This Women’s Health Research Month, let’s talk about menopause

For generations, women have been told that menopause is something to “get through.” That hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, mood changes, and shifts in libido are simply part of aging—inconvenient, perhaps uncomfortable, but inevitable.

At the MUHC Foundation, we believe women deserve better.

That’s why, this Women’s Health Research Month, we’re shining a light on an area of medicine that has long lived in the shadows: menopause and hormonal health. And we are proud to spotlight the groundbreaking work of Dr. Lina Huang, Obstetrician-Gynecologist at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). She was recruited to lead the MUHC’s Complex Menopause Clinic, one of the few clinics in Quebec dedicated to specialized menopausal care—particularly for women whose treatment is not straightforward.

“Menopause is something half the population will experience, yet it remains one of the least studied areas of medicine,” says Dr. Huang. “We still do not have clear answers about hormone therapy, cancer risk, and cardiovascular outcomes. That gap between how common it is and how much we understand is striking.”

Despite limited public understanding of menopause, she argues that treating patients with more complex symptoms doesn’t have to be complicated.

“When patients come to the clinic and ask for help, it’s really as simple as listening to them and treating their symptoms,” Dr. Huang explains.

Hormonal health is not niche, and women’s health is not a mystery. This is the very basis of the Forward Fund for Women’s Health, the MUHC Foundation’s $5 million campaign to accelerate discovery and advance women’s health care at the MUHC.

“Women’s health has been underrepresented in research and funding for far too long,” says Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation. “The Forward Fund was born from our collective commitment to change that. Dr. Huang’s work reflects the transformative women-led, women-centred research taking place at the MUHC.”

Having completed a subspeciality fellowship in Mature Women’s Health and Menopause at Mount Sinai Hospital through the University of Toronto, and as a licensed Menopause Practitioner from The Menopause Society, Dr. Huang is a globally renowned expert in complex menopausal care.

“While most gynecologists are well versed in managing menopause, access to specialized care becomes significantly more challenging for patients with higher-risk profiles: cancer survivors, patients with a history of stroke, or those with cardiovascular risk factors,” explains Dr. Huang.

For these patients, hormone therapy is not always a clear-cut option.

“This is where the grey zone of menopause research becomes very real,” Dr. Huang says. “For instance, we do not yet have precise assessment tools to evaluate cardiovascular risk in menopausal patients and those considering hormone therapy. Many patients fall into a category where the benefits and risks are not fully defined.”

At the MUHC’s Complex Menopause Clinic, Dr. Huang works closely with oncologists, cardiologists, and other specialists to navigate these difficult cases. It is a truly collaborative model of care that reflects the complexity of hormonal health. Importantly, she emphasizes that hormone therapy is not the only option.

“We have non-hormonal alternatives that can significantly reduce hot flashes and other debilitating menopausal symptoms,” she says. “Women need to know they have choices.”

Menopause is not a minor inconvenience–it can be a truly disruptive process that profoundly affects someone’s quality of life. Hot flashes can disrupt sleep for years, while insomnia affects mental clarity and mood. Hormonal changes can influence sexual health, bone density, cardiovascular risk, and cognitive function.

As women, we spend years learning how our bodies and menstrual cycles work, only to have that understanding upended during menopause. What follows can feel like a complicated process of relearning—often without enough guidance or support. Many women say the symptoms spill into their daily lives, affecting their ability to focus at work, maintain relationships, and feel like themselves.

The broader impact should not surprise us. A 2024 McKinsey Health Institute report, Closing the Women’s Health Gap, found that women spend an average of nine more years than men in poor health or with some degree of disability. That reality shapes not only personal well-being, but participation in the workforce and in community life, ultimately affecting earning potential and economic stability. The report suggests that improving research and care for women could have a $1 trillion global impact, seen in stronger health outcomes, economies, and a better quality of life worldwide.

“The lack of research, treatment, and funding in women's health isn't just a health issue, it's a $37 billion economic opportunity for Canada,” says Dr. Marie-Renée B-Lajoie, Emergency Physician & Partner at McKinsey & Company. “When menopausal symptoms go unmanaged, women struggle at work, lose earning potential, and disengage from their communities. But with specialized care and accessible treatment, we can keep millions of women healthy, working, and thriving. Closing the women's health gap is one of the wisest investments we can make for women's lives and for our economy.”

Knowledge is empowering, which is why creating safe spaces for open conversations about women’s health is so important. In recent years, public awareness has grown around perimenopause—the transitional phase that can begin up to a decade before a woman’s final menstrual period—bringing long-overdue attention to an often overlooked stage of life.

“By normalizing these conversations, we equip patients to recognize symptoms, seek care, and make informed decisions about their health long before reaching a crisis point. Many issues don’t suddenly appear at menopause, they evolve over a number of years,” explains Dr. Huang.

Menopause is not an endpoint. It’s a significant and often complex stage in a woman’s life, but with the right support, information, and care, it can be as vibrant and fulfilling as any other. The work taking place at the MUHC, led by physicians like Dr. Lina Huang, reflects a growing commitment to treating women’s symptoms seriously and closing long-standing gaps in knowledge and access.

This Women’s Health Research Month, we invite you to help move that work forward. By supporting the MUHC Foundation’s Forward Fund for Women’s Health, you are investing in research, specialized care, and a future where women’s health is no longer overlooked.

Together, we can accelerate discovery and advance women’s health care—for this generation and the next.

Support the MUHC Foundation’s Forward Fund for Women’s Health today.