Kulczyk Foundation convenes roundtable on menopause
Following the publication of Poland’s first comprehensive report on menopause, Dominika Kulczyk’s Foundation is taking another step towards change. During the World Menopause and Andropause Day, celebrated on October 18th, it gathered representatives of various groups interested in menopausal health at a roundtable. The goal of this collaborative effort is to develop solutions that will improve the situation of women during menopause and healthcare transition, as well as raise awareness and dispel harmful stereotypes that negatively impact many areas of women’s lives.
The report “Menopause without taboos,” prepared in cooperation with the “Ciekawość (curiosity)” research and development center, revealed a significant lack of knowledge among women and society as a whole, which, in turn, leads to harmful stereotypes and women feeling lonely and misunderstood when experiencing perimenopause symptoms. The study indicates that over 70% of Polish pre-menopausal women describe their knowledge of the condition as poor, and 93% of women are unable to define it correctly. – Menopause is another taboo topic that was ”uncared for”, so we decided to take a comprehensive take care of him. It’s for us literally a “natural” continuation after menstruation-related activities and campaigns. To face challenges and seize opportunities, women must be knowledgeable about what they are going through and what can help them. Education and awareness-raising in this area are fundamental to changing the current situation,” emphasized Dominika Kulczyk, president of the Kulczyk Foundation.
During the organized discussion, experts from various industries were heard, including public administration and local governments, academia, the medical community, employers, members of parliament, non-governmental organizations, and the media. “The menopausal transition is a complex, often lengthy process, requiring a broader perspective from multiple perspectives. That’s why we invited an interdisciplinary group of experts to collaborate, allowing us to take a holistic look at women during this period. This approach offers the greatest chance of effective solutions that will help perimenopausal women function better,” said Anna Samsel, an expert in the Kulczyk Foundation Project Department.
The participants of the meeting expressed their satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of this unconventional format. “Interdisciplinary teams are important in gaining a broad perspective on specific periods of a woman’s life, and understanding the scope of care provided by specialists for women and their opinions is helpful in developing good standards and guidelines for women,” said Magdalena Krauze, a teaching assistant at the Medical University of Warsaw, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and a midwife.
Education is the path to change
The experts participating in the meeting unanimously agreed that education is the foundation for change in combating the stigmatizing perception of menopause and in the process of raising awareness. To promote this, the Kulczyk Foundation has launched a dedicated portal, menopauzabeztabu.org.pl, which will become a comprehensive source of quality knowledge in this area. In addition to the report available on the website, you can now download a content-rich compendium containing answers to the most important and difficult questions related to menopause. “The most important thing is for women to be aware of what the menopausal transition is. They shouldn’t be afraid of the time ahead, because it’s not that difficult. However, for women to be aware, we need to educate them. Therefore, this education is crucial,” said Dr. Katarzyna Skórzewska, a physician, gynecologist and endocrinologist, co-runs the @dr_menopauza Instagram profile.
Directions for further action
“Menopause is a vast topic, with many shallows, including those of thought, but we must embrace it and change its social perception. Today’s meeting allowed us to hear each other’s thoughts and identify directions for further action!” the philanthropist and entrepreneur concluded. The main proposals emerged from the deliberations. The most important were: the need for a public education campaign, expanding healthcare packages for perimenopausal women, the need to change the social perception of menopause, with particular emphasis on women’s functioning in the workplace, and media support in building awareness and normalizing the topic.
The President of the Kulczyk Foundation announced further work in working groups, including those on education, health, and labor. Their goal will be to develop specific solutions in defined areas, identify those already available, and develop action plans for individual areas.
