Each year on October 18, the global medical community observes World Menopause Day, a campaign led by the International Menopause Society (IMS) to raise awareness of menopause, support available treatments and highlight the health-care needs of women in mid-life.
For 2025, the IMS has designated the theme “Lifestyle Medicine” to emphasise how non-pharmacologic choices — such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress-management and avoidance of harmful habits — can influence the menopausal transition and its long-term effects.
The cause of World Menopause Day is rooted in the fact that menopause marks a major biological transition for women — the permanent cessation of menstruation following loss of ovarian follicular activity. It typically occurs in the late 40s to early 50s, though timing and symptoms vary.
While menopause itself is a natural ageing process, the period before and after (perimenopause and post-menopause) is associated with changes in hormones, bone density, cardiovascular risk, metabolic function, sleep architecture, mood and cognition. The day provides a platform for health professionals, organisations and women themselves to discuss these changes, reduce stigma and encourage proactive management.
During menopause, the decline in oestrogen levels contributes to several measurable risks:
Bone health: Oestrogen helps maintain bone mineral density, so its decline raises the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in post-menopausal women.
Cardiovascular health: After menopause, women’s risk for cardiovascular disease rises; the protective effect of endogenous oestrogen is reduced.
Metabolic changes: Some women experience weight redistribution, increased central adiposity, insulin resistance and higher risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Vasomotor symptoms: Hot flushes and night sweats can impact quality of life, sleep and mental health.
Psychological impacts: Mood changes, anxiety, “brain fog” (subjective cognitive complaints) and sleep disturbance are frequent.
Genitourinary syndrome: Vaginal dryness, urinary symptoms and sexual health changes may also occur.
Health-care guidelines emphasise early counselling, screening for bone and cardiovascular risk, lifestyle modification, and — where appropriate — hormone therapy.
The 2025 theme invites both women and health-care systems to view menopause not only in terms of symptomatic relief, but as an opportunity to apply lifestyle interventions that favour long-term health. These include:
Diet: A balanced, nutrient-rich diet with adequate calcium and vitamin D supports bone health; reducing processed foods and limiting alcohol may ease vasomotor symptoms.
Physical activity: Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise help maintain bone density and prevent falls; aerobic exercise supports cardiovascular health.
Sleep and stress: Adequate sleep hygiene and stress-management (e.g., mindfulness, controlled breathing) may reduce the severity of hot flushes, night sweats and mood disturbances.
Avoidance of tobacco: Smoking is a known risk factor for early menopause, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Regular health review: Monitoring bone density, cardiovascular markers and metabolic parameters helps to identify risks early and apply preventive strategies.
By emphasising lifestyle medicine, the IMS signals that managing menopause extends beyond hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and symptom treatment — it includes broader health-promotion and disease-prevention strategies.
World Menopause Day is also a call to health-care professionals to update knowledge, communicate effectively, challenge myths and engage women in shared decision-making. The IMS publishes an annual White Paper and patient leaflets in multiple languages to support this goal.
Public-health campaigns during October (which is designated Menopause Awareness Month in many countries) encourage workplaces, communities and media to normalise menopausal discussion, ensure access to accurate information and support inclusive policies.
World Menopause Day 2025 under the theme “Lifestyle Medicine” invites women across the globe and the clinicians who support them to view menopause as both a normal biological milestone and a unique window for preventive health action. With appropriate lifestyle interventions, meaningful health-care engagement and public-health support, the menopausal transition can become a managed stage rather than a neglected one.
(Rh/Eth/TL/MSM)