Nine in ten women were never educated about the menopause

More than 90% of postmenopausal women were never taught about the menopause at school and over 60% only started looking for information about it once their symptoms had started, finds a new UCL-led study. In the study, published in Post Reproductive Health , researchers collected data from 829 postmenopausal women through an online survey in May 2021. They found that 49% of participants did not feel informed about the menopause and 62.7% had found it either difficult or very difficult - with women describing their experiences as a "nightmare" and "awful". Many women also lamented not knowing what to expect, with many citing night sweats and hot flushes as the only symptoms they had been aware of prior to starting the menopause. Now participants are calling for better education, knowledge and understanding of symptoms, alongside easier access to treatment and improved feelings and attitudes towards the menopause. Professor Joyce Harper (UCL EGA Institute of Women's Health) said: "This study is important as it provides insight into the lived experiences of postmenopausal women, which is a scarce area of research. "The data shows that women have a lack of education about this key life stage.