October 18 – World Menopause and Andropause Day
– Menopause is not something we should hide from the world, because it directly affects more than half of society – notes Dominika Kulczyk, founder of the Kulczyk Foundation and Chairwoman of the Foundation Council.
Several years ago, the Kulczyk Foundation initiated its own project, Menopause Without Taboo. A report revealed significant gaps in public knowledge (as many as 93% of Polish women were unable to provide a correct definition of menopause). Subsequently, a comprehensive compendium of menopause knowledge was published, helping to understand the physical and mental changes associated with this period of life and how to care for oneself during this time. The Menopause Roundtable resulted in the creation of the White Book on Menopause, which was submitted to the Ministry of Health and other government institutions. The Kulczyk Foundation also conducted a pilot course for dozens of midwives across the country, improving the diagnostic process for women over 40. Currently, the ministry is awaiting a decision to include perimenopausal consultations with a midwife in the guaranteed benefits package.
Evolution, not revolution
The Kulczyk Foundation supports women in making the menopausal transition as gentle and controlled as possible. Perimenopause and menopause are important times and a prerequisite for holistic health care. "It's important not to ignore the symptoms, but also not to cause unnecessary fear," emphasizes cardiologist Prof. Janina Stępińska (one of the symptoms of menopause may be, for example, heart palpitations). There are many ways to cope with these bothersome symptoms: avoiding alcohol (which can help reduce hot flashes, among other things), regular exercise (any form of physical activity is important, but resistance training is especially recommended during this period), and a Mediterranean diet (it's worth checking out the practical tips from Glucose Goddess Jessie Inchauspé) and vitamin D supplementation." Menopause doesn't mean the end of life, but only the end of reproductive capacity," explains Alicja Długołęcka, PhD, a psychotherapist and sex educator. It's worth adding that menopause also means saying goodbye to menstrual pain. The term "menopause" is becoming obsolete – today, menopause is a new beginning.
"Midlife Crisis"
And what about men? As many as two-thirds of Polish women and men are unfamiliar with the term "andropause," mistakenly treating it as the equivalent of male menopause or a classic midlife crisis. In reality, it's a natural aging process after the age of fifty. It's worth noting that the decline in testosterone is much more gradual than the decline in estrogen in women. Movember is coming. ("mustache "November”), during which the Kulczyk Foundation will publish the compendium Andropause Without Taboo. This will be a continuation of the project of the same title, which initiated the first report on male aging in Poland (2025).
Research conducted by the Kulczyk Foundation shows that as many as 69% of Poles perceive a lack of public discussion about men's health, and 37% of men don't discuss their health issues with anyone. Mature age is associated with fear of decline or loneliness, and an additional barrier is the lack of preventative care – only one in three men over 40 gets regular checkups. Often, it's their partners who convince them to see a doctor – which is why dialogue is so important.
"Together, we open a space for talks and care for our bodies, minds, and relationships. Real social change begins when we understand each other," concludes Dominika Kulczyk.
At menopauzabeztabu.org.pl you can download reports, a compendium, the White Book of Menopause and other publications prepared by the Kulczyk Foundation.
HERE you can watch the Menopause Without Taboo spot.
Kulczyk Foundation also invites you to free meetings and workshops for women organized in Warsaw's Wola district – details at menopauzabeztabu.org.pl/wolewiedziec
The Andropause Without Taboo report can be downloaded at andropauzabeztabu.org.pl
All statements come from the compendiums Menopause without taboo (published in 2024) and Andropause without taboo (planned release date: November 2026).