcare professionals, Bonafide provides first-of-its-kind, evidence-based solutions developed from naturally derived, hormone-free, drug-free ingredients.
Science&Humans is Canada’s premier digital hormone health platform dedicated to making personalized hormone and metabolic care accessible, inclusive, and informative. Since 2021, they have supported more than 60,000 Canadians nationwide, providing evidence-based treatment and education for concerns including perimenopause, menopause, andropause, fertility challenges, and metabolic disorders. With innovation, education, and advocacy at the core of all we do, Science&Humans is redefining how Canadians experience hormone health care, empowering them to take control of their health today, tomorrow, and for their many added years to come.
About the organiser
Women of Wearables started in 2016 as a small meetup group bringing together women in wearable technology. Since then, WoW has grown to be a leading global organisation and ecosystem that brings together like-minded women and allies in health tech, digital health and women’s health from more than 50 countries worldwide. Our members are startup founders, designers, technologists, industry experts, researchers, bloggers, journalists, investors, and many more. If you want to learn, network, and find your next job opportunity in health tech and femtech, you are in the right place. To learn more about Women of Wearables and to become a WoW member, click here.
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