A menopause taskforce aiming to improve healthcare for millions of women is set to convene for the first time on Thursday.

At the cross-party group’s inaugural meeting, MPs and clinicians will be discussing how women experiencing the menopause can be better supported via measures such as making treatments more accessible.

Conferences are due to be held every two months, and the group also aims to help break the taboos associated with talking about the menopause among the general public and in workplaces.

The taskforce will be co-chaired by Conservative minister Maria Caulfield, and Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who said a lack of education about the menopause is partly to blame for the stigma attached to it.

Maria Caulfield (Archive/PA)
Maria Caulfield (Archive/PA)

Ms Harris, who represents Swansea East, said: “Improving support and services for those experiencing symptoms of the menopause is something that I am passionate about.

“Insufficient education and awareness of its impact alongside historic taboos around openly discussing its symptoms has meant that for too long women have suffered and struggled to access the help that they need.”

Ms Caulfield added: “The UK menopause taskforce is another stride forward in delivering real change for women across the UK, breaking down taboos and ensuring better access to treatment and support.”

Permanent members of the cross-party group also include Cabinet ministers Liz Truss, Kwasi Kwarteng and Therese Coffey.

The taskforce will draw on best clinical practice across all four UK nations, including Scotland’s Women’s Health Plan, which focused on the menopause.

The conference comes as the the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) launched a consultation into the reclassification of a locally applied hormone replacement therapy product called Gina 10.

This means women in the UK could be able to access the menopausal treatment at a pharmacy without requiring a prescription in future.

Millions of women go through the menopause every year, with the majority experiencing symptoms that can be severe, such as low mood, anxiety, hot flushes and difficulty sleeping, and have a negative impact on everyday life.