The wellness industry is seeing a surge in products aimed at menopausal women, a group that has been largely ignored until recently. Many of these products claim to ease menopause symptoms, but experts caution that the benefits often fall short of what’s advertised. (CBC News)
In recent years, menopause has become a focus for the wellness industry, with a wave of new products promising relief from the challenging symptoms millions of women face. From serums claiming to smooth skin to supplements aimed at reducing hot flashes, the market is flooded with solutions that may not live up to their bold promises.
In Canada, about 10 million women over 40 experience perimenopause and menopause, bringing symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia. These can be so overwhelming that, according to the Menopause Foundation of Canada, 10% of women have left the workforce due to unmanaged symptoms. Though menopause was long ignored, today’s wellness industry has honed in on these women, bombarding them with products offering supposed relief. Experts, however, caution against taking these promises at face value.
"It's a marketing storm," says Dr. Jerilynn Prior, an endocrinology professor at the University of British Columbia, noting the surge of profit-driven products entering the market.
A Lucrative Market Amid Hot Flashes
Last year, the global menopause market was valued at around $17 billion, projected to surpass $24 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. The wellness industry is betting on this growth, with celebrities like Drew Barrymore jumping on board to endorse menopause-related products. Barrymore promotes a pill with ingredients like chromium and maca root, which she claims help with hot flashes and hormonal balance. Social media influencers are also marketing products like black cohosh and primrose oil as solutions for night sweats and hot flashes.
However, many women are finding that this flood of products only complicates things. Toronto resident Sachelle Prosper, 49, feels overwhelmed by menopause-targeted ads on Instagram, admitting that she's tried various supplements with little success. “There’s no single magic solution. You end up buying a whole set of treatments, hoping something will finally work,” she says.
The stigma around menopause often leaves women like Sasha Howell, 41, navigating symptoms in silence. With little guidance from older family members, Howell attended a recent menopause expo in Toronto to learn more about symptom management and potential treatments. She says, “There’s so much information—and misinformation.”
Expert Concerns: Supplements Not Always the Solution
Medical professionals worry that the explosion of menopause products isn’t grounded in solid science. Supplements aren’t rigorously regulated, and studies funded by companies with a vested interest can be biased, Dr. Prior points out.
Marketing professor Nicole Rourke at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, suggests the shift in openness around menopause discussions stems from cultural changes. She notes that the word “period” wasn’t even used on television until 1985. The women reaching menopause now were teenagers then, reflecting a generational shift in discussing women’s health.
Seeking Answers Amid Hype
For women like Nadine Schumont, finding effective menopause relief remains elusive. Schumont, 54, has tried a range of products, including black cohosh, creams, and reflexology. “Nothing lasts—it only works for a month before my body resets,” she explains.
Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital’s Menopause Clinic director, Dr. Wendy Wolfman, encourages women to consult their healthcare providers about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a treatment backed by medical research. Dr. Wolfman says over-the-counter supplements, though popular, rarely bring lasting relief. “Anything for hot flashes from the drugstore probably won’t work well,” she cautions, adding that women should be wary of spending on unproven remedies.
