Women still being failed when they reach menopause, experts say

Women are still being failed by menopause care despite a surge in online advice, with experts saying symptoms are too often minimised or dismissed.

The researchers exposed a gap between the surge of menopause information available online and the quality of medical care women receive.

A team of anthropologists and psychologists explored the physical and emotional toll of menopause, including its impact on work and personal lives, through interviews with 60 women aged 45 to 61 between March and June 2021.

The findings were published in a new book, We Need to Talk About Menopause.

The interviews showed how women continue to “needlessly suffer” as they sort through misinformation from influencers, celebrities and so-called experts.

The authors said: “You would think in an age where humans are developing commercial space flight, self-driving cars, and AI personal assistants who can project movies onto the palm of your hand, we would understand more about menopause, something a little over half of the population is guaranteed to experience in their lives.”

The interviews revealed wide variation in women’s experiences of doctors.

Some felt they could have an open dialogue, while others said they were “shut down”, including being told they were too young for menopause.

One woman said she bled heavily for a year before she was taken seriously.

The authors said menopause is still poorly understood, with disagreement over whether it should be seen as a medical condition or a natural part of ageing.

There are more than 100 recognised symptoms, although some women experience none.

Among those interviewed, 78 per cent reported weight gain and redistribution, particularly around the belly area, which was resistant to diet and exercise.

Fifty-eight per cent experienced mood disturbances including anxiety, depression, irritability and unprecedented levels of rage.

Many women said they were blindsided by symptoms they had never known existed.

One participant said she only realised rage was a menopause symptom after seeing it mentioned in a television commercial.

Women also described severe memory problems and brain fog that colleagues mistook for incompetence, leading successful professionals to question their abilities at the peak of their careers.

Brain fog can include problems with concentration, memory and clear thinking.

According to Statistics Canada, 70 per cent of women turn to the internet as their primary source of menopause information.

The authors said this information vacuum has spawned a £14.7bn global “meno-tech” industry, with influencers, celebrities and telehealth companies offering products ranging from £98 creams to unnecessary blood tests.

They said: “The growth of interest in menopause has also been accompanied by a wave of unsubstantiated information.

“Many websites market expensive creams, supplements, and weight-loss schemes that promise to keep women youthful and attractive, with little evidence to support their claims.

“Reliable, accessible information about menopause and perimenopause is still lacking. Despite increased attention to the importance of physician training and the search for menopause specialists, the medical profession as a whole continues to provide limited support in this area.”

The authors also highlighted the effect of menopause in the workplace.

The House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee has warned that Britain is “haemorrhaging talent” because of menopause, with 14 million workdays lost each year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Despite this, studies have shown 80 per cent of UK employers have yet to implement proper support measures for menopausal women.

Some women said simple workplace adjustments made a significant difference.