State Reps. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown, at left, and Samantha Steckloff, D-Farmington Hills, recently introduced House Bills 4790 and 4791. (Photo provided to Michigan Advance)

Two Michigan state representatives from opposing sides of the political aisle have come together to create a legislative package that would ensure residents have better access to education and resources surrounding menopause and perimenopause.

House Bill 4790 and House Bill 4791 were introduced last week by state Rep. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown, and state Rep. Samantha Steckloff, D-Farmington Hills, respectively. The bills were referred to the House Health Policy Committee, of which Thompson is the vice chair.

The goal of the package is to remove the stigma surrounding conversations about menopause and perimenopause, giving women of all ages and men a better understanding of what occurs during this natural state of life.

“At 48, I can honestly say I’m living through it myself – sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, and sometimes wondering why I walked into the room in the first place,” Thompson said in a statement. “This isn’t just about biology, it’s about real life. Millions of women, including our colleagues, friends, and family members, are going through these changes every day, and it’s time we talked about it openly.”

Steckloff said women juggling careers, caregiving, families and health issues all eventually must deal with menopause and perimenopause “showing up uninvited with no handbook.”

“By increasing awareness and access to information, we can help women navigate this stage of life with confidence instead of confusion,” Steckloff said. “Menopause happens to every woman, but it doesn’t have to be something we whisper about. This legislation makes sure women don’t feel left in the dark.”

Under the bills, schools, health care providers and workplaces would be provided with tools to educate and support women experiencing those changes.

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs would be tasked with offering a continuing education credit course focused on menopause that physicians can take as part of their relicensure process.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services would be tasked with creating a publicly-available menopause transition awareness education program for both physicians and residents.

“Social media is already full of people sharing their hot flash horror stories, funny memory lapses, and midnight fan-club initiations – when you find yourself standing in front of the freezer at 2 a.m.,” Thompson added with a laugh. “If we can laugh about it together, we can certainly legislate on it together.”

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