Pre-menopause is the transition period between a woman’s fertile age and menopause, in which ovulation ceases to exist. However, misinformation about this situation has been increasing.
As an increasing number of women encounter misleading information on social media, there are fears that some may be led to wrong conclusions that could hide real health problems.
According to the , misinformation is putting women at risk of unwanted pregnancies, unnecessary medication and misdiagnosis.
“Everyone thinks they are in menopause. Therefore, we are seeing younger and younger women asking for hormone therapy (HRT) when what they need is hormonal contraception, as they are still fertile”, explained the specialist in sexual and reproductive health, Paula Briggs.
On Instagram, for example, women in their 30s are being advised to demand HRT if they can’t sleep or suffer from migraines, and to change their GP if they are refused.
“It’s great that there is public awareness about perimenopause. And I think many doctors are completely unaware of how debilitating its symptoms can be,” said the expert. Channa Jayasena.
“But on the other hand, I think there is a risk that some women are being misdiagnosed when, in fact, have other problems“, he added.
One of the main concerns arising from the misinformation surrounding perimenopause is that women are stop contraceptionthinking that it is no longer necessary.
Experts have also expressed concerns about a rejection of hormonal contraception, even though demand for HRT is growing.
Although they point out that contraception is not a one-size-fits-all issue, there are many progestin-only contraceptives that can be used in conjunction with HRT to protect against pregnancy while also managing symptoms associated with perimenopause.
According to experts, there are modern combined pill methods which are safer for perimenopausal women than traditional combined pills as they contain a natural form of estrogen.
Ultimately, the challenge is to ensure that women receive accurate, evidence-based information to make informed decisions.
