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Most women don’t seek medical care for menopause symptoms

Mayo Clinic survey finds menopause ‘under‐recognized and undertreated’

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Mark Huffman
Reporter

Mark Huffman has covered consumer issues since 2004, with a special focus on protecting and empowering older adults. A former news correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network, Westwood One, and ConsumerAffairs, Mark brings decades of journalistic experience to RetirementLiving.com. He is passionate about giving consumers a voice and helping them make informed decisions. Mark has also created educational content, including Senior Scam Alert, a video resource designed to help seniors recognize and avoid fraud. He holds a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and lives with his family in Richmond, Virginia.
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Key Insights

  • A new study by Mayo Clinic finds that more than 75% of women aged 45-60 who reported menopause symptoms had not sought medical care for them.
  • Among the nearly 5,000 women surveyed, 34% reported moderate to very severe symptoms, including sleep disturbances and weight gain — yet only about 25% were receiving any treatment.
  • Researchers call for better screening tools, digital apps and proactive engagement by healthcare providers to address what they describe as a major treatment gap in midlife women’s health.

While the transition through menopause is nearly universal for midlife women, a newly published study from the Mayo Clinic reveals a striking disconnect: the majority of women experiencing menopause-related symptoms are navigating this life stage without seeking medical support.

The study, published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, surveyed nearly 5,000 women between ages 45 and 60 across four Mayo Clinic primary-care sites. It found that over three-quarters of those women reported experiencing symptoms associated with menopause. 

Despite the frequency of symptoms and the availability of “safe and effective treatment options”, the researchers conclude that menopause symptoms remain “under‐recognized, undertreated and inadequately addressed in the health-care system.”

Significant symptom burden, limited care

Of particular concern: 34% of respondents reported their symptoms as moderate to very severe. The most commonly reported issues were sleep disturbances and weight gain — each cited by more than half of participants. 

Yet, more than 80% of the women in the survey had not sought medical care for their menopause symptoms. Many said they preferred to manage symptoms on their own; others cited being too busy or unaware that effective treatments existed. Meanwhile, only about one in four were receiving any form of treatment at the time of the survey. 

“Menopause is universal for women at midlife, the symptoms are common and disruptive, and yet, few women are receiving care that could help them,” said lead author Dr. Ekta Kapoor, an endocrinologist and menopause specialist at the Mayo Clinic. She emphasized that the care gap has “real consequences for women’s health and quality of life.”

Implications for quality of life

The study highlights that untreated menopause symptoms can negatively affect sleep, mood, cognition and productivity — both at work and at home. 

Because of this, the Mayo Clinic team said healthcare providers should more proactively screen for menopause symptoms and engage patients in discussions about management options — rather than waiting for women to raise the issue themselves. 

For women experiencing sleep issues, weight changes, mood shifts or other midlife symptoms, the study suggests benefit in initiating a conversation with their healthcare provider — even if they’ve assumed the symptoms are simply “part of life.”