On 10/18 at 10:18 a.m., NMF invites the country to pause for 60 seconds and say one honest thing about menopause. New national survey: 44% of women say menopause made their outlook on life more positive — yet nearly half felt unprepared for it.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The National Menopause Foundation (NMF) today launched A Positive Pause, a national awareness campaign for Menopause Awareness Month that culminates on World Menopause Day, Sunday, October 18. The campaign invites women and the people who love them to take a single, shared minute — at 10:18 a.m. on 10/18 — to stop, breathe, and say one honest thing about menopause out loud.
The launch coincides with new national survey findings commissioned by NMF that reveal both how common the menopause transition is and how alone many women still feel in it. 63% of U.S. women ages 35–54 say they have experienced symptoms they believe are related to perimenopause or menopause — rising to 73% among women 45–54. Yet 49% say they felt “not very” or “not at all” prepared for the changes before they began, and 71% wish their partner, family, friends, or coworkers understood more. Two in three (66%) say that menopause not being discussed openly makes the experience worse.
But the data also points to something hopeful — and it’s the heart of the campaign. 44% of women say their outlook on life has become more positive since going through the transition. Asked to describe menopause as a movie genre, women most often chose “horror” (29%) — proof, NMF says, that honesty and humor can go hand in hand in finally bringing the conversation into the open.
“So much of what we’re taught about menopause is about what we’ll lose,” said Claire Gill, founder and president, the National Menopause Foundation. “Our survey tells a different story — 44% of women say their outlook on life actually grew more positive as they moved through it. That’s the truth I want every woman to hold onto. A Positive Pause asks us to stop for just sixty seconds on October 18th, say one honest thing about menopause, and listen. The more openly we talk about it, the less alone we feel.”
HOW TO TAKE A POSITIVE PAUSE
On Sunday, October 18 (World Menopause Day), anyone, anywhere can join in four simple steps:
- At 10:18 a.m. your local time, pause for 60 seconds.
- Post one menopause truth — something you wish you’d known or tag a woman who helped you through it.
- Use #APositivePause and #WorldMenopauseDay, and tag @nationalmenopausefoundation (Instagram & Facebook) or National Menopause Foundation (LinkedIn).
- Explore NMF’s free resources — the Menopause Symptom Checklist and MicroCourses — at nationalmenopausefoundation.org.
Throughout the month, NMF is equipping board members, medical advisors, partner organizations, volunteers, and employers with a free toolkit to amplify the message. On Friday, October 16, companies are invited to host Bring Your Menopause to Work Day — a simple, ready-made way for employers to support the 1 in 1 women in every workplace who will experience menopause.
“Menopause touches 1 in 1 women, yet half of us say we were never prepared for it” Ms. Gill added. “A Positive Pause changes that — one minute, one honest post, one shared moment on October 18th. I’d love for every woman, and everyone who loves one, to join us. The more openly we talk about this, the healthier and stronger we all become.”
Survey methodology: NMF commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,000 women ages 35–54 across the United States. Fieldwork took place September 23–28, 2026. The margin of error is ±3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Atomik Research is a creative market research agency and part of 4media group.
About the National Menopause Foundation
The National Menopause Foundation (NMF), a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to empowering women with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate menopause by igniting community and harnessing science. Its mission is to be the trusted and relatable resource raising awareness and understanding of menopause through education, activism, and community building. NMF offers free tools — including the Menopause Symptom Checklist and Menopause MicroCourses — a peer support community, and public-policy leadership through its Women’s Midlife Health Policy Institute. Learn more at nationalmenopausefoundation.org.
Media Contact: Claire Gill • 424662@email4pr.com • 917-327-7916
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SOURCE National Menopause Foundation
