Little Knowledge About Menopause: Women Mistakenly Consider Contraception Unnecessary During Menopause

The study, conducted on the occasion of World Menopause Day on Saturday, highlights further widening knowledge gaps and the great desire for more openness. Almost every second woman (48 percent) in Austria fears this phase of life. This is four percentage points more than last year. "Menopause is a natural phase in every woman's life. Women have a right to knowledge, support, and exchange and to be taken seriously instead of suffering. It is time to make menopause visible and to speak openly about it," said Gynial Managing Director Elisabeth Pichler in a statement.

Every second woman feels helpless with symptoms

A quarter (25 percent) of Austrian women have never exchanged views with another woman about menopause, as one in five (20 percent) finds the topic uncomfortable. This is three percentage points more than in 2024. Additionally, 16 percent of Austrian women reported negative experiences in open discussions. This starts in private settings and extends to the doctor's office. 59 percent of the women surveyed know men who do not take their partner's behavior during menopause seriously, and 43 percent of women also feel not taken seriously by doctors. This affects women's health: every second woman (50 percent) does not know any measures to alleviate symptoms - among 50 to 59-year-olds, it is even 52 percent.

Menopause: 71 percent want more information

71 percent of respondents want more information about menopause, and for good reason: more than a quarter (28 percent) mistakenly believe that contraception is unnecessary during menopause, and 13 percent even assume that menopause protects against sexually transmitted diseases. Misinformation is particularly widespread among 14 to 19-year-olds (36 percent). Prejudices also persist. Two-thirds (67 percent) of women see women in menopause as being burdened with negative stereotypes, 43 percent feel less respected during this phase of life. One in four (25 percent) believes that women lose attractiveness during menopause. 54 percent of men are convinced: women in menopause are overemotional.

74 percent of respondents believe that men should be more interested in the topic. However, male interest is limited: almost half of the men (47 percent) openly admit that they are not interested in menopause. At the same time, a third (33 percent) of men worry that menopause could strain their relationship. Particularly astonishing: 40 percent of the men surveyed even have more sympathy for the men than for the affected women and often consider the time to be worse for the partners than for the women themselves. "Menopause marks the beginning of a new phase of life. It is high time that we approach this change with more appreciation and strengthen each other. Men, families, and companies are called upon to show women more recognition and support during this phase," said Pichler.

Menopause: Young people want more courageous role models

The study also showed that education must start early: 82 percent of 14 to 19-year-olds want more contact points and information - the highest value of all age groups. At the same time, they find the topic particularly uncomfortable, with a peak value of 44 percent. 88 percent want role models for an open approach. This is important because 59 percent associate menopause with negativity.

The results are based on an online survey by the Marketagent Institute. Between July 30 and August 6, 2025, 1,000 people aged 14 to 75 from across Austria participated. The initial sample was weighted and is representative of the overall Austrian population. The majority of participants (64.8 percent) used a mobile device to participate.

(APA/Red.)

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