Women are still being failed at menopause, experts warn

Menopause is a crucial phase in every woman’s life, and yet women are inadequately supported, misinformed, and the healthcare system isn’t listening. Experts say women deserve far better. Women are being failed, even in the workplace, as the lack of support leads to 14 million lost workdays annually. In this age of technology and advancements in science, women are still ‘googling in the middle of the night’ for medical advice.

A research team consisting of anthropologists and psychologists looked at the physical and emotional toll of menopause, such as the impact on work and personal lives. They conducted a series of interviews with 60 women aged 45 to 61 between March and June 2021. Their findings are published in the book, We Need to Talk About Menopause.

The information gap is real

Experts note that there is a gap between the surge of menopause information available online and the quality of medical care women receive. Their symptoms are too often minimised or dismissed by doctors. The interviews revealed how women continue to ‘needlessly suffer’, as they have to sort through misinformation provided by influencers, celebrities, and so-called experts.

“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,” Dr Anne Bowker, Dr Janet Mantler, Dr Emma Bider, and Chizorom Ogbuagu say.

The participants in the study also shared the experiences they had while consulting a doctor. Some felt they could have an open dialogue, while others revealed they were ‘shut down’. Women were even told they were ‘too young’ for menopause. One woman revealed that she bled heavily for a year, but her concerns weren’t taken seriously.

Dismissed, doubted and sent home

According to the experts, even the definition of menopause is unclear. Some regard menopause as a medical condition and others as a natural part of ageing. Moreover, there are over 100 recognised symptoms, yet some women experience none.

Here, about 78% of women reported weight gain and redistribution, particularly around the belly area, during menopause. This weight gain was resistant to diet and exercise. Additionally, 58% of women experienced mood disturbances, including anxiety, depression, irritability, and unprecedented levels of rage.

Some women reported that they were being blindsided by symptoms they never knew existed. One participant discovered that rage was a menopause symptom only after watching a television commercial. The researchers noted that the cognitive effects can be equally concerning. The participants described severe memory problems and brain fog, which their colleagues often mistake for incompetence.

Online misinformation

About 70% of women turn to the internet as their primary source of menopause information, according to Statistics Canada. The lack of clear information has led to a £14.7 billion global ‘meno-tech’ industry, with influencers, celebrities, and telehealth companies selling products such as expensive creams and unnecessary blood tests.

“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,” the authors explain.

“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,” they added.

The workplace impact

According to the Office for National Statistics, 14 million workdays are lost each year in Britain due to menopause, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee has warned, calling it ‘haemorrhaging talent’. Despite this, studies suggest that 80% of UK employers have not implemented proper support measures for menopausal women.

Experts suggest that simple workplace accommodations made a significant difference for some. “We brought in fans; that’s the only thing I’d say. Fans to cool us down,” Kale, 52, said.

Mila, 51, noted: “I was able to work at different times, I was able to fit in any kind of appointment that I needed to go to; I had a lot of flexibility to deal with it.”

“You don’t want to feel like you’re asking for special consideration, or, you know, you don’t want to be a high-maintenance person, but it’s like—you are high-maintenance because your body’s going through these ridiculous changes,” Blue, 53, added.

The authors stressed that society must accept the fact that there is no ‘right way’ to navigate this normal life transition. Open conversation is crucial to combat the stigma around it.

“I think it’s worth reinforcing that we need to talk about this more openly, because it does come as a big surprise. And I can’t tell you how many of my friends, including me, have said, ‘Why didn’t anybody warn me about this?’” Bronwyn, 58, said.