The (M) Factor NextGEN draws 400-plus to push perimenopause reform

More than 400 people joined The (M) Factor NextGEN Impact Report on June 23 for a virtual discussion on how healthcare, policy and workplaces can better support women in perimenopause and midlife. Leaders called for earlier action, stronger coordination and culturally responsive solutions to turn awareness into systems change.

Why it matters: - The event centered on a gap that affects care, careers and daily life for women in perimenopause and midlife. - Speakers argued that awareness has outpaced action, leaving women to navigate symptoms through fragmented healthcare, uneven workplace support and limited policy coordination. - The NextGEN Report is meant to inform future healthcare and policy decisions.

What happened: - More than 400 people joined live for The (M) Factor NextGEN Impact Report on June 23. - The virtual event brought together leaders in healthcare, policy, workplace well-being and global advocacy. - Executive producers and producers Tamsen Fadal and Jo LaMarca Mathisen, with executive producer and moderator Denise Pines, led the discussion. - The conversation focused on perimenopause care, policy change, cross-sector coalitions, global solutions and workplace support.

The details: - Tamsen Fadal said NextGEN is about listening earlier, acting sooner and making sure the next generation does not navigate perimenopause alone. - Jo LaMarca Mathisen said awareness has opened the door and systems women can actually use must follow. - Denise Pines said no single sector can solve the problem alone and progress requires healthcare, policy, employers and communities moving together. - Dr. Sarah Foster Richina, director of the UPMC Magee-Womens Midlife Health Center and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said better perimenopause care starts with genuine two-way conversation. - Dr. Foster Richina’s remarks emphasized patient understanding, shared decision-making and a clear next step after each clinical visit. - Kathryn “Katie” Schubert, president and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research, said expertise and resources already exist across sectors. - Schubert said aligning those resources around shared goals can turn individual efforts into lasting systems change. - Jennifer Barsky, founder and executive director of MenoGlobal, said effective global systems cannot rely on one model of care. - Barsky said support must be culturally relevant, community-specific and locally responsive. - April Haberman, CEO and co-founder of MiDOViA, said employers do not need every answer before acting. - Haberman said workplaces can take practical steps now and build environments where midlife women are understood, supported and able to thrive. - The NextGEN Report is available at More information. - A recording of the event is available at Watch here. - The (M) Factor began as a documentary series focused on menopause and perimenopause and has expanded into a mission-driven organization centered on research, education, storytelling and community engagement.

Between the lines: - The event framed perimenopause as a systems issue, not just a clinical one. - The mix of healthcare, policy, workplace and global voices signaled an effort to build a broader coalition around midlife women’s health. - The strongest common theme was speed: speakers repeatedly called for earlier recognition and earlier intervention rather than later-stage support.

What's next: - The NextGEN effort will use the report and event discussion to guide future healthcare, workplace and policy decisions. - The broader call from speakers is for leaders to break down silos and build coordinated support that responds earlier and more equitably. - The organization will continue its cross-sector dialogue and community engagement around women’s midlife health.