Menopausal women tend to avoid seeking care for symptoms, survey finds
Key takeaways
- A survey of nearly 5,000 women found that over 80% who experienced disruptive menopause symptoms did not seek medical care.
- More than three out of four respondents had symptoms, and over one-third reported symptoms as moderate to very severe.
- Researchers stress the need for healthcare professionals to proactively address symptoms, as menopause care is often “underrecognized and undertreated.”
A new study from Mayo Clinic emphasizes the tendency for menopausal women to navigate this life stage without seeking the proper care to help ease their symptoms.
The survey of nearly 5,000 women aged 45–60 found that more than three out of four respondents experienced menopause symptoms. Many of them reported substantial effects on daily life, work productivity, and overall well-being. However, more than 80% did not seek medical care for their menopause symptoms.
Critically, more than one-third (34%) of the surveyed women had moderate to very severe symptoms. Sleep disturbances and weight gain were among the most common issues affecting more than half of the study cohort.
“Menopause is universal for women at midlife, the symptoms are common and disruptive, and yet, few women are receiving care that could help them," says lead author Ekta Kapoor, an endocrinologist and menopause specialist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
“This gap has real consequences for women’s health and quality of life, and it’s time we address it more proactively.”
Underrecognition and undertreatment
The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, highlights that women often do not voluntarily mention concerns about menopause symptoms to their healthcare provider. Without proper treatment, menopause symptoms can negatively affect sleep, mood, cognition, and productivity at work and at home.
Many women indicated they prefer to manage symptoms on their own, while others considered themselves too busy or unaware that effective treatments exist.
Mayo Clinic researchers stress the need for strategies that destigmatize menopause care and make it more visible and accessible.
Despite the availability of safe and effective treatment options, Mayo Clinic researchers found that menopause symptoms remain “underrecognized, undertreated, and inadequately addressed” in the health care system.
Only about one in four women were receiving any treatment for menopause symptoms at the time of the survey.
Need for strategies to destigmatize
The authors say their findings underscore the importance of healthcare professionals proactively identifying and managing menopause symptoms in patients who may be struggling with them.
Mayo Clinic researchers stress the need for strategies that destigmatize menopause care and make it more visible and accessible.
Efforts are currently underway to develop questionnaires, digital tools, and smartphone apps that help women identify symptoms, learn about treatment options, and have more productive discussions with their primary care professionals.
“Our goal is to educate women and healthcare professionals about menopause. By making it easier to recognize and understand symptoms, we can close the gap between need and care — and help midlife women live healthier, more fulfilling lives,” Dr. Kapoor concludes.
Research into menopause outcomes and symptom management is expanding. One recent study shed light on the prevalence of digestive issues and related stomach pain among menopausal women. Despite symptom burdens, formal diagnoses and effective treatment are still limited.
Separate research cautioned that women seeking menopause relief through commercial hormone testing and unverified supplements should be mindful of the validity of these services. The authors flagged the rise in routine hormone panel testing for evaluating menopausal symptoms, which often costs hundreds of dollars.
