2026-10-01
Today marks the start of World Menopause Awareness Month making it ideal timing for the launch of the University of Glasgow report on the Health and Wellbeing benefits of a Menopause Cafe.
The University of Glasgow research into Menopause Cafes identified three key elements that underpin their impact on health and wellbeing:
💜 Care – having space to reflect on your own experiences and feel able to seek further support.
💜 Connection – finding community, sharing experiences and feeling less alone.
💜 Collaboration – feeling part of something where people can contribute to changing their own and others’ experiences.
The researchers describe these as the three Cs: Care, Connection and Collaboration.
Half of women attending a Menopause Cafe said they were able to talk to a partner or friend about their menopause in more depth than before, finds a new report launched today by the University of Glasgow’s Adam Smith Business School. The research also found that 32% of attendees engaged with a healthcare professional about their menopause for the first time after attending a cafe. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Wellbeing Index, attending Menopause Cafés improves self-reported health and wellbeing by over eight percentage points.
Whilst the research demonstrates the grassroots success of the movement in terms of improving health and wellbeing, it also highlighted challenges such as negotiating different backgrounds and experiences, the emotional labour required of hosts and the risks of unpaid gendered labour by hosts in the workplace and social settings where Menopause Cafes take place.
This research highlights the essential role of Menopause Cafes in providing accessible menopause support and fostering open conversations about women’s health. It also provides actionable guidance for large employers reviewing their menopause provision ahead of the introduction of mandatory Gender Equality Action Plans in spring 2027.
