Evaluating menopausal symptom burden and treatment engagement in a predominantly Hispanic population on the United States-Mexico border.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate menopausal symptom burden, health care engagement, and treatment disparities among postmenopausal women at the United States-Mexico border.

Methods: A cross-sectional bilingual survey was administered to postmenopausal women receiving care from 2021 to 2024 at a tertiary care center. Menopausal symptoms, treatment use, and health care clinician engagement were assessed. Associations were evaluated using multivariable logistic or Poisson regression.

Results: Among 340 postmenopausal participants (mean age: 55.8 ± 7.0 y), the most frequently reported symptoms were sleep disturbances (73%; 95% CI: 68%-77%) and weight gain (68%; 95% CI: 63%-73%). Despite this high symptom burden, 58% (95% CI: 52%-63%) reported that their symptoms had never been addressed by a clinician. Younger participants (<55 y) had higher odds of vasomotor, sleep, and mood symptoms (all P<0.01), while older participants were more likely to have discussed menopause with a clinician (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.86; 95% CI: 1.16-2.97, P= 0.01) or used hormone therapy (aOR 2.91; 95% CI: 1.53-5.50, P= 0.001). Higher education was associated with hormone therapy use (aOR: 5.63; 95% CI: 1.09-29.08; P= 0.039) and mental health treatment (aOR: 4.11; 95% CI: 1.30-13.02; P= 0.016). Despite similar symptom prevalence, Hispanic participants were less likely to have received mental health treatment (aOR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.19-0.65; P= 0.001).

Conclusions: Menopausal symptoms were common in this border-region cohort, yet clinician engagement and treatment use were low. Socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in treatment highlight the need for culturally and linguistically tailored menopause care.