I often tell people that menopause is one of my favourite areas to research.
Menopause is unique in that while it’s women who experience it firsthand, the effects of the transition will impact everyone — personally, professionally, or by proxy.
When I started researching our latest report, The Future of Menopause 2035, I knew the landscape was shifting, but there was a lot I didn’t know about menopause and menopause care (that’s why we speak with expert contributors when writing every report).
The deeper I went into the project, the more excited I became: women are reframing this life stage entirely, and the next decade will transform how we experience it.
Women are entering menopause more prepared than before
I’ve worked in Women’s Health for 10 years and I’ve seen that more women are tuning into their hormonal health, and with greater attention, than they have done in the past. This has a lot to do with the digital solutions available: period tracking apps have been downloaded by hundreds of millions of users, and that number is only growing.
When the women tracking their hormones today reach perimenopausal age, they’ll be armed with years of data on their hormonal baseline. They’ll be able to spot changes sooner, self-diagnose symptoms, and seek support quickly.
In the report, we name this cycle-tracking woman the “Peri-Prepper,” but what that really means is someone who wants to feel informed and in control. She adjusts her supplements, moves her body in ways that feel right throughout her cycle, and prioritises her mental health long before she feels firmly “in” perimenopause.
And this proactive approach makes such a difference. The better your whole-body wellbeing, the smoother the transition is likely to be.
Menopause isn’t an ending; it’s a beginning
In the report we identify menopause as the start of a “Second Life.” With longer lifespans, women will now spend more time in peri-to-post menopause than in any other life phase. That could feel daunting. But, instead, many women are stepping into this stage with purpose and resolution, not fear.
Midlife women of the future may ‘rewire’ (rather than retire), seeking a new sense of meaning in their work or exploring portfolio jobs and creative pursuits. They’ll have open conversations with their families about their plans for the future, including how they’d like their end-of-life to look.
There’s a new confidence emerging around ageing, and it’s really inspiring.
This doesn’t erase the challenging symptoms some women will experience, but it reframes the narrative. Menopause becomes a turning point, not a decline.
The next decade of care will be more personalised, inclusive, and empowering
Technology is transforming menopause care. From AI health coaches to personalised nutritional support and ‘digital twins’, we’re moving toward a future where women have a deeper understanding of their individual risk factors and best possible care plans for them.
This level of insight is especially powerful when it finally includes all women. For too long, racial and gender data gaps have held us back. But more inclusive research is on the rise, and I’m hopeful this will lead to fairer, more effective care for every woman.
The most important thing to remember? Data should enhance your intuition, not replace it. Your body’s signals still matter.
Workplaces are finally evolving — and it’s long overdue
One finding that stayed with me is just how much menopause impacts working women. Fatigue, hot flashes, anxiety, and brain fog can make even simple tasks inaccessible. But we’re seeing the start of a reimagined world of work opening up for midlife women. Flexible work structures, climate-controlled offices, natural lighting, and inclusive workplace menopause policies are becoming part of the conversation.
‘Menopause mode’ technology is being beta tested for the home, but this technology could also reach the workplace within the next decade. Small but impactful updates like this will help keep midlife women working (and earning) for longer, if they want to.
Community is becoming our greatest strength
Throughout this research, the power of connection was impossible to ignore. There’s no one experience of the peri- to post-menopause journey. You’re not guaranteed to experience the transition at the same time as your friends and, even if you do, your symptoms can differ wildly, increasing the risk of feeling alone.
Women are finding support through retreats, seminars, online groups and podcasts. These are essential grassroots, peer-to-peer channels for reshaping the conversation around ageing and sharing information that can’t be found elsewhere.
Why I’m hopeful
We’re starting to see menopause in a new light: as less of a ‘problem’ to solve and more an opportunity to embrace. Over the next decade, the focus of menopause care will shift from symptom management. Instead, it’ll be about creating healthcare experiences that help women step into their power — giving women a better future and longer, fuller lives.
Download your free copy of The Future of Menopause 2035 if you’d like to learn more.
About the author
Anna Butterworth is the founder and MD of Ultra Violet Agency, a foresight and innovation consultancy focused on women’s health and FemTech. Through trend reports, strategic partnerships, and industry research, Ultra Violet helps businesses, investors, and policymakers anticipate the next frontier in women’s health innovation.
About Dr Morton’s Women’s Health Service
Dr Morton’s offers specialist women’s medical care, delivered with kindness when and where patients need it. Generations of loyal women have trusted the Dr Morton’s team to provide them with expert virtual medical support from menstruation and fertility, through to perimenopause and beyond. Now the company’s accessible women’s health services – from online consultations with Obstetrics and Gynaecology, sexual health and menopause specialists, through to real-time prescribing and arranging scans and tests – are available for employers, public/private health organisations and individuals.
For further information, interviews, or enquiries, please contact:
Monica Hart
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Dr Morton’s Women’s Health Service
m: +44 7786 628524