Experience and severity of menopause symptoms and effects on health-seeking behaviours: a cross-sectional online survey of community dwelling adults in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Background Almost all women will experience menopause, and the symptoms can have a severely detrimental impact on their quality of life. However, there is limited research exploring health-seeking behaviours and alternative service design or consultation formats. Group consultations have been successfully deployed in perinatal and diabetic care, improving accessibility and outcomes. This cross-sectional online survey was conducted to explore women’s personal experiences of menopause, including perspectives on group consultations. Methods An online survey investigated the experiences of individuals at all stages of menopause and their receptiveness towards group consultations for menopause. Respondents were categorised by menopause stage according to the STRAW + 10 staging system. Associations between menopause stage, acceptability of group consultations and participant demographics were assessed using logistic regression. Results Respondents experienced an average of 10.7 menopausal symptoms, but only 47% of respondents felt they had the knowledge and tools to manage their symptoms. Advice on menopause was sought from a healthcare professional (HCP) by 61% of respondents, the largest trigger for this being severity of symptoms and the main barrier for this was the perception that menopause wasn’t a valid enough reason to seek help. Of the respondents seeking advice from HCPs, 32% were prescribed transdermal HRT, 29% received oral HRT, 19% were offered antidepressants, 18% received local oestrogen and 6% were prescribed testosterone. Over three quarters (77%) of respondents indicated that they would join a group consultation for menopause and would be comfortable sharing their experiences with others (75%). Logistic regression indicated premenopausal respondents were 2.84 times more likely than postmenopausal women to be interested in a group consultation where they can meet or learn from others’ experiences. Conclusions This study highlighted a strong willingness of women aged 35–70 to participate in group consultations for menopause, with motivation being strongest amongst premenopausal women. Low awareness of self-management and lifestyle interventions to manage the symptoms of menopause highlight the need for greater outreach, research and interventions to build knowledge and confidence in the general population at scale. Future studies should focus on investigating the effectiveness and economic impact of menopause group consultations and the lived experience of individuals participating in group consultations.

Does menopause hormone therapy improve symptoms of depression? Findings from a specialized menopause clinic

“…20 In addition, seeking care can permit proactive help and inform women of symptoms that they otherwise would not realize were treatable, further improving quality of life. 20 In addition to prescribing therapies, our clinicians validate symptoms, discuss lifestyle and behavioral approaches, and encourage healthy habits. As such, the antidepressant alone group did show symptom improvement; however, this must be viewed more holistically, as the additional therapies and specialized care may have played a role in these outcomes.…”

“…Furthermore, any consultation occurring at a specialized clinic that involves seeking professional care may improve outcomes. Healthcare professionals can prescribe treatment but also recommend lifestyle changes, which can benefit symptom management 20 . In addition, seeking care can permit proactive help and inform women of symptoms that they otherwise would not realize were treatable, further improving quality of life 20 …”

Barriers to Accessing Effective Treatment and Support for Menopausal Symptoms: A Qualitative Study Capturing the Behaviours, Beliefs and Experiences of Key Stakeholders

“…The findings from this study confirm previous research around women's experiences of menopause; the symptoms they experience and the impact these can have on their quality of life. [6][7][8][9] What this study adds is an understanding that the barriers to accessing effective support for these symptoms are still prevalent, are fuelled by misperceptions and lack of knowledge, and operate at all levels of the healthcare system. The Women's Health Strategy for England published in August 2022, which drew on survey responses from almost 100,000 women and over 400 written submissions from organisations and experts in healthcare, also found that accessing appropriate services for menopause care is difficult.…”

“…Previous research has concentrated on quantifying the number of women who experience menopausal symptoms, the impact of their symptoms, and whether they seek healthcare advice, are offered and, ultimately, take HRT. [5][6][7][8][9] This study aimed to complement and enrich these findings by digging beneath the surface to understand why so few women request help or are offered treatment. The study focuses on the barriers that prevent women from approaching GPs, the barriers preventing GPs from offering treatment and why women refuse HRT.…”

Assessment of Relationship between Lifestyle Behaviors and Severity of Perimenopausal Symptoms among Women

“…Menopausal symptoms affect an estimated 1.5 million women worldwide every year (Fouad et al, 2021). As the world's population ages, it is estimated that by 2030, 1.2 billion females worldwide will have gone through menopause or perimenopause (Huang et al, 2023). 70-80% of women experience subjective symptoms that can negatively affect their quality of life in their personal, social, and professional lives (Giannini et al, 2021).…”