Race and ethnicity may influence menopause symptoms, research reveals

The US telehealth company Evernow has published “groundbreaking” research on how race and ethnicity may influence menopausal symptoms.

With data collected from 44,678 women who self-reported their symptoms, the study is the largest to date comparing the symptoms of menopausal women by race and ethnicity.

More than two million women reach menopause per year. Despite this, 75 per cent of those seeking treatment do not receive it.

The researchers found that black women were more likely to experience hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and mood swings.

Hispanic women were more likely to report vaginal dryness, mood swings, and anxiety or depression. However, East Asian women were less likely to report similar symptoms .

The findings were revealed at this week’s North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) annual clinical meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

The research was led by Dr Leah Millheiser, Evernow’s chief medical officer and Alicia Jackson, Evernow’s founder and CEO, alongside Eduardo Hariton and Jerrine Morris.

“Not all women experience menopause in the same way, so understanding how ethnicity or race may influence symptomatogy is critical to ensuring that the most comprehensive care is delivered,” said Dr Millheiser.

“We are proud to be sharing these results with the medical community in order to expand the existing body of knowledge on women’s experiences during the menopause transition.”

Evernow aims to help women going through menopause through hormone therapy plans, expert advice and supportive care, as data shows options for women’s midlife health remain limited.

“We are committed to deepening our research in this space so that we can better understand how these findings can be used to inform patient care,” added Millheiser.