A conversation with menopause advocate and educator Shirley Weir
The conversation about menopause has cracked wide open. Celebrities are talking about it, workplaces are finally paying attention, and women across generations are finding their voices. Yet as Shirley Weir — founder of Menopause Chicks and panelist at our upcoming Vital Talks: Elevating the Standard of Menopause Care — reminds us, “We’re not ‘there’ yet.”
Weir describes this moment as a “crossroads.” Awareness is rising, but access to evidence-based care still lags. “Seven million Canadians are without a family doctor,” she notes. “Fifty-four percent of women leave appointments feeling dismissed or disappointed. We lack a worldwide commitment to research — less than six percent of all research dollars go to women’s health.”
Behind the growing visibility lies an under-resourced system — and deep social barriers like ageism, sexism, and misinformation that continue to hold women back. “Thirteen years ago, it was lonely introducing myself as a ‘menopause chick,’” she recalls. “Now, Gen X women are refusing to accept dismissal or vague ‘wait and see’ answers. They’re juggling caregiving, work, and stress — and forcing a health-care system that wasn’t designed for women to evolve.”
Since launching Menopause Chicks more than a decade ago, Weir has helped tens of thousands of women find credible information, community, and confidence in their health journeys. Her message is simple but profound: understanding hormone health before menopause is key to making informed choices during and after it. “I want every woman to understand the roles and responsibilities of her hormones when cycles are regular,” she says. “That’s the foundation for making confident decisions when they’re not.”
“It’s not my job to tell anyone to take menopause hormone therapy,” she adds. “It is my job to convince every woman to have an investigative conversation with their health-care provider about the potential benefits for them. That’s how we are able to prioritize our health now, and invest in our future heart, brain, bone, and genitourinary health.”
Weir’s evidence-based approach pushes back against the noise of viral health hacks. “Step one,” she says with a laugh, “stop making health decisions based on headlines, hearsay, or memes.” Menopause Chicks, she explains, has earned its reputation for translating the world’s best menopause research — from international societies and clinical guidelines — into plain language so women can make confident, informed decisions.
“I’m not here to tell people what to do,” she says, “but to help them learn and discern information on their own.”
For those navigating menopause today, her advice is clear: “If you have access to evidence-based information, a supportive health team, and a community who has your back, you can move through perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause with confidence and ease. Even if you only have two of those three, we can help you find the third.”
Looking ahead, Weir envisions real progress as a ripple effect of allyship. “Reach up to the women older than us and fill in the care gaps they didn’t get. Reach down to younger generations with better education. And reach out — because we’re all influencers in our own circles. Let’s use that power to spread facts, not fear.”
Join Shirley Weir and other leading experts for Vital Talks: Elevating the Standard of Menopause Care — October 29, 1–3 p.m. ET, live from Toronto and streaming nationwide. Attendance is free, and the session will remain available on demand after the event.
