Learning from Sweden’s experience in menopause care at the global level

We sat down with Sweden’s Chief Midwife to explore how the country is rethinking menopause care as a core part of women’s health. In this questions and answers article, Susanne Åhlund reflects on Sweden’s newly released national guidelines on menopause, how they were developed, the evidence and demand that shaped them and the shift toward a more integrated, primary care-led model.

She also shares lessons from Sweden’s experience and how these insights can inform a more coordinated, equitable and global approach to menopause care, including the role the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) can play in advancing evidence and supporting countries worldwide.

Q. Why is Sweden paying more attention to menopause?

A. A national survey in 2021 highlighted critical gaps in both awareness and care:

• one in three women lacked knowledge about menopause as they entered this life stage;
• around one in three women who experience symptoms require some form of treatment or clinical support; and
• many women sought care for symptoms such as low mood or pain without recognizing menopause as the underlying cause.

The findings also revealed disparities in access. Women in urban areas had better access to care and treatments, including hormone therapy and women in lower-income or rural areas were less likely to know where to seek care.

These insights shaped a model focused on improving knowledge, access and equity across the country.

Q. What did Sweden do to respond to the evidence that women needed more information and care?

A. In 2025, Sweden published updated national guidelines on menopause care, providing evidence-based guidance to all 21 regions responsible for delivering health services.

This builds on over a decade of national investment in women’s health and reflects growing demand from women themselves, who are increasingly seeking information, care and treatment.

What makes Sweden’s approach stand out is its focus on national guidance with local implementation; primary health care as the entry point, rather than specialist-led care; and a life-course, rights-based perspective, recognizing menopause as a normal phase of life that still requires support when symptoms affect well-being.

Q. What are the key features of Sweden’s model of care?

A. Sweden is shifting menopause care firmly into primary health care, with an expanded role for midwives.

Key elements include midwives as first-line providers for information, counselling and initial management; integrated care pathways, with referral to doctors when more complex treatment is needed; a strong emphasis on self-care, prevention and early information, including lifestyle guidance; and efforts to expand prescribing authority for midwives.

This model reflects how women already interact with the health system through routine sexual and reproductive health services throughout their lives and makes menopause care more accessible and cost-effective.

Q. What challenges remain, even in a high-income setting like Sweden?

A. Despite strong progress, gaps persist that are highly relevant globally. There are persistent knowledge gaps among both women and health providers, particularly in primary care. We also have geographic and socioeconomic inequities in access to treatment. Some workforce and system tensions, including debates over roles between primary care providers and specialists.

These challenges highlight that even well-resourced systems need clear guidance, training and public awareness to deliver consistent menopause care.

Q. What lessons from Sweden are most relevant for other countries?

A. At its core, the Swedish model shows that menopause care can be integrated, equitable and scalable.

Several elements of Sweden’s approach are highly transferable. Menopause care can be integrated into existing services, especially in resource-limited settings. Expanding provider roles improves reach and aligns with how care is already delivered in many countries. Clear, evidence-based recommendations support consistency and quality of care. And women’s growing demand for information and care can drive policy change.

Q. What role can HRP and WHO play at the global level?

A. As leaders in the global sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda, HRP and WHO can link menopause to broader goals of universal health coverage and women’s well-being across the life course.

WHO and HRP are uniquely positioned to advance menopause care globally by developing harmonized, evidence-based global guidelines that can be adapted across diverse settings. First, we need to bridge evidence gaps, particularly on effective, context-appropriate interventions.

Once the guidelines are ready, WHO and HRP also can support country implementation, ensuring guidance translates into practice across different health systems. As countries increasingly recognize menopause as a public health priority, HRP and WHO’s role is to ensure the response is equity-driven, evidence-based and globally coordinated.

Q. Why is global action on menopause needed now?

A. Momentum is growing worldwide, driven by women’s advocacy and policy attention across countries and regions.

This creates a critical window to close longstanding gaps in knowledge and care; normalize menopause as part of healthy ageing; and ensure that access to information, counselling and treatment does not depend on where a woman lives.

With the right global guidance and country-level implementation, menopause care can become a standard component of primary health care worldwide.