UCalgary hosts symposium on women’s post reproductive health | News

Many women enter the menopausal transition unaware of the decades-long hormonal and physical changes it brings, often mislabeling it as a brief phase rather than a significant health shift. 

The UCalgary’s HIVE event on May 9 will address: 

• misconceptions about the menopause transition

• how systemic gaps in awareness, research, and care for women’s post-reproductive health affect not just individuals, but workplaces, families, and the broader healthcare system.

Misconceptions about the menopausal transition are not the only issues in women’s health; there is also a lack of support for post-reproductive health in general. Post-reproductive health may affect women aged 35 plus, says Megan Kirkpatrick, associate professor (teaching), Faculty of Nursing. 

“Menopause itself is actually just a one-day event, typically between ages 45 and 55, when the final menstrual period stops, confirmed by no periods for one year,” says HIVE initiative manager Suzanna Crawford, BSc’11, BN’13, MN’20. 

“But the hormonal changes surrounding it often begin years earlier and can span decades for many women.” 

The reality of post-reproductive healthcare 

Crawford states that symptoms occurring in the post-reproductive stages of life can create barriers for women in the workforce, with some women leaving the workforce due to their symptoms like brain fog, poor sleep and mood changes. 

She says that although women make up half the population, they remain underrepresented in health care research, leading to limited awareness about post-reproductive health and hormone-related changes. 

Crawford points to significant gaps between men’s and women’s health care, noting that, for women often experience different symptoms from men when suffering from the same condition, and that better education around women’s health can improve health outcomes and support. 

“There’s a gap in women’s knowledge about the changes that may occur during this perimenopausal time,” says Kirkpatrick. 

She mentions how many women recognize the term menopause but simply associate it with having a few hot flashes.

Kirkpatrick explains many people enter the menopausal transition unaware of what is happening to their bodies, leading to confusion and a challenging experience.  

Although hot flashes are common during the menopausal transition, “there are actually more than 30 potential symptoms, and many women aren’t aware of them.” 

Crawford says the lack of education, awareness, and resources affect women and those that love and support them. “It is a community-wide issue that impacts not only individuals, but families, workplaces and health systems.” 

Increasing awareness among those going through this transition, their families and support systems, and the health-care providers supporting them is essential for better care and understanding, she expresses.  

Innovation driven through collaboration 

The upcoming event, Post-Reproductive Women’s Health and the Menopausal Transition, hosted by the Faculty of Nursing’s Health Systems Transformation Initiative (The HIVE) with collaborators from UCalgary, the University of Alberta, and Mount Royal University, aims to raise awareness about health-care beyond reproduction. 

“Collaboration isn’t just valuable; it’s essential,” says Dr. Colleen Norris, professor and associate dean of research at the University of Alberta, and Cavarzan Chair in Women’s Health Research. 

“Universities must lead these efforts to ensure women’s health across the lifespan is not sidelined.” 

“There is bit of a disconnect of nurses not seeing themselves as innovators,” Crawford says but points out nurses are innovative because they are constantly adapting their care to meet their patients’ needs. 

“Nurses are well positioned to work with transdisciplinary partners to advocate for systemic change to support optimal care. Our goal is for women to thrive during this time,” says Kirkpatrick.  

The event uses the HIVE’s leading-edge From Dialogue to Design format, an approach that is gaining momentum through support from the University of Calgary’s Transdisciplinary Connector Grants.  

This two-part format emphasizes transdisciplinary perspectives and connectedness to create meaningful change.  

“When we bring together experts from different disciplines and institutions, we amplify our ability to address the health issues that are too often overlooked — like post-reproductive women’s health,” says Norris. 

The HIVE  

The HIVE is committed to bridging gaps by fostering innovative collaboration among nursing leaders, transdisciplinary partners and people with lived experience. 

Launched by UCalgary’s Faculty of Nursing, the Health Systems Transformation Initiative (HIVE) empowers innovators and change agents to enhance health and health-care delivery across three key pillars: 

• mobilizing expertise and research for best-practice outcomes
• infusing innovations into health and social policy
• developing leaders that foster creativity in people and practice

Discover resources and insights from the Canadian Menopause Society and The Menopause Foundation of Canada to understand and address the social stigma and knowledge gaps surrounding menopause.  

Event Registration

Learn more about post-reproductive health and the importance of women’s health throughout the lifespan on May 9 by registering online. To ensure accessibility, the event is free and registration closes on Friday May 2.