Navigating the menopausal journey is a profoundly individual experience, as diverse as the women who undergo this transformative phase. This revelation stems from a comprehensive survey involving over 32,000 women, shedding light on the fact that menopausal symptoms are not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon.
Traditionally, night sweats, hot flashes, and cognitive cloudiness are emblematic signs of the menopausal transition, typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55 as hormonal fluctuations take center stage. However, what this survey underscores is that while there are commonalities in women’s experiences, the timing and intensity of this transition can be strikingly unique for each individual.
Phenology, a supplement manufacturer affiliated with Hologram Sciences, a subsidiary of DSM, embarked on this survey to investigate the extent of variation in women’s experiences during menopause. Their premise revolves around the notion that there is no universal remedy for menopause. The survey findings firmly support this perspective. By querying 32,000 women about 16 distinct symptoms, the survey uncovered an astounding “15,000 unique menopausal symptom profiles,” revealing that very few women share the exact same constellation of symptoms. On average, women reported encountering nine distinct symptoms. This average increased from eight during the late reproductive stage to eleven during late postmenopause. Notably, the nature of these symptoms evolved over time, with emotional symptoms taking precedence in early perimenopause. Mood swings, in this phase, eclipsed hot flashes, with 72% and 49% of women, respectively, reporting these symptoms.
Phenology’s study also quantified the variability in the timing of different menopausal stages, categorizing them as early perimenopause, late perimenopause, early postmenopause, and late postmenopause. Interestingly, the age of 50 fell within the 25th to 75th percentile range for all four stages, signifying that at this age, some women were just embarking on their menopausal journey while others were nearing its culmination.
The dynamic landscape of menopause relief options has led to the emergence of various approaches. Supplement providers like Phenology compete with hormone replacement therapy, which effectively alleviates most menopausal symptoms, and pharmaceutical companies developing targeted treatments for specific aspects of menopause. Astellas, for instance, is intensifying its marketing efforts for Veozah, a drug aimed at addressing hot flashes, while Bayer is in the process of crafting a competitive therapeutic solution.
