The State of Menopause
- It Starts with Perimenopause
- Women and Aging (It's Complicated)
- The Importance of Male Awareness
- An Up Close Look at Intimacy
- It's Time to Talk
It's time to
destigmatize menopause
In 2021, we published our first survey, gathering responses from over 1,000 women, ages 40-65. Asking about their awareness, feelings, confidants, and treatments, we shared a long-overdue picture of the menopausal journey. This year, we worked to broaden that picture. In 2022, responses from over 2,000 women this year revealed some good and not-so-good news.
The good news is, more perimenopausal women are opening up and seeking resources. Yet, across the board, far too many women still don't have the kind of support they need. Menopause continues to be under-discussed and misunderstood. There's a tremendous opportunity to dispel the silence and stigma surrounding menopause by sharing information and sparking healthy conversation.
Responses from 2,000 women in various stages of menopause revealed some good and not-so good news.
What we set out to learn this year
For 2022, we cast a wider net to understand more broadly the information gaps around perimenopause, aging, intimacy, and the male perspective. Our hope is to inspire open discussion and build support.
- Level of preparedness for perimenopause and menopause, and who women talk to about it.
- Which signs and symptoms of perimenopause are the most universally understood and experienced.
- How women feel about aging, and if or how they experience age bias.
- Level of understanding and support during menopause among male partners, family, and friends.
- The sexual intimacy experience for menopausal women — both physically and emotionally — as well as support from partners.
It starts with perimenopause
This year's survey revealed an information gap between women in their early 40s, more of whom actively discussed perimenopause symptoms with their healthcare providers, versus those in their mid-50s who did not. But all women still need information.
When it comes to perimenopause, women are aware of what it is but aren’t as familiar with specifics and timing. They don’t know when perimenopause starts or treatment options available.
Top 5 things women wish they knew before
going through perimenopause.
- How to relieve symptoms
- What symptoms to expect
- What can trigger symptoms
- That it can affect everyone differently
- Talking about it more openly helps
The highs and lows of perimenopause awareness
- 27% Not aware of common signs/ symptoms of perimenopause
- 30% Not aware of what perimenopause is
- 34% Not aware of when perimenopause typically starts
- 39% Not aware of treatment options for menopause symptoms
38% of women surveyed are more likely to have learned how to take care of themselves during perimenopause vs. 28% who learned prior
34% still don't know how to take care of themselves during perimenopause
What do women want to know about perimenopause?
Woman and aging (it's complicated)
How do menopausal women feel about getting older? For starters, nearly half of menopausal women surveyed don't feel "old" and over 1/3 are anxious about aging and experiencing more age prejudice compared to previous years.
Menopause is associated with aging.
So, how do women feel about aging?
How confident are women about embracing aging?
Women are 2x as likely to feel anxious versus happy about growing older (36% vs 16%).
Too many menopausal women say
there's a negative stereotype to aging.
3 in 10 women don't feel confident about aging. Over 3/5 feel more pro-aging content is needed to address this issue.
Top 10 things women actually like about getting older.
- Caring less about what people think
of them - Not caring as much about trivial things
- Seeing
their
children
grow up - Gaining knowledge/
wisdom - Having
grand-children - More
freedom - Having more time for
loved ones - Being able
to enjoy
their
passions - Stability
- Increasing confidence
Stigma Alert!
Women today are seeing more age prejudice than in previous years.
When it comes to societal attitudes, women surveyed think there is MORE age prejudice now compared to previous years (32% vs 23%). Disturbingly, many also believe there's more pressure to "grow old gracefully" compared to previous years (36% vs 21%).
It seems then, that unfair cultural attitudes are still as strong in 2022 as they've ever been. This could be leading to the reported feelings of anxiety around aging. Additionally, women keep coming back to a broader education about menopause and pro-aging content as a way to lessen stigma. It's time for change we can help.
Women surveyed are over 12x more likely to think more pro-aging content directed at women is needed than less.
What would help women feel
supported in aging?
health
support
conversations
with loved ones
conversations
in the media
It couldn't be clearer. Providing more pro-aging content will create safer spaces for pro-menopause conversations.
The importance of male awareness
Women think men would care more about menopause if they had greater knowledge on the topic. It's time to start the discussion with men earlier, more openly and more often.
Levels of support women feel from the men in their lives.
How well do men truly understand the symptoms of menopause?
How do men come to understand menopausal symptoms in
the first place, according to the women in their lives?
partner learned
from them
a bit prior to their
relationship
knew a lot
before they met
What women say would make them feel more supported by men regarding menopause.
- 41% More menopausal education
- 38% General discussion about women's health
- 28% Research done by men
- 25% Men opening up discussion
The challenge is to help men understand more about menopause. Women are doing their part.
How many women talk openly with men in their life about menopause?
Women find that talking openly leads to positive outcomes.
Women would feel better with more support from men.
(Of course, they would.)
An up close look at intimacy
For many women, menopause makes sex feel less sexy in every way. Whether it's low libido, less confidence, actual pain or weaker orgasms, women often don't know why they feel differently or what to do about it.
Most common symptoms that make intimacy during menopause less enjoyable.
Sexual partner's level of understanding about symptoms during intercourse.
Orgasm-wise, sex could be so much better
for almost half of women.
It's time to talk
The first step to reducing any stigma is having resourses.
It's time to begin a frank and educational discussion about the menopausal journey. Nearly all women recognize it's needed for themselves, their partners, and others.
- Let's talk about the fact that 92% of women want more education around perimenopause and menopause.
- Let's talk about hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disruptions, intimacy issues and all menopause symptoms so more than 6% of women feel prepared.
- Let's talk about agism so we can make sure women going through menopause don't have to go through that, too.
- Let's talk about the supporting role 88% of women think men could play if they knew more about menopause.
- And let's talk about solutions and treatments to this totally natural transition, so women can keep living the rich lives they've built and deserve.