Bayer Türkiye Listened to Women's Experiences for Menopause Awareness

As part of its efforts to raise awareness in women's health, Bayer Türkiye organized an event titled "We Are Talking About the Unspoken: This Time Our Focus Is on Menopause" ahead of World Menopause Day. At the meeting held at Bayer Türkiye's head office in İstanbul, the medical, physical and social dimensions of menopause were discussed, while the importance of women having access to accurate information, expert opinion and support during this period was emphasized.

In the panel moderated by Bayer Türkiye Women's Health Lead Pharm. Beste Doğar, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Telce Ayşen Küçükceran and Beril Oturmazer, Founder of the Pearly Menopause Platform, one of Bayer's G4A 2026 entrepreneurs, came together. During the panel, the effects of menopause on daily life, social relationships and work life were evaluated from different perspectives. It was noted that every woman may experience this process differently, and that individual needs should be taken into account.

Unspoken Topics in Women's Health Are Being Brought to the Agenda

In her opening speech, Bayer Türkiye Women's Health Lead Pharm. Beste Doğar addressed the importance of making visible the health issues women encounter at different stages of their lives. Noting that Bayer Türkiye's #NotNormal campaign aims to support women in speaking more openly about their experiences, Doğar made the following remarks:

"At Bayer Türkiye, we attach importance to supporting women's health and quality of life at every stage of their lives. We work to bring unspoken topics in women's health to the agenda, to question commonly held misconceptions, and to help women gain more knowledge about their own health. With our #NotNormal campaign, we draw attention to experiences that are often overlooked and seen as a natural part of women's lives. Today, by addressing menopause in light of both medical information and real stories, we aim to contribute to a better understanding of this period. Because the fact that menopause is a natural stage of life does not mean that women should silently accept the difficulties they face."

A Holistic Approach to the Menopause Process Comes to the Fore

Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Telce Ayşen Küçükceran stated that menopause is not limited solely to changes in the menstrual cycle or the end of the reproductive period. Noting that perimenopause, the transitional period before menopause, can manifest itself with approximately 20 different symptoms, Küçükceran pointed out that women do not always associate these symptoms with menopause.

Stating that the perimenopause and menopause periods are important in terms of women reassessing their health and preparing more consciously for the future, Küçükceran said that sleep problems, mood changes, difficulties with attention and focus, and various physical complaints can also appear while the menstrual cycle continues.

Noting that symptoms such as increased anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, a desire to be alone and loss of concentration can affect women's daily lives, Küçükceran used the following words:

"Perimenopause and menopause constitute a period that spans half of a woman's life, and therefore should be regarded as a new stage of life in which women can reassess their health and prepare more consciously for their future. Perimenopause, the transitional process before menopause, is actually an opportunity to prepare for menopause, but one needs to be aware of this period. It can manifest itself differently in each woman and often with unexpected symptoms. While the menstrual cycle continues, sleep problems, mood changes, difficulties with attention and focus, or various physical complaints may occur. Women, on the other hand, may sometimes attribute these changes to stress, the intensity of daily life, or a natural consequence of aging."

Küçükceran emphasized the importance of women recognizing the changes in their bodies, paying attention to symptoms, and consulting a health professional when needed. Noting that there are various hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options available for managing menopause symptoms, Küçükceran stated that treatment decisions should be evaluated together with a physician in line with the person's medical history, symptoms and individual needs. She said that long-term issues such as bone health and cardiovascular health should also be taken into account during this process.

Real Life Experiences Support Menopause Awareness

Beril Oturmazer, Founder of the Pearly Menopause Platform, one of Bayer's G4A 2026 entrepreneurs, shared the story behind the founding of the platform, which was inspired by her own experience of menopause at a young age. Noting that she entered menopause due to premature ovarian insufficiency, Oturmazer explained that it took her time to understand the cause of her symptoms and that she had difficulty accessing accurate information during this process.

Stating that she founded the Pearly Menopause Platform in order to make it easier for women to access reliable information, experts and people who have had similar experiences, Oturmazer shared her experiences as follows:

"I encountered menopause at the age of 30, at a time I never expected. Looking back, I realize that the changes in my body had actually started much earlier. Making sense of what I was going through at that time, accessing accurate information, and finding women who had gone through similar experiences was quite difficult for me. Especially because menopause at a young age is not talked about enough, I felt alone for a long time. My biggest motivation in founding the Pearly Menopause Platform was to ensure that other women would not experience the same loneliness and uncertainty."

Noting that women of different ages, from different cities and with different living conditions come together on the platform, Oturmazer stated that experiences such as sleep problems, mood changes, forgetfulness and difficulties with focus can affect women's self-confidence and work life. She emphasized that sharing experiences helps women see that they are not alone, make sense of what they are going through, and seek the support they need.

Understanding and Support Are as Important as Awareness in Menopause

The panel also evaluated the effects of menopause on family relationships and work life. It was noted that family members, spouses and colleagues having knowledge about menopause can contribute to a better understanding of women's needs.

At the event, where it was noted that symptoms such as sleep problems, forgetfulness and difficulty focusing can affect work life, the importance of understanding and supportive work environments was emphasized.

At the end of the event, Pharm. Beste Doğar stated that they aim to support women in recognizing the changes they experience during menopause and perimenopause, accessing accurate information, and seeking expert support when necessary. Doğar stated that women can benefit from the informative content at women.bayer.tr in order to prepare more consciously for their conversations with health professionals.

Through its #NotNormal campaign and its awareness efforts in the field of women's health, Bayer Türkiye aims to encourage women to share their experiences more comfortably, to make the difficulties they face visible, and to receive understanding and support from those around them.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global company operating with a focus on life sciences in the fields of health and nutrition. With its mission of "Health for All, Hunger for None," it aims to contribute to people and the planet by developing products and services for the needs of a growing and aging world population.

Committed to the principles of sustainable development, the company aims to create a positive impact in the areas in which it operates and to create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand is identified worldwide with trust, quality and reliability.

As of the 2025 fiscal year, Bayer, which has approximately 88 thousand employees, achieved sales revenue of EUR 45.6 billion. The company's R&D expenditures in the same period amounted to EUR 5.8 billion.