9 OUT OF 10 WOMEN FAIL TO RECOGNISE THE SYMPTOMS OF PERIMENOPAUSE, FINDS LATEST STUDY

Launch of World Perimenopause Day 2019 calls for better education and awareness, as new research reveals early symptoms are wrongly mistaken for ageing, stress, anxiety and depression.

In a study of 1000 women in the UK, 70% of participants have admitted to experiencing perimenopausal symptoms in their 30’s and 40’s, with 90% failing to recognise the immediate link to their fluctuating hormones and instead attributing symptoms to ageing, stress, anxiety and depression.

The findings revealed the link between symptoms and perimenopause taking on average 14 months for women to identify. The most common symptoms experienced included period changes, sleeping problems, hot flushes, anxiety, weight gain, low mood and night sweats, with women typically experiencing a combination of 5 symptoms during the early stages.

While period changes were reported as a common symptom and is often widely regarded as the onset marker of menopause, findings showed 4 in 10 women did not experience this as one of their first symptoms.

Expert gynaecologist and menopause specialist, Anne Henderson, explains “There is barely a part of the body oestrogen doesn't effect. It affects the central nervous system, the skeleton, the cardiac system, the bladder, skin, nails, hair, teeth - everything is impacted. And it is the symptoms related to these areas that women primarily come forward with during the perimenopause.”

The study also found that when the women first experienced symptoms, a third of women either chose not to take any action or decided to Google what they were feeling, as opposed to visiting a GP or speaking to friends and family.

Speaking on the effects of lack of information and awareness, Anne Henderson explains “Some of the commonest questions I get asked are, “am I going mad?” and “is it just me?”. This is probably because very few women associate the profound psychological changes that happen at the menopause with the menopause itself.”

Launched by Health & Her, an award-winning website offering free expert advice on perimenopause and menopause, World Perimenopause Day takes place on October 11th 2019, with an aim to raise awareness around the transitional period into menopause and the management options available, while combating global stigma and a call for better education.

Health & Her offers a first-of-its-kind approach to tackling female health changes, with holistic advice encompassing a range of management approaches as well as access to a digital symptom tool intended to help women access expert advice and products tailored to their needs.

Kate Bache, co-founder of Health & Her, states “With early symptoms often ignored or attributed to other causes, millions of women on a global scale are often left suffering in silence, which can be an isolating feeling.

When the day-to-day becomes challenging, it can be a huge relief for women to join the dots and understand the connection to their fluctuating hormones, so they can seek out management solutions that will work for them.

World Perimenopause Day has been created to educate and inform women - to help them take control of their health in a supported way. Our mission at Health & Her is to support women who are feeling lost and going through the perimenopause and menopause. No two women’s experience is the same, and being aware and able to recognise that your symptoms might be down to fluctuating hormones is the first step to managing them.”

At healthandher.com, women can find free and trusted expert advice on perimenopause and menopause, as well as tried and tested products designed to ease symptoms.
For the month of October, 10% of all sales will be donated to Wellbeing of Women - a UK charity dedicated to improving the health of women by funding medical research into reproductive and gynaecological health.

For more information on World Perimenopause Day, visit
www.healthandher.com/hot-topics/world-perimenopause-day and use #worldperimenopauseday to join the conversation.

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About the research
The research was commissioned by Health & Her and carried out by Censuswide. 1,001 women between the ages of 45-60 were surveyed.

About Health & Her®   
Health & Her® is an award-winning website that aims to cut through the confusion when it comes to female health. Launched in March 2019 with a focus on menopause, the site is the first of its kind to tackle female health changes with holistic advice that takes in a range of approaches. Health & Her® aims to evolve to support women from their first period to way past their last.  
 
The site features a diverse range of experts talking on the biggest ranking menopause questions posed by women online, including articles from expert gynaecologists, leading psychologists, womb yoga teachers, career coaches and celebrity make-up artists.
 
The site also offers a free, digital Menopause Symptom Tool & Tracker to help individuals understand and improve their menopause experience with hot topic news, expert views, first-hand testimonials and hand-picked products carefully curated and recommended by the women who have been there.  

The services provided on the Health & Her website including the symptom tool and access to expert advice, articles, and resources, are not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your own general practitioner, physicians or other health care providers. Information provided on the website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not take or refrain from taking any action based on the content of the website, without first seeking medical advice. In the event of any illness you are required to contact your general practitioner, physician or your nearest hospital, or contact the emergency services, as soon as possible. 
 
Contact: Health & Her
e-Mail: yogita@healthandher.com
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