JAMA Study Finds Doctors Miss Menopause Symptoms 2.6 to 3.6 Times More Often Than Women Report Online
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 23
JAMA Study Finds Doctors Miss Menopause Symptoms 2.6 to 3.6 Times More Often Than Women Report Online
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 23
Summary
A July JAMA Network Open study compared Reddit menopause posts with UCSF electronic health records and found cognitive and emotional symptoms appeared 2.6 to 3.6 times more often online than in doctors’ notes.
Clinical records were more likely to capture hot flashes, night sweats and hormone therapy, while women online more often described brain fog, anxiety, anger, sadness and a broader sense of not feeling like themselves.
Researchers and clinicians said the gap stems from menopause care training deficits, symptoms being mislabeled as depression, anxiety or dementia, and some women stopping reporting problems after dismissal.
The blind spot is compounded by midlife caregiving pressures—one study found 87% did not seek care for menopause symptoms, mostly because they were too busy.
Experts said treatment can include hormone therapy when sleep-disrupting vasomotor symptoms are involved, CBT-I for insomnia, and targeted psychiatric medications, ideally from menopause-trained providers.