Competing interests: We have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare the following: MH has been an expert witness in 2020 for a public health authority in New South Wales Australia and topic expert for 2022 update of the NICE menopause guidelines. She was site investigator for a study of a non-hormonal agent for vasomotor symptoms after breast cancer funded by Que Oncology and for a trial of a device to treat vaginal dryness funded by Madorra. MSH is author of three books on cognitive behaviour therapy for menopausal symptoms and has a contract with Turning Point UK to develop support for women with menopausal symptoms and received a research grant from Wellbeing of Women to evaluate the MENO-kit, a workplace tool for menopause in the workplace. NS is on the scientific advisory board for Menogenix and Astellas and consultant for Ansh Labs. She has grant support to the University of Colorado from Menopgenix. SH is president of the Society for Reproductive Investigation and on the programme committee of the North American Menopause Society. JU was president of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, 2019-2021 and is president of the Australian Society for Psycho-social Obstetrics and Gynaecology.