Lived Experience and Perceptions of Menopause Among Patients Participating in the Multidisciplinary Care Pathways at Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital

Conditions

• Menopause

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

FEMALE

Age

45 Years - 60 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Focus Group — OTHER
  Women will participate in a focus group to discuss their Experiences and Perceptions of Menopause

Study Details

Menopause, often reduced to its biological aspects, is increasingly studied through medical, psychological, social, and cultural lenses. Women's experiences vary widely depending on context-country, era, and social status. Their perceptions are ambivalent: while some associate menopause with the end of fertility and burdensome physical symptoms (hot flashes, joint pain, sleep disorders, mood swings, brain fog, vaginal dryness, low libido, weight gain), others see it as a liberating phase, free from reproductive expectations. Surprisingly, 87% of women report a positive experience of menopause itself, though the transitional phase is less well-tolerated (78%). In France, where women's life expectancy is 87, they spend a third of their lives post-menopause. Yet, menopause remains a taboo subject. While 87% of women aged 50-65 experience at least one symptom beyond the cessation of menstruation, 25% suffer severe symptoms. The silence around menopause is striking: 48% of women under 50 find it difficult to discuss, 39% of pre-menopausal women feel anxious, 46% have never discussed it with their partner, and only 61% have consulted a healthcare professional. This silence stems from outdated sexist views, societal valorization of youth, lack of intergenerational dialogue, and insufficient targeted health policies, leading to isolation and invisibility. Medical support often focuses on a biomedical model, particularly Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which remains controversial since the 2002 WHI study. Only 2.5% of French women over 45 currently use HRT, and 45.4% view it negatively. However, women's experiences extend far beyond hormonal concerns. To address these gaps, multidisciplinary programs-such as those at Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital and Toulouse University Hospital-offer group-based approaches, addressing physical, psychological, and relational dimensions. These programs provide a much-needed space for exchange, often absent in traditional care. Research on the benefits of collective discussion spaces (in-person or digital) in menopause care is limited, making it relevant to explore how these programs influence women's perceptions of menopause, their bodies, and their healthcare journey. While qualitative studies have examined individual experiences, few have focused on the dynamics of shared dialogue.

Key Dates

First listed

Mar 4, 2026

Start date

May 31, 2026

Status verified

Feb 2026

Primary completion

Nov 30, 2026

Completion

Mar 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

24 participants (estimated)

Primary Outcome Measure

Identify women's specific Experience and Perceptions of Menopause [ Time Frame: 1 day ]

Central Contacts

• Juliette COURTIADE MAHLER, PhD
  +33144127963
  [email protected]

Find similar trials

Related Studies

• Apple Women's Health Study
  Recruiting · Apple Inc. · Boston, Massachusetts
• Autonomic Regulation of Blood Pressure in Premature and Early Menopausal Women
  Recruiting · University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Hot Flashes and Neurovascular Function in Women
  Recruiting · Mayo Clinic · Rochester, Minnesota
• The Cardiovascular Impact of Hot Flushes
  Recruiting · University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, Minnesota