Nine in ten women never educated about the menopause, new study says

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Nine in ten women never educated about the menopause, new study says

A new study has found that 90 percent of women who took part were never educated on menopause or its symptoms

Published in Post Reproductive Health, researchers collected data from 829 postmenopausal women through an online survey in May 2021.

They found that 49 percent of participants did not feel informed about menopause and 62.7 percent had found it either difficult or very difficult – with women describing their experiences as a ‘nightmare’ and ‘awful’.

Many women also lamented not knowing what to expect, with many citing night sweats and hot flushes as the only symptoms they had been aware of prior to starting menopause.

Now participants are calling for better education, knowledge, and understanding of symptoms, alongside easier access to treatment and improved feelings and attitudes towards menopause.

Professor Joyce Harper (UCL EGA Institute of Women’s Health) said: “This study is important as it provides insight into the lived experiences of postmenopausal women, which is a scarce area of research.

“The data shows that women have a lack of education about this key life stage. Together with a reported lack of education from their healthcare professionals, women may be left undiagnosed and unsupported.

“We need to ensure that all health professionals have menopause training so they can give women information on managing their symptoms and well-being. And most importantly, we should give women hope that life post-menopause can be a fruitful and exciting time.”

According to the NHS, menopause is when a woman’s periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.

It can cause symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes, and irregular periods. And consequently, it can heavily impact both a woman’s home and working life.

The number of women aged 45 and older in the UK is on an upwards trajectory and it is estimated that there are currently around 13 million perimenopausal or menopausal women in the UK, equating to around one-third of the entire female population.

However, a majority of women only started looking for information once their symptoms had started, with nearly 60 percent saying they got their information from sources other than health professionals and official websites. Many women turned to social media and friends for advice.

In 2019, the Department for Education made it mandatory for menopause education to be included in schools and researchers hope that the findings of this survey will help explore the issue and help deliver this education effectively.

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Wanda Doty

Hi there! My husband and I are on our path to parenthood, and after facing the challenges of infertility, I decided to become a fertility coach and concierge. Our journey has inspired me to support others who may be experiencing something similar. While we're still on this road ourselves, I wanted to share our story and be a source of encouragement for those navigating their own paths to parenthood. Let’s take this journey together!