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Research Priorities

Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Program

Advancing Research to Improve Health During the Menopausal Transition

April 15-17, 2026

Independent Panel’s Draft Report Now Available for Public Comment

The independent panel has developed a draft report that identifies future research priorities on the menopausal transition based on the findings from the systematic evidence review, expert presentations, and discussions during the workshop.

ODP invites you to review and comment on the report. Public comments will be accepted through October 30, 2026. When responding, please reference the line number in the report that corresponds to each of your comments. Please submit all comments to [email protected].

Read the Draft Report (PDF)

Workshop Materials

Program Resources

Panel Report

The independent panel’s report is now open for public comment. Please see the highlighted box on this page for details.

Background

More research is needed to help women and their health care providers effectively navigate the menopausal transition and promote well-being through midlife and beyond.

Menopause is a normal phase of life involving the permanent end of menstrual cycling. However, the experience is different for everyone. Symptoms leading up to menopause vary and can include (but are not limited to) hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and cognitive and mood changes. During the menopause transition, some people may experience severe symptoms that affect their quality of life, but few receive treatment that effectively provides symptom relief. Many health care providers report uncertainty about the best approaches to evaluating and managing menopausal symptoms.

Menopause is also a critical window for understanding and addressing long-term health. Hormone changes during menopause can affect cholesterol levels, blood pressure, weight, bone density, sleep quality, sexual health, emotional well-being, and other factors that influence overall health. After menopause, risks for developing cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive impairment, and other chronic conditions increase. Improving management of the menopausal transition could help prevent future health problems.

About the Workshop

This NIH Pathways to Prevention (P2P) workshop brought together federal agencies, researchers, and community members to understand the current state of the science related to the menopausal transition and identify research gaps.

An independent panel will summarize the workshop’s findings and make recommendations for future research and practice. These recommendations may help generate new funding opportunities, inspire collaborative research projects, or lead to improvements in data resources and methods.

Sponsoring Organizations

  • NIH Office of Disease Prevention
  • NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health
  • National Cancer Institute
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  • National Institute on Aging
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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