New research uncovers Australian women are often reluctant to openly talk about menopause, despite its impact

• 82 per cent of women who have experienced menopause symptoms report impacts on quality of life, but up to nearly half don’t feel comfortable talking about it to people outside of close family and friends.¹
• Hot flushes, night sweats, tiredness and trouble sleeping were the most common symptoms reported.¹
• Ahead of World Menopause Day, women across Australia are uniting through a new Taking Control of Menopause initiative to bring conversations out of the shadows.

SYDNEY, 17 OCTOBER, 2024 – New research shows that despite 82 per cent of women who have experienced menopause symptoms reporting impacts on their quality of life, many don’t feel comfortable openly talking about what they are experiencing with those around them. This includes nearly half (44%) who don’t feel comfortable talking to their employer, a quarter (25%) who don’t feel comfortable talking to their work colleagues and one in five (22%) who don’t feel comfortable talking to their children about menopause.¹

The results also showed that while 8 out of 10 women feel comfortable talking to their doctors (84%), only 57 per cent of those who have experienced or are experiencing menopause have sought medical advice.¹ When conversations with doctors do happen, 32 per cent of women don’t know what to ask.¹

The findings were captured in a quantitative survey of 1,000 women in Australia aged 40–65 commissioned by Astellas Pharma Australia Pty Ltd in September 2024.¹

Menopause can significantly impact quality of life.² Among the women surveyed, hot flushes and night sweats were the most commonly reported symptoms.¹ This was followed by tiredness, trouble sleeping, weight gain, mood changes, and brain fog and forgetfulness.¹ Nearly 40 per cent of women who had experienced menopause reported it moderately (26%) or significantly (11%) affected their quality of life.¹

Dr Elina Safro, GP and Chair of the Education subcommittee of the Board of Australasian Menopause Society, says it is crucial for women to feel empowered to discuss menopause symptoms with their families, friends, employers and with their doctors. “Many women may hesitate to voice their concerns, but open communication, including sharing the impact that menopause may be having on one’s life, is key. There are many options available to support them, from lifestyle adjustments to effective, evidence-based medical treatments.”

The survey unveiled that lingering stigmas surrounding menopause may continue to affect women today. Two-thirds (67%) of the women surveyed said their mothers or other significant females in their lives never discussed menopause openly.¹ And conversations, when they happened, were often shrouded in euphemisms such as “the change” or “the change of life”.¹

Journalist and women’s health advocate Shelly Horton has teamed up with women from across Australia to launch the Taking Control of Menopause initiative.

Shelly explains: “We’re seeing a growing, powerful shift in how menopause is spoken about and prioritised across Australia. Many women are already breaking away from historical stigmas, boldly sharing their experiences and supporting one another. We must build on this momentum. The Taking Control of Menopause initiative is all about amplifying these voices, supporting open conversations around menopause and connecting more women to vital support and information. This will help women prioritise their health.”

Along with sharing first-hand stories from women across Australia and resources, the Taking Control of Menopause initiative outlines three simple steps for women who would like support to start taking control of their menopause:

• Talk to your doctor about menopause symptoms
• Tell them about the impact it’s having on your life
• Ask them what options are right for you.

Anyone can visit www.takecontrolofmenopause.com.au to learn more about menopause.

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Issued by SenateSHJ on behalf of Astellas Pharma Australia Pty Ltd. For further information, please contact: 

About the survey

The quantitative research survey was undertaken to canvass women’s understanding and practices around menopause. The survey was conducted between 16–20 September 2024, from a statistically representative sample of n=1,000 women aged 40–65 years across Australia from metropolitan, rural and regional areas.

Further results from the survey¹

• Of the women who have experienced or are currently experiencing menopause (n=761), 82% report that it has affected their quality of life (n=622).
  • This includes 26% who report being moderately affected and 11% who report being significantly affected.
• For women who have experienced or are currently experiencing menopause and report that it has affected their quality of life (n=622):
  • 78% said they feel comfortable talking to friends about menopause, 6% said they feel uncomfortable, 14% said they feel neutral, and 2% said this was not applicable to them.
  • 58% said they feel comfortable talking to their partner/spouse about menopause, 8% said they feel uncomfortable, 8% said they feel neutral, and 26% said this was not applicable to them.
  • 39% said they feel comfortable talking to their children about menopause, 22% said they feel uncomfortable, 19% said they feel neutral, and 20% said this was not applicable to them.
  • 84% said they feel comfortable talking to their healthcare provider/GP about menopause, 7% said they feel uncomfortable, 8% said they feel neutral, and 1% reporting this was not applicable to them.
  • 14% said they feel comfortable talking to their employer about menopause, 44% said they feel uncomfortable, 18% said they feel neutral, and 24% said this was not applicable to them.
  • 35% said they feel comfortable talking to their work colleagues about menopause, 25% said they feel uncomfortable, 20% said they feel neutral, and 15% said this was not applicable to them.
• Of the women who have experienced or are currently experiencing menopause (n=761):
  • 71% experienced hot flushes and/or night sweats
  • 63% experienced tiredness
  • 62% experienced trouble sleeping
  • 58% experienced weight gain
  • 55% experienced mood changes
  • 52% experienced brain fog / forgetfulness.
• Of the women who have or had experienced menopause and discussed it with their GP or healthcare provider (n=432), 32% said ‘not knowing what to ask’ was a barrier or challenge in discussing menopause.
• 67% of women reported that their mothers or other significant women in their lives never discussed menopause openly. When conversations did happen, menopause was often referred to as:
  • Menopause (73%)
  • The change of life (50%)
  • The change (26%)

About Taking Control of Menopause

The Taking Control of Menopause initiative is created to empower women to have the conversations they want about their menopause symptoms. It seeks to address women’s barriers by connecting them to support, information and through the sharing of personal experiences.

The initiative has been co-created with women with lived experience from across Australia, sharing their experiences and insights. Eight women, each bringing unique perspectives from their lived experience, participated in a series of three comprehensive panel meetings to collaboratively share the direction and messaging of the Taking Control initiative.

Three women featured in the Taking Control initiative have courageously stepped forward to share their journeys, they do so to ensure that others navigating menopause feel seen, heard and supported in their own experiences.

It is sponsored by Astellas Pharma Australia Pty Ltd and is intended for use by Australian residents only. To learn more, visit www.takecontrolofmenopause.com.au.

Astellas Pharma Australia Pty Ltd

Suite 2.01, 2 Banfield Road, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113

Astellas Medical Information Contact: 1800 751 755 or aaumedinfo@astellas.com

About Astellas

Astellas is a global pharmaceutical company, working at the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients. At Astellas, meeting unmet patient needs goes beyond delivering innovative therapies. As part of our commitment to mid-life women’s health, we are investing in awareness and educational initiatives, to provide women with the tools needed to advocate for themselves and feel empowered to have informed conversations with their healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/au

References

1. Astellas Pharma Australia Pty Ltd. Data on file, September 2024.
2. Whiteley J, DiBonaventura Md, Wagner JS, Alvir J, Shah S. The impact of menopausal symptoms on quality of life, productivity, and economic outcomes. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2013 Nov;22(11):983-90. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2012.3719. Epub 2013 Oct 1. PMID: 24083674; PMCID: PMC3820128.