International evidence suggests that women experience a range of health and wellbeing challenges during menopause, and perimenopause. The current literature highlights the need for women to be educated about menopause, yet limited evidence exists in England about community-based menopause programmes that focus on educating women on this issue.
Study’s objectives:
The objective of this study was to evaluate a gender-specific (women-only) menopause-focused educational programme delivered in one English local authority area.
Setting:
A bespoke educational programme on menopause was delivered to women (n = 146) living in one geographical area, via 10 voluntary and community sector organisations, between July 2023 and March 2024.
Method:
This mixed methods, co-produced evaluation gathered data using pre- and post-course questionnaires (n = 51), learning logs (n = 7), observations of meetings (n = 5) and semi-structured interviews (professionals n = 11; course attendees, n = 7). Differences between pre- and post-test scores were calculated using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and effect sizes were identified. Qualitative data were analysed thematically.
Results:
The programme met its aims. The evaluation data show that this community-based, women-only educational programme was valued by delivery partners and course attendees alike, all of whom noted learning through their participation. Women as course attendees increased their knowledge and were able to use this education to improve their health.
Conclusion:
The programme worked well for the women who accessed it. However, it did not reach all the women who may have needed it, and it was only funded for a short while. Longer term, more sustainable educational provision to educate and inform women about menopause is required.
AljumahRPhillipsSHarperJC (2023) An online survey of postmenopausal women to determine their attitudes and knowledge of the menopause. Post Reproductive Health29(2): 67–84.
2.
ArmeniEMiliNSiliogkaE, et al. (2022) Menopause medical education around the world: The way forward to serve women’s health. Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research26: 100387.
3.
BarberKCharlesA (2023) Barriers to accessing effective treatment and support for menopausal symptoms: A qualitative study capturing the behaviours, beliefs and experiences of key stakeholders. Patient Preference and Adherence17: 2971–2980.
4.
BellotERouseNHunterMS (2018) Reclaim the menopause: A pilot study of an evidence-based menopause course for the symptom management and resilience building. Post Reproductive Health24(2): 79–81.
5.
BMG (2023) Wakefield District Population Health Survey Report. Birmingham: BMG Research.
BrannellyTBarnesM (2022) Researching with Care: Applying Feminist Care Ethics to Research Practice. Bristol: Policy Press.
8.
BraunVClarkeV (2021) Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. London: Sage.
9.
BurginJPyneYHickeyM (2024) Helping women prepare for menopause. British Medical Journal386: 1512.
10.
CowellACGilmourAAtkinsonD (2024) Support mechanisms for women during menopause: Perspectives from social and professional structures. Women4(1): 53–72.
11.
DelanerolleGPhiriPElneilS, et al. (2025) Menopause: A global health and wellbeing issue that needs urgent attention. The Lancet. Global Health13(2): e196–e198.
12.
Department for Work and Pensions (2022) Menopause and the Workplace: How to Enable Fulfilling Working Lives. London: Crown Copyright.
FreemanEWSammelMDSandersRJ (2014) Risk of long-term hot flashes after natural menopause: Evidence from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study cohort. Menopause (New York, NY)21(9): 924–932.
15.
HamodaHMogerS (2022) Developing the women’s health strategy: The British Menopause Society’s recommendations to the department of health and social care’s call for evidence. Post Reproductive Health28(1): 13–18.
16.
HardyCHunterMSGriffithsA (2018) Menopause and work: An overview of UK guidance. Occupational Medicine68: 580–586.
17.
HarperJKeayNRoweF, et al. (2024) The time has come for a UK-wide menopause education and support programme: InTune. Women’s Health (London, England)20: 17455057241277535.
18.
HayfieldNMooreHTerryG (2024) ‘Friends? Supported. Partner? Not so much.’ Women’s experiences of friendships, family and relationships during perimenopause and menopause. Feminism and Psychology34(3): 443–463.
19.
HuangDRGoodshipAWebberI, et al. (2023) Experience and severity of menopause symptoms and effects on health-seeking behaviours: A cross-sectional online survey of community dwelling adults in the United Kingdom. BMC Women’s Health23(1): 373.
20.
JohnJNGormanSScalesD, et al. (2024) Online misleading information about women’s reproductive health: A narrative review. Journal of General Internal Medicine40: 1123–1131.
21.
KilpiFSoaresALGFraserA, et al. (2020) Changes in six domains of cognitive function with reproductive and chronological ageing and sex hormones: A longitudinal study in 2411 UK mid-life women. BMC Women’s Health20: 1–12.
22.
KoyuncuTUnsalAArslantasD (2018) Evaluation of the effectiveness of health education on menopause symptoms and knowledge and attitude in terms of menopause. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health8(1–2): 8–12.
23.
MansourDBarberKChalkG, et al. (2024) The evolving perspective of menopause management in the United Kingdom. Women’s Health (London, England)20: 17455057241288641.
24.
MarshallCZambeauxAAinleyE, et al. (2019) NHS England Always Events® program: Developing a national model for co-production. Patient Experience Journal6(1): 154–165.
25.
McCartneyM (2022) Women need high quality, independent information about the menopause. British Medical Journal379: 2931.
26.
McFeetersCPedlowKMcGinnD, et al. (2024) A rapid review of menopausal education programmes. Archives of Women’s Mental Health27(6): 975–983.
MunnCVaughanLTalaulikarV, et al. (2022) Menopause knowledge and education in women under 40: Results from an online survey. Women’s Health (London, England)18: 17455057221139660.
29.
NappiRENijlandEA (2008) Women’s perception of sexuality around the menopause: Outcomes of a European telephone survey. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology137(1): 10–16.
OpayemiOO (2025) Menopausal transition, uncertain, and women’s identity construction: Understanding the influence of menopause talk with peers and health care providers. Communication Quarterly73: 239–263.
PyneYBurginaJHickeyM (2024) Towards a more accurate global picture of perimenopause. Bulletin of the World Health Organization102: 922–924.
34.
ShawPASumnerALHaltonCC, et al. (2022) ‘You’re more engaged when you’re listening to somebody tell their story’: A qualitative exploration into the mechanisms of the podcast ‘menopause: Unmuted’ for communicating health information. Patient Education and Counseling105(12): 3494–3500.
35.
SipiläSTörmäkangasTSillanpääE, et al. (2020) Muscle and bone mass in middle-aged women: Role of menopausal status and physical activity. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle11(3): 698–709.
36.
SouthJBagnallAMBStansfieldJA, et al. (2019) An evidence-based framework on community-centred approaches for health: England, UK. Health Promotion International34(2): 356–366.
37.
Van PouckeM (2025) Negotiating the maze of menopause misinformation: A comparative analysis of stance in health influencer versus medical professional discourse. Atlantic Journal of Communication33(3): 454–476.
38.
Warwick-BoothLCoanS (2022) Lessons learned from a gender-specific educational programme supporting young women with experience of domestic abuse. Health Education Journal81(8): 952–963.
39.
Warwick-BoothLCoanS (2024) Trauma informed mental health support; qualitative evaluation findings from one voluntary and community sector programme for women experiencing DVA. Journal of Gender Based Violence. Epub ahead of print. DOI: 10.1332/23986808Y2024D000000023.
40.
Warwick-BoothLCrossR (2020) Changing lives, saving lives: Women centred working–an evidence-based model from the UK. Critical Studies15(1): 7–21.
41.
Warwick-BoothLCrossRCoanS (2023) The practices of feminist stakeholders supporting social change and health improvement for women experiencing domestic abuse in England. In: JourdonDPotvinL (eds) Global Handbook on Health Promotion Research. Doing Health Promotion Research Vol. 3. New York: Springer, pp. 93–101.
Warwick-BoothLCrossRWoodallJ (2024) Failures in co-producing evaluation knowledge; power, control and voluntary sector dynamics. Evidence and Policy: Learning from Knowledge Exchange Failures20(1): 70–87.
44.
WeberMTMakiPMMcDermottMP (2014) Cognition and mood in perimenopause: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology142: 90–98.
45.
WeissR (2020) Menopause cafes: It’s good to talk. Mauritius132: 79–80.
46.
Women and Equalities Committee (2022) Menopause and the Workplace: First Report of Session 2022-23 Volume 1. London: Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons.
