Menopause information you can trust

Dr Magdalena Cybulska
Mar 24
3 min read

Updated: Apr 1

Many patients tell me they had been so profoundly affected by menopausal symptoms that they literally crave having a thorough understanding of what is exactly happening to them.

This transition is nothing like they have imagined before or heard from friends. And each one thinks their case is different – and they are right!

Every woman has her own, unique experience of menopause. Some suffer deeply, while others have no symptoms at all.

For me as a GP, it is important to understand and accept both scenarios: I see myself as a guide and a partner to my patients – one that gives them information and supports whatever decision they make regarding managing their menopause.

Whether deeply symptomatic or not, there is usually this common theme: patients are hungry for knowledge.

You are probably the same - first and foremost, you want information.

Do you search the internet tirelessly, to find answers? You can’t complain there is no information – the web is quite flooded with advice on menopause. But which websites can you trust? My advice is this: believe the ones that diligently reference their articles with research papers from reputable journals. Avoid misinformation and misinterpretation. If in doubt, always ask your doctor, rather than relying on unverified sources.

In this post I want to give you an overview of recent research on menopause.

A whole series of articles was published just ahead of International Women's Day in March 2024 in one the most reputable medical journals: The Lancet. This is certainly a source that you can trust!

Here is the summary of some of these articles which I ‘translated from medical language into English’ for you.

In the Editorial...

...the authors warn against over-medicalisation of the menopause, recognising that hormonal therapy is not an answer for everyone. They stress the importance of not downplaying the risks of hormones – although undoubtedly effective - this is not a solution that fits all clinical scenarios.

An article on empowerment model for managing menopause...

...argues menopause management should be much more holistic than just focusing on oestrogen deficiency. Instead, the patient needs to be informed and listened to. She needs to be recognised as an expert in her own health who is given the power to make decisions about it, with assistance from healthcare professionals.

A paper about promoting good mental health over the menopause transition...

...constitutes strong research evidence, as it reviewed 12 different studies. In summary, this robust review found no strong indication for menopause raising the risk for depression, except only for certain sub-groups of patients. For example, those with previous depression, sleep disturbances and stressful life events were vulnerable to depression.

Early menopause is discussed in this paper...

...which clarifies its definition: it can be considered early if experienced by women aged between 40-44 years old. There exists a guideline gap for its management. Consequently, the authors have produced a framework for diagnosis and early menopause management. The key message is that the approach should be individualised and holistic, and in that respect it mimics how any woman with menopause should be managed, regardless of her age at diagnosis.

For more information...

Click here for The Lancet menopause podcast.

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