Researchers in Spain talked to 18 women about their experiences during menopause and the years leading up to it. Women described hot flashes, sleep problems, mood changes, and other physical symptoms. They also shared how they coped with these changes using exercise, diet changes, and support from friends and family. However, many felt frustrated because doctors didn’t give them enough help and society didn’t take menopause seriously. This study shows that menopause affects women’s bodies, emotions, relationships, and how they feel about themselves—and that women need better support from healthcare providers and their communities.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How women experience menopause, including physical symptoms, emotional changes, ways they cope, and how society treats this life stage
  • Who participated: 18 women in Spain who were going through or had gone through menopause, ranging from early stages to after menopause ended
  • Key finding: Women experience menopause as a major life change affecting their bodies, emotions, relationships, and sense of self. While many develop their own coping strategies, they often feel unsupported by doctors and judged by society
  • What it means for you: If you’re going through menopause, know that what you’re experiencing is normal and shared by many women. You deserve better support from healthcare providers and understanding from your community. Talking about your experience and seeking support can help you feel less alone

The Research Details

This study used a qualitative research approach, which means researchers focused on understanding women’s personal stories and experiences rather than collecting numbers and statistics. The researchers interviewed 18 women in Spain one-on-one, asking them open-ended questions about their menopause experiences. These conversations were recorded and written down word-for-word, then carefully analyzed to find common themes and patterns in what women shared.

The researchers used a method called thematic analysis, which is like sorting through stories to find the main ideas that keep coming up. They used special software to organize and track these themes. To make sure their findings were accurate, they checked their work in multiple ways: they had different team members review the data, they asked some women to confirm that the researchers understood their stories correctly, and they looked at the information from different angles.

This research approach is important because menopause is a deeply personal experience that numbers alone can’t capture. By listening to women’s actual stories, researchers can understand not just what symptoms women have, but how those symptoms affect their daily lives, relationships, and sense of identity. This type of research also reveals important social and cultural factors—like stigma and lack of support—that numbers-based studies might miss. Understanding these real-life experiences helps doctors and policymakers create better support systems.

This study has several strengths: the researchers used established qualitative research methods, they checked their findings multiple ways to ensure accuracy, and they included women at different stages of menopause. However, this study is relatively small (18 women) and focused only on Spain, so the findings may not apply exactly the same way to women in other countries with different cultures and healthcare systems. The study captures rich personal experiences but cannot tell us how common specific symptoms or experiences are across all women.

What the Results Show

The study identified three main themes in women’s menopause experiences. First, women described significant physical and emotional changes: hot flashes and night sweats, trouble sleeping, joint and muscle pain, vaginal dryness, loss of sexual desire, anxiety, sadness, and irritability. These symptoms varied from woman to woman and changed over time.

Second, women developed their own ways of coping, including exercise, changing their diet, practicing relaxation techniques like meditation, and relying on support from family and friends. However, many women felt disappointed with their healthcare experiences, saying doctors didn’t listen well, didn’t explain things clearly, or offered limited help.

Third, women described feeling stigmatized and invisible in society. They felt that menopause wasn’t taken seriously, that family members and coworkers didn’t understand what they were going through, and that there was shame or embarrassment around discussing menopause openly. This social isolation made their experience harder.

Beyond the main themes, women also described how menopause affected their sexual relationships and intimacy, their confidence at work, and their overall sense of identity. Some women felt like their bodies were betraying them or that they were becoming invisible as they aged. The research also revealed that women wanted more information about menopause and better communication with healthcare providers. Many felt that menopause should be discussed more openly in schools, workplaces, and families so that younger women would be better prepared and society would be more supportive.

This study aligns with previous research showing that menopause involves multiple physical and emotional symptoms. However, it adds important new insights by highlighting how much social stigma and lack of healthcare support affect women’s experiences. While earlier studies often focused on individual symptoms, this research shows that menopause is really a whole-life transition that involves body, mind, relationships, and social identity. The findings support what many women have been saying: that menopause needs to be treated as a serious health and social issue, not something women should just ‘deal with’ quietly.

This study has several important limitations to keep in mind. First, it included only 18 women from Spain, so the findings may not apply the same way to women in other countries, cultures, or with different healthcare systems. Second, the study relied on women’s memories and willingness to share personal experiences, which can be affected by how comfortable women felt talking about menopause. Third, the study didn’t include information about women’s age, ethnicity, or other background details that might affect their experiences. Finally, because this is a qualitative study focused on understanding experiences rather than measuring how common things are, we can’t say what percentage of all women have these experiences.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, here are evidence-based suggestions: (1) Healthcare providers should listen carefully to women’s menopause experiences and provide personalized support rather than one-size-fits-all answers (high confidence). (2) Women may benefit from exercise, dietary changes, and relaxation techniques as part of managing symptoms (moderate confidence, based on women’s reported experiences). (3) Social support from family, friends, and support groups appears helpful for coping (moderate to high confidence). (4) Society needs better education about menopause to reduce stigma and improve support (high confidence based on women’s reported needs). If symptoms are significantly affecting your life, talk with your healthcare provider about options that might help.

This research is most relevant to women who are approaching, going through, or have recently completed menopause. It’s also important for family members, friends, coworkers, and healthcare providers who want to better understand and support women during this life stage. Employers and policymakers should care about these findings because better menopause support can improve women’s wellbeing and workplace productivity. This research is less directly applicable to men, though it may help them understand what women in their lives are experiencing.

Changes don’t happen overnight. Women in this study used coping strategies over weeks and months to manage symptoms. If you try exercise or dietary changes, give yourself at least 4-8 weeks to notice improvements. Emotional and social benefits from increased support and reduced stigma may take longer—sometimes months—as you build new relationships and change how you think about this life stage. If you’re considering medical treatments, ask your healthcare provider about realistic timelines for seeing benefits.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your menopause symptoms daily using a simple rating scale (1-10) for hot flashes, sleep quality, mood, and energy levels. Also note what coping strategies you used each day (exercise, relaxation, social connection) and rate how helpful they were. This helps you identify which strategies work best for you and notice patterns in your symptoms.
  • Use the app to schedule and remind yourself to do one coping activity daily: a 20-minute walk, 10 minutes of deep breathing, a healthy meal, or a call to a friend. Start with one activity and add others gradually. Track which activities make you feel better, and celebrate small wins to build motivation.
  • Review your symptom and coping data weekly to see what’s working. Look for patterns—do symptoms get worse at certain times? Do certain activities help more than others? Share this information with your healthcare provider to guide treatment decisions. Over months, you’ll build a personalized menopause management plan based on your actual experiences rather than guessing.

This research describes women’s personal experiences with menopause based on interviews with 18 women in Spain. While these experiences are real and important, this study cannot tell us how common specific symptoms are or predict what any individual woman will experience. Menopause symptoms and experiences vary widely from person to person. If you’re experiencing menopause symptoms that are affecting your quality of life, please talk with your healthcare provider about options that might help you. This information is educational and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine or starting new treatments.