Black women in the UK are entering menopause severely under informed, under supported, and often dismissed by healthcare professionals, according to new research from the UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health.
Published in the journal Post Reproductive Health, researchers say the study highlights urgent gaps in menopause education and calls for culturally competent care to address longstanding health inequalities.
The study - the first UK wide survey to focus specifically on the menopause experiences of Black women - gathered responses from 377 women aged 40 to 70, with women recruited via adverts on social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Researchers found that 88% of Black women received no menopause education at school, while over half (58%) felt completely uninformed before the age of 40 - with many participants revealing they felt frightened and unprepared when symptoms began.
The survey showed most women sought help only once symptoms were severe, often turning first to friends or social media rather than health services.
Lead author Professor Joyce Harper (UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health) said: "Our findings show a stark picture: many Black women are navigating menopause with far too little information and far too little support.
"This lack of preparation and culturally competent care is leaving many women frightened, dismissed, and struggling alone."
Survey: Black women report being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and misunderstood
More than half (56%) of participants had spoken to a healthcare professional about menopause, but many described the experience as negative.
Women reported being:
- misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression rather than menopause
- offered antidepressants instead of menopause specific treatment
- told they were "too young" to be menopausal, despite experiencing significant symptoms
- met with reluctance to prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT), even when symptoms were severe
Many participants - reflected repeatedly in the qualitative analysis - said their symptoms were not taken seriously, and some felt they had to "self diagnose" to receive appropriate support.
One participant described "medical condescension," while another said "health professionals are poorly equipped to work with Black women."
Researchers say these findings echo national evidence of racial inequality in women’s health outcomes and underline the need for mandatory cultural competence training across the NHS.
The study also found that stigma surrounding menopause remains particularly strong within families and communities. Many women recounted that their mothers or older relatives refused to talk about menopause, leaving them feeling isolated - a recurring theme in the qualitative responses, though not quantified numerically.
Despite this, increasing openness among friends - supported by social media and public conversations - is beginning to strengthen peer support networks.
Participants also described menopause as often "psychologically damaging," with symptoms such as brain fog (66.6%), night sweats (62.9%), anxiety (53.9%), and poor concentration (61.3%) affecting confidence and identity, intimate relationships, and performance at work, with some women reducing hours or leaving their jobs.
However, a smaller number of women described menopause as a positive or empowering time, especially when well prepared and supported.
The most common symptom management strategies were exercise (53%) and nutritional changes (46%). Only 23% used HRT, reflecting the lower uptake among Black women seen in previous studies and the reported reluctance of clinicians to prescribe it.
Call for culturally competent menopause education and support
The authors stress that the findings must prompt change. They recommend:
- mandatory cultural competence training* for healthcare professionals
- early menopause education in schools, supporting the 2019 relationships and sex education curriculum changes
- accessible menopause resources in GP surgeries, including leaflets and videos
- holistic, patient centred approaches, acknowledging women’s preferences for lifestyle measures
- peer supported programmes delivered by and for women from Black communities
Professor Joyce Harper added: "This is the first study to focus specifically on Black women’s experiences of menopause in the UK, and the message is clear - they are being let down. Women told us they were unprepared, unsupported, and often dismissed by healthcare professionals, and reveals deeply entrenched disparities affecting diagnosis, treatment, and trust in medical experts. This must change. Culturally competent care is not optional; it is essential to delivering equitable healthcare."
Co-author, Adebukola Ayoade, National Menopause Lead within the NHS Work Training and Education Directorate, said: "As a post-menopausal Black woman, I know how powerful it is when our stories and realities are acknowledged.
"This research shines a vital light on the lived experiences of Black women during menopause, voices that need to be amplified in the national conversation.
"Understanding their knowledge and attitudes helps us shape more inclusive, culturally competent menopause support.
"This moves us closer to equitable menopause care, as awareness is the first step toward meaningful change in policy, practice, and perception."
In 2024 Professor Harper and colleagues at UCL launched the UK’s first menopause education and support network, known as InTune. The study will further inform the development of the programme for women from diverse backgrounds.
* Training that helps healthcare professionals understand cultural differences and address them appropriately in clinical communication, decision making and patient care.
- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000
