A UK study: Menopausal and perimenopausal women’s biopsychosocial experiences, understanding of treatment options, and thoughts towards their future lives

Objective

This study aimed to draw attention and give voice to women’s experiences, knowledge, future thoughts and general understanding of perimenopause and menopause, exploring this natural event holistically through a biopsychosocial lens.

Methods

One focus group of four self-identified perimenopausal or menopausal women was conducted to gather data. Purposive sampling was used to recruit the participants through a social media campaign. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis provided a framework to study this important topic through exploring and examining lived experiences in a small group sample size, using the framework’s seven-step data analysis to identify key themes within the data.

Results

Four main group experiential themes were highlighted through analysis of the participants' responses: (1) onset and impact of symptoms, (2) menopause and relationships, (3) the knowledge gap, and (4) future thoughts: a desire for change. A prominent overarching theme involved the participants showing less concern for how they were being personally affected by their climacteric experience but demonstrating greater concern for the impact of their perimenopause or menopause experience upon others. This overarching theme was evident within all four group experiential themes.

Conclusions

The participants were deeply concerned about how their symptoms affected others. They had limited knowledge when their own symptoms started, but after seeking support, particularly from people with lived experiences rather than academic literature, they became inspired to be a part of bringing about change for the next generation, so that in the future menopause experiences would not occur so unexpectedly for others.