WisePause Summit draws 400+ women to Los Angeles for menopause care

More than 400 women gathered Aug. 22 at the Skirball Cultural Center for the 12th annual WisePause Wellness Summit, where 30-plus experts focused on menopause, perimenopause and midlife health. The event also honored Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Bristol Myers Squibb and Melani Sanders as awareness and workplace efforts around menopause gain momentum.

Why it matters: - Menopause care is moving further into the mainstream as women seek clearer answers on hormone therapy, sleep, sexual health, brain fog and other midlife concerns. - The summit created a large in-person forum for education, peer support and direct access to specialists in Los Angeles. - Recognition of a lawmaker, a drugmaker and an advocate points to broader pressure on workplaces and institutions to respond to menopause needs.

What happened: - More than 400 women attended the 12th annual WisePause Wellness Summit on Aug. 22 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. - More than 30 physicians, functional medicine practitioners and other experts led programming on perimenopause, menopause and midlife health. - WisePause Wellness founder Denise Pines moderated a featured panel with Amy Day, ND; Julie Taylor, MD; and Tracy Sylvester, MD. - The panel focused on perimenopause and hormone treatment options. - The summit honored California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Bristol Myers Squibb and Melani Sanders. - The event opened with a dance session led by Wil Williams, owner of LA Dance Fit. - The summit ended with a sound bath by Shakti Sound Bath and the Best Self Afterparty.

The details: - Sessions covered hormone therapy and nonhormonal options. - Speakers addressed sexual health, bladder health, sleep, brain fog, weight management, exercise, energy, facial rejuvenation and style changes during midlife. - The summit's Table Talks gave attendees small-group access to specialists on oral health, hair changes, GLP-1 medications, weight management and other concerns. - Attendees also took part in dance, breathwork, energy movement, tai chi and meditation. - More than 30 exhibitors displayed products and services for midlife women. - The honorees were recognized for menopause awareness and workplace change, including Menopause Friendly Accreditation at Bristol Myers Squibb. - Support for the summit came from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Tea Botanics, AARP and Alloy. - WisePause Wellness said the organization connects women with current research, expert guidance and practical resources for perimenopause, menopause and midlife health. - Tea Botanics markets women’s wellness tea and supplements for symptoms linked to menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disruption. - The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation said it has given more than $1.5 billion since 2001 to U.S.-based public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. - More information is available at wisepause.com. - Tea Botanics lists more information at teabotanics.com, and the company also points readers to @teabotanics and @hotflashtea. - WisePause social channels include Facebook and Instagram.

Between the lines: - The summit's mix of medical education, lifestyle sessions and community programming shows how menopause events are expanding beyond clinical advice into whole-person wellness. - Honoring a California lawmaker and a major employer suggests the issue is increasingly tied to policy and workplace benefits, not just private health care decisions. - The strong turnout signals sustained demand for credible menopause information as more women look for options beyond one-size-fits-all treatment.

What's next: - WisePause Wellness is likely to keep building on live events, digital education and advocacy as menopause awareness grows. - Interest from sponsors, exhibitors and honorees suggests more corporate and policy engagement around midlife health could follow. - Women seeking resources can turn to the organization’s website and social channels for future programming and education.

The bottom line: - The WisePause summit underscored how menopause care is becoming a bigger health, workplace and community issue for women in midlife.