SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 85

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 9, 2024

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution No. 85.

      The substitute designates October of each year as “Menopause Awareness Month,” October 11 of each year as “Perimenopause Day,” and October 18 of each year as “Postmenopause Day” in New Jersey.  These designations coincide with recognitions made by global organizations, such as the International Menopause Society and the World Health Organization.

      Menopause is a natural biological process in which a woman’s menstrual cycle stops permanently.  The physical and emotional symptoms that coincide with this process may disrupt a woman’s daily life, and is often a shrouded subject, not discussed in families or the community, which results in women feeling alone and isolated.

      Perimenopause is the time during which a woman’s body makes the natural transition to menopause and often begins about eight to 10 years before menopause.  Perimenopause is a lesser known stage of the menopause process and individuals may not realize that the symptoms the person is experiencing are associated with perimenopause and may instead attribute the symptoms to aging, stress, anxiety, and depression.  Common symptoms can last for a few months to many years and may include:  irregular periods or skipping periods; hot flashes; vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex; urinary urgency; sleep problems; changes in mood; and depression.

      Postmenopause is the period of time after menopause when a woman’s menstrual periods have ceased for 12 consecutive months.  Natural postmenopause typically occurs sometime between a woman’s late 40s and early 60s.  It is a common belief that the uncomfortable symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause will disappear once postmenopause begins; however, some women can continue to experience symptoms during postmenopause.  Postmenopausal women may also be at an increased risk for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and urinary tract infections.

      The designations made under this substitute aim:  to raise awareness regarding the symptoms associated with perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause; to support the health and well-being of, and promote management options for, women experiencing these natural biological processes; and to combat stigma and misinformation surrounding this period in a woman’s life.