MenoMinds Single-Sex Participation Policy

Our purpose

MenoMinds exists to provide education, practical support and community for people experiencing the biological and hormonal changes associated with female menopause.

Our core MenoMinds programme is currently provided as a female single-sex service. This means participation is open to people who are biologically female and who are approaching, experiencing or have experienced menopause, including menopause occurring naturally, prematurely or as a result of surgery or medical treatment.

This policy relates specifically to biological sex and eligibility for the MenoMinds programme. It is not a statement about gender identity.

Why is MenoMinds currently a female-only programme?

Menopause is associated with changes in female reproductive hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, and can affect physical health, mental wellbeing, cognition, relationships, sexual health and working life.

MenoMinds has been specifically designed around these experiences.

During our courses and community sessions, participants may discuss highly personal subjects including menstrual changes, bleeding, fertility, breasts, vaginal and urinary symptoms, sexual health, HRT, body changes, mood, anxiety and other experiences associated with menopause.

We want participants to be able to have these conversations openly within a confidential and supportive peer environment alongside others experiencing the same biological transition.

For these reasons, our core programme is currently provided on a female single-sex basis.

What do we mean by biologically female?

For the purposes of eligibility for MenoMinds, we are referring to biological sex rather than gender identity.

We recognise that people who are biologically female may have different gender identities. A person does not need to identify as a woman to experience female menopause.

Eligibility may therefore include women, transmen and non-binary people who are biologically female and are experiencing, approaching or have experienced menopause.

It also includes people experiencing early, premature, medical or surgical menopause. Having undergone surgery such as a hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries does not in itself affect eligibility.

Why do we ask participants to confirm their biological sex?

Because the core MenoMinds programme is currently provided as a female single-sex service, we need a simple and respectful way of establishing eligibility when someone registers.

We therefore ask participants to confirm that they are biologically female.

We do not ask participants to provide evidence of their sex, medical history, anatomy or gender identity. We ask only for the confirmation necessary to establish eligibility for the programme.

Where necessary, we may contact participants to clarify or confirm eligibility for the programme. We do this sensitively and respectfully, without making assumptions about a person’s sex or gender identity.

Any information provided to MenoMinds will be treated respectfully and in accordance with our privacy and data-protection responsibilities.

What about people who are not biologically female but experience menopause-like symptoms?

We recognise that people who are biologically male, including transwomen receiving hormone treatment, may experience symptoms associated with hormonal changes that can resemble some menopause symptoms.

However, the current MenoMinds programme has been specifically developed around female menopause and the biological, hormonal and lived experiences associated with it. It is therefore not currently the appropriate programme for people who are biologically male.

This does not mean that we consider those experiences unimportant or that MenoMinds does not support people of different gender identities.

Partners, colleagues and allies

We recognise that menopause affects more than the person experiencing it. Partners, family members, colleagues, managers and friends can play an important role in understanding and supporting someone through menopause.

Our core community programme is currently reserved for eligible participants so that members have a dedicated space in which to discuss their experiences.

As MenoMinds develops, we intend to explore additional education and support specifically for partners, colleagues and other allies, including men.

If your organisation is interested in menopause training, please get in touch at info@menominds.co.uk.

Inclusion and respect

MenoMinds welcomes and respects people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, cultures, religions, disabilities and backgrounds.

Providing our core menopause programme on a female single-sex basis is not intended to diminish or question anyone's gender identity. It reflects the specific purpose of this programme: providing education and peer support centred on the biological and hormonal experience of female menopause.

We ask everyone engaging with MenoMinds to treat others with dignity, kindness and respect.

Our approach

We will keep this policy and the way we deliver our services under review as MenoMinds develops.

Where appropriate, individual circumstances may be considered sensitively and confidentially. Anyone who is unsure whether the MenoMinds programme is appropriate for them is welcome to contact us before registering at info@menominds.co.uk.

Organisation: Minds That Work Ltd 

Last Updated: August 14th, 2026