B.C. Now Covers Menopause Treatment After Years of Advocacy

After more than a decade of debilitating symptoms that made her feel like she was "dying," Cathy Hoyles finally got answers about menopause in her early 50s. Today, the 57-year-old from Corner Brook has bought a beach house, started a business, and co-founded a nonprofit helping other women navigate the same journey.

Her transformation represents a turning point in how Canada treats menopause. In March 2025, British Columbia joined Manitoba as the second province to cover menopause hormone therapy medications through public healthcare, a change that could reshape life for countless women.

The breakthrough matters because half the population will experience menopause, yet most struggle to get proper care. Symptoms like insomnia, migraines, muscle pain, depression, and anxiety are often dismissed by doctors as "normal for your age."

Hoyles' experience was typical. Multiple specialists never discussed whether her suffering connected to menopause until night sweats finally appeared, a symptom she recognized herself.

Her research revealed everything she'd endured for years was listed as a menopause symptom. That discovery led her and four other women to launch The Menopause Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in February 2025.

The hormone therapies now covered in B.C. and Manitoba cost around $100 monthly, putting them out of reach for most women. The medications increase estrogen and progesterone levels through pills or skin patches, treating symptoms that can last two to ten years.

But coverage alone won't solve the problem. Most family doctors aren't trained to recognize how menopause impacts every system in a woman's body, says Lori Brotto, a clinical psychologist at the University of British Columbia.

Many physicians hesitate to prescribe the therapies due to outdated concerns about cancer risk. The treatments require longer appointments than the typical five-minute visit, and most provinces don't compensate doctors adequately for menopause consultations.

The Ripple Effect

The policy change creates momentum for broader transformation. Manitoba now allows doctors to specifically bill for menopause treatment, acknowledging it requires comprehensive mid-life health assessments.

Hoyles needed a four-month leave from her hospital management job before finding treatment through a private virtual clinic in Ontario. After starting hormone therapy, her symptoms improved enough to return to work and build the life she now enjoys.

Her foundation and the national Menopause Foundation of Canada are pushing for menopause education in every healthcare provider's training. "You're talking about something that will impact half of the population," says Janet Ko, co-founder of the national organization.

The growing network of advocacy groups, combined with provincial coverage breakthroughs, signals that menopause is finally emerging from the shadows of shame and silence.

Women like Hoyles prove that with proper support and treatment, the transition through menopause can open doors to thriving, not just surviving.