By 2025, 1.2 billion women will be in menopause
Even though menopause is a natural transition that will happen to every women who lives long enough, women know much more about their first period than they do about their last one, a new survey reveals.
As a menopause expert and menopause coach who has helped over 10,000 women, I clearly know women want and need more information about menopause–when menopause symptoms will begin, what menopause symptoms can be expected, how long they will last, and what they can do about them.
A newly published survey shines a light on just how badly this information is wanted and needed.
Bonafide, a women’s healthcare and supplement company, recently reported its second State of Menopause Survey. The report surveyed more than 2,000 women in perimenopause and menopause and clearly revealed that menopause continues to be an under-discussed and misunderstood time of life.
Ninety-four percent of respondents felt unprepared for menopause symptoms.
Symptoms women felt most unprepared for:
- Hot flashes
- Sleep problems
- Night sweats
- Anxiety & depression
- Brain fog and memory issues
- Weight gain
- Sex drive
- How long it lasts
- Changes in hair
- Vaginal dryness
- Changes in skin
“When it comes to perimenopause, women are aware of it, but they don’t know when it starts or treatment options available.”
The survey really underscored how badly women want more information about menopause:
- “92% of women say more education is needed about the menopause journey
- 88% of women want men to understand menopause better
- 71% needed more education about managing menopause symptoms
- 62% wanted more content on aging directed at women to destigmatize ageism associated with menopause
- 34% were not aware when perimenopause typically starts
- 30% of women aged 40-44 spoke with their healthcare professional about perimenopause before having symptoms; in contrast only 15% of women aged 55-65 reported the same
- 25% of women don’t know when perimenopause typically begins and 31% don’t know their treatment options
- 42% of women aged 55-65 were not prepared for how long perimenopause lasted”
What women want to know about perimenopause:
- 71% How to manage symptoms
- 69% Signs and symptoms to look out for
- 64% What is ‘normal’ and what should be escalated to a healthcare provider
- 59% when symptoms can start
- 47% How to talk to people without being embarrassed
- 41% How to ask others for support
One of the double whammies related to menopause is that is often associated with getting older.
The survey revealed how women feel about aging;
- 44% Don’t feel old
- 36% Feel anxious about aging
- 27% Feel sad about it
- 26% Feel content with it
- 25% Have an aversion to it
- 16% Happy about growing older
One ray of light in the survey was that not everything related to getting older was viewed as bad.
10 things women like about getting older:
- Caring less about what people think of them
- Not caring as much about trivial things
- Seeing their children grow up
- Gaining knowledge/wisdom
- Having grandchildren
- More freedom
- Having more time for loved ones
- Being able to enjoy their passions
Note to businesses and to doctors…
Menopause is a really big deal and deserves and requires understanding, education and normalization since it happens to all women who live long enough. Yet only 20 percent of Ob/Gyn doctors in training are getting any education about menopause.
This survey reveals a lot about what women wonder and worry about related to perimenopause and menopause. It pulls back the curtain on the huge need for more menopause and perimenopause education.
The results are in–women want and need much more information about menopause symptoms, what they can do about them, and more understanding about this universal transition in every woman’s life.
If you would like help navigating menopause or getting the information you need to feel better and become a partner with your healthcare provider, Click Here to see if MenopauseCoaching would be helpful for you.
