Misinformation is Preventing Most Women from Getting Menopause Treatments: What to Know

Recent research led by Professor Susan Davis from Monash University in Australia reveals that a significant number of women experiencing menopause are not receiving effective treatment for their symptoms. The study highlights the need for more personalized treatment plans that address the wide range of physical and mental symptoms associated with menopause.

The research review, which examined over 200 sources spanning 71 years, found that over 85% of women in high-income countries are not receiving effective, regulator-approved treatment for their menopausal symptoms. This situation arises from misinformation and fear related to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) following adverse effects reported in a landmark 2002 study.

Professor Davis emphasized that symptomatic women are not receiving appropriate therapy, despite the availability of treatments for various menopausal symptoms. These symptoms include sleep disturbances, anxiety, lack of confidence, and vaginal dryness, all of which can significantly impact a woman's quality of life.

“Midlife for women can be pretty tough,” Davis said in an interview with The Guardian. “They’ve got a lot of balls in the air. They’re balancing a lot of things in their life. And then you add into the mix sleep deprivation from hot flushes and night sweats, unexplained waves of anxiety, lack of confidence [and] vaginal dryness so you don’t want to have sex with your partner because it hurts. A whole lot of these symptoms are treatable. But you’re not being treated, and that really impairs your quality of life.”

The study also revealed that hormone therapy is sometimes inappropriately prescribed when alternative treatments, such as addressing blood pressure and cholesterol issues, would be more suitable.

Misinformation surrounding MHT has led to the promotion of ineffective therapies and alternative remedies that lack a solid foundation in scientific evidence.

While the paper acknowledges evidence-based nonhormonal interventions for symptom relief, it emphasizes that the most effective treatment for bothersome menopausal symptoms remains evidence-based menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), which can also have benefits for bone and cardiometabolic health.

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