A new survey of U.S. women aged 35-54 found that while menopause symptoms are common and 70% of women surveyed report effects on their mood or mental health, only three in ten have sought or received support for these challenges. This survey was commissioned by OLLY, the leading wellness brand known for innovative benefit-forward supplements, in partnership with Carrot, a global, comprehensive fertility and family care platform.
OLLY and Carrot engaged Ipsos, a global market research firm, to conduct a survey to better understand how perimenopause and menopause affects women today and to shed light on the need for increased support and resources during an often-overlooked stage of life. The survey asked 3,000 American women between 35 and 54 years old about how prepared they feel for perimenopause and menopause and the impact it has on their lifestyle, relationships, careers and more.
In addition to the impact on emotional and mental health, the survey found that symptoms are widespread, with one-third of women experiencing menopause symptoms reporting three or more occurrences per day of symptoms, such as hot flashes. Additional findings included:
- Workplace support gap: Eleven percent of women aged 35-54 in the workforce are aware of formal HR benefits addressing menopause, and 64% of these women say that their workplaces offer no formal benefits through human resources. This lack of support is noticed, as 23% of women reported that a lack of offerings reflects negatively on the employer.
- Dismissed or minimized symptoms: Of those who have sought healthcare, three in five were acknowledged and offered options, while one in five were acknowledged but not taken seriously, and the remaining one in five were dismissed, minimized, or referred to another provider.
- Information disconnect: While 45% of women aged 35-54 mention hearing about menopause or perimenopause-related content on social media, only 34% have heard about it in a medical setting. Twenty-two percent report finding it difficult to access reliable information about menopause or perimenopause.
- Impact on relationships: Fifty-four percent of women aged 35-54 experiencing menopause symptoms report that menopause had an impact on their sex life or relationships, such as reduced libido (46%) and vaginal dryness (35%). In contrast, 11% of women report finding increased satisfaction.
The survey underscores the need for more education and resources, particularly in the workplace. Eleven percent of women surveyed were aware of formal HR benefits addressing menopause and 14% said some form of support is offered in the workplace. In addition, roughly half (45%) of the employed women surveyed who have experienced menopause symptoms report at least some impact on their work performance, and almost one-quarter (23%) have considered reducing their work hours.
OLLY and Carrot are committed to supporting women in all phases of life, advocating for more education and resources to provide women with what they need.
