Misinformation about perimenopause on social media ‘putting women at risk’

Misinformation about perimenopause is putting women at risk of unintended pregnancies, unnecessary medication and missed diagnoses, experts have said. Awareness of menopause and treatments such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been raised by efforts including a prominent documentary by Davina McCall. But as a growing number of women encounter misleading information on social media, there are concerns that some could be led to false conclusions that can obscure real underlying health difficulties. “Everyone thinks they’re menopausal,” said Dr Paula Briggs, a consultant in sexual and reproductive health. “So we are seeing younger and younger women asking for HRT when what they need is hormonal contraception, as they’re still fertile. “I work in an abortion service and we’re seeing more women over 35 now who believe themselves to be menopausal and are gobsmacked when they become pregnant.” According to the British Menopause Society (BMS), more than 80% of women will be menopausal by the age of 54 – meaning they haven’t had a period for 12 months or more – with about 5% of women reaching menopause before the age of 45 . But menopause is not a sudden cessation: instead, women experience a transition, known as perimenopause , over a period of months or years. During this time hormone levels fluctuate and can result in symptoms such as a change in menstrual patterns, hot flushes and difficulty sleeping. Briggs said misinformation around perimenopause is concerning. …