Older incarcerated women are often forgotten when we talk about menopause
The number of older incarcerated women is on the rise, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health. And with that comes healthcare needs like menopause support.
Menopause is a normal transition, but it can be challenging — think hot flashes or abnormal bleeding. For an incarcerated woman, these symptoms can be amplified because she can’t adjust her lifestyle — by lowering the thermostat, for example.
Dr. Gloria Bachmann studies this population. She is the associate dean for women’s health at Rutgers University.
And once the symptoms begin, a woman's life is turned upside down. So are the typical number of sanitary protection pads or tampons she needs. She may have difficulty sleeping.
Bachmann says educating women and prison staff is critical.
"Because many times — all women — are confused about what's happening to my period. My period was always every single month and now I'm 45 years old, and it's coming every three weeks or it's coming every six to eight weeks," Bachmann said.
In 2021, then Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill that would guarantee unlimited feminine hygiene products for incarcerated women.
