New approach needed to better prepare and support women during menopause transition, experts say

A new approach to menopause that better prepares and supports women during midlife is needed – going beyond medical treatments, to empower women using high-quality information on symptoms and treatments, empathic clinical care and workplace adjustments as required, says a new four paper Series published in The Lancet.

The misconception of menopause as always being a medical issue which consistently heralds a decline in physical and mental health should be challenged across the whole of society. Many women live rewarding lives during and after menopause, contributing to work, family life and the wider society. Changing the narrative to view menopause as part of healthy aging may better empower women to navigate this life stage and reduce fear and trepidation amongst those who have yet to experience it.”

Martha Hickey, Series Co-Author, Professor, University of Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne

She continues, “The experience of menopause differs for every person. Our Series calls for an individualized approach where women are empowered with accurate, consistent and impartial information to make informed decisions which are right for them over the menopause transition. This may include taking menopause hormone therapy (aka HRT) for symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, which can range from mild to extremely debilitating, after a discussion with their doctor about the risks and benefits. Whilst some women may also choose psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce the psychological impact of hot flushes and night sweats and improve sleep.”

Menopause as a part of healthy aging

In many societies the topic of menopause has long been a taboo subject. Now, countries such as the UK, the USA and Australia are experiencing a ‘menopause moment’, with more open discussion across politics, workplaces and the media.

Whilst welcoming the increase in awareness of menopause, the Series’ authors raise concern about the media’s tendency to focus on extreme negative experiences of menopause, depicting it as an unfortunate and distressing experience heralding a critical downturn in women’s health which can only be solved by hormone replacement.

“Whilst it’s certainly the case that some women have extremely negative experiences of menopause and benefit from hormone therapies, that isn’t the whole picture. The reality is much more complex and varied, with some women reporting neutral experiences and others highlighting good aspects, such as freedom from menstruation and menstrual pain. Menopause is having a cultural moment, and this is an opportunity for it to be recognised as a natural part of healthy ageing for women which, with the right preparation and support, is not something to fear,” says Dr Lydia Brown, University of Melbourne. 

There is a widely held belief that menopause is associated with poor mental health, however a review of 12 studies, published as part of the Series, which investigates the association between the menopause transition and depression does not confirm this. Two of the 12 studies report increased depressive symptoms over menopause, but three found no such increase and the remaining seven studies report mixed results. After reviewing these studies and others, the Series’ experts conclude there is no robust evidence that risk of anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis or suicide increases for all women over the menopause transition. 

Empowered women with support across society 

The Series calls for healthcare professionals, researchers, workplaces, and wider society to support the empowerment of women during menopause, ensuring they have the knowledge and self determination to make informed decisions and can seek effective help if needed. 

Healthcare workers can support their patients by validating their experiences and providing balanced and consistent information about symptoms and treatment options if required, encouraging women to discuss their individual preferences to reach shared decisions. 

A review of evidence on menopause symptoms highlights that hot flushes and/or night sweats affect up to 80% of women, with over a third (38%) describing these symptoms as moderate to severe at age 50 years. 

The most effective treatment for hot flushes and night sweats is hormone therapy – often referred to as Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Treating hot flushes may also improve sleep and mood and MHT prevents fractures in weak bones. However, evidence on the benefit of menopause hormone therapy on other symptoms associated with menopause and ageing in women is lacking.

“There are several medications for menopause symptoms available as prescriptions that can be crucial tools in helping some women manage hot flushes and night sweats, possibly also leading to improved sleep and quality of life. These include menopause hormone therapy and non-hormonal alternatives, including newer agents targeting the neurokinin receptor such as fezolinetant. Information about these treatments, their benefits, risks, and comparative effectiveness should be made readily available to women seeking medication with the support of healthcare professionals. MHT is the best-known medication and data suggests it’s slightly more effective than alternative medications for treating hot flushes and night sweats. However, no medication can reliably resolve all negative experiences during menopause and commercial interests have influenced how MHT is presented – overshadowing evidence-based alternative options,” says Dr Andrea La Croix, University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. 

“As well as menopausal hormone therapy, clinicians should discuss additional ways to manage some menopausal symptoms, such as cognitive behavior therapy for hot flushes and night sweats. CBT may also reduce stress and improve sleep and mood. Lifestyle changes addressing diet, smoking and exercise may additionally benefit sleep and mood and improve long-term health. Some don’t wish to take menopause hormone treatment unless their symptoms are severe and prefer to use other approaches. Our Series is all about increasing awareness of evidence-based options for women, so they can choose how they wish to navigate menopause, free from judgment and stigma,” adds Professor Myra Hunter, King’s College London. 

Unfortunately, commercial interests, such as organizations who are marketing menopause products to consumers including pharmaceutical companies and private providers, have strongly influenced media messaging about menopause and MHT. In this messaging, across both news media and social media, the small but serious risks of MHT are often downplayed or ignored. This Series argues that women should have access to accurate and evidence-based information about menopause in a form they can understand, created without undue commercial influence, such as the NIH funded My Meno Plan website in the USA.

The authors also call for more research into aspects of menopause that are a priority for women. For example, a global Menopause Priority Setting Partnership is underway across more than 40 countries to develop a new, patient-focused research agenda.

Workplaces, by the creation of open, inclusive and supportive cultures, have a role to play in supporting women during menopause. According to the UK Health and Safety Executive, women aged 45-54 report more work-related stress than men or women of any other age group, associated with high job demands, lack of control and lack of support. A qualitative study of 137 women reported that women want their managers to be informed and empathetic about menopause and understand how the work environment might exacerbate their symptoms.

The authors highlight how, through resources such Menopause at Work, employers can implement evidence-based and practical policies to support their employees including via education, conversations and flexible working hours. 

In addition to clinicians, researchers and workplaces, the authors highlight the need for a substantial societal shift in the views of midlife and older women, with a greater appreciation of their considerable contribution to society, their skills in the paid and unpaid workforce and how they often care for families across generations, 

“There is a lot we can learn about attitudes to menopause and growing older in general from communities, such as many Asian cultures, where ageing in women confers respect and status, rather than stigma. Everyone can play a part in shifting society’s view of older women by engaging in conversation – such as those organized by the Menopause Cafe where people of all genders and ages gather to discuss menopause and share tips, questions and experiences,” says Rachel Weiss (not an author), founder of Menopause Cafe charity.

She continues, “The pendulum has swung from ‘put up and shut up’ about menopause to sensationalizing it. It’s good that we are talking more about menopause, now we need to swing the pendulum to the middle and normalize menopause, so that anyone who wants to talk about it can, so that people are not scared of it and so that a diverse experience of menopause is depicted in the media, not just celebrity horror stories.” 

Some women need specific care 

Globally, around 10% of women experience menopause prematurely (under age 40) or early (between the ages of 40 and 44). There are often delays in diagnosis and some women experience feelings of distress and isolation. There is also evidence to suggest women who enter premature or early menopause may have an increased risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis (fragile bones). Use of MHT may reduce these risks. 

People with cancer are more likely to experience early menopause or menopause symptoms due to treatment. For example, endocrine therapy for breast cancer can cause hot flushes and/or night sweats that may be more severe and prolonged than natural menopause. Women with cancer often report a lack of centralised care and access to safe and effective treatments for their menopause symptoms. 

Menopause does not usually cause mental health problems, but those with severe hot flushes/night sweats, previous clinical depression or recent stressful life events are at an increased risk of depression. There should be greater awareness and support for this group. Whilst MHT helps with hot flushes and night sweats, it is not a treatment for depression and clinicians should offer evidence-based treatments depending on severity and patient preference. 

Greater awareness, better understanding of mechanisms, new treatments and additional support for people who experience early menopause, menopause after cancer treatment and/or who are at a higher risk of depression over the menopause transition, is urgently needed.

The Series concludes all women should have access to realistic and balanced information about menopause and possible experiences, effective treatment as needed and shared decision-making to better equip them to navigate this life stage.