Obstetrics & Gynecology · General Practice · 20 Oct
Survey finds most women with bothersome menopausal symptoms untreated
A US online survey of 253 matched pairs of women experiencing vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and their partners found that 78.7% of women had never received treatment. Participants also reported declines in sexual satisfaction and differences in perceptions of partner support.
- 253 matched US women-partner pairs completed surveys.
- 78.7% of women reported never receiving VMS treatment.
- Partners more often reported encouraging treatment-seeking than women did.
- Sexual satisfaction declines were reported by both groups.
Researchers conducted noninterventional online surveys in May and June 2024 among US women aged 40 to 65 with persistent, bothersome VMS and their partners. The analysis included 253 matched pairs. Women and partners answered similar, but not identical, questions about symptom severity, treatment, relationships and support; responses were self-reported.
Severe VMS were reported by 40.7% of women and 46.3% of partners. Although 73.5% of women said they were highly likely to seek treatment for a health condition, 78.7% reported never having received VMS treatment. Fewer women than partners said the partner encouraged them to understand their symptoms and pursue treatment (48.6% vs 67.2%). A decrease of at least two points in sexual satisfaction was reported by 59.3% of women and 50.5% of partners.
The findings point to reported treatment gaps and differences in how women and partners perceive support. The online, self-reported survey was observational and included women in cohabiting relationships, limiting generalizability; it cannot establish why women had not received treatment or whether better communication would change treatment use.
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Menopause: Bothersome VMS associated with menopause: a survey of the impact on women and their partners in the United States ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.