Black women report inadequate menopause care, survey finds

Black women have reported being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and misunderstood in relation to their menopause care in the first UK-wide survey to focus specifically on their menopause experiences.

The University College London (UCL) survey of 377 Black women aged 40 to 70 found that most respondents also felt completely uninformed about menopause before the age of 40.

The authors are now calling for mandatory cultural competence training for healthcare professionals and peer‑supported programmes delivered by and for women from Black communities.

Lead author Professor Joyce Harper, UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, said: ‘This is the first study to focus specifically on Black women’s experiences of menopause in the UK, and the message is clear – they are being let down.’

‘Women told us they were unprepared, unsupported, and often dismissed by healthcare professionals, and [the study] reveals deeply entrenched disparities affecting diagnosis, treatment, and trust in medical experts. This must change. Culturally competent care is not optional; it is essential to delivering equitable healthcare.’

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The survey, which informs the study published in Post Reproductive Health recruited participants via adverts on social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter).

Researchers found that the majority (88%) of Black women received no menopause education at school, while more than half (58%) felt completely uninformed before the age of 40 – with many participants revealing they felt frightened and unprepared when symptoms began.

The survey showed most women sought help only once symptoms were severe, often turning first to friends or social media rather than health services.

Participants described menopause as often ‘psychologically damaging’, with symptoms such as brain fog (66.6%), night sweats (62.9%), anxiety (53.9%), and poor concentration (61.3%) affecting confidence and identity, intimate relationships, and performance at work, with some women reducing hours or leaving their jobs.

More than half (56%) of participants said they had spoken to a healthcare professional about menopause, but many described the experience as negative.

Many respondents reported being misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression rather than menopause; offered antidepressants instead of menopause‑specific treatment; told they were ‘too young’ to be menopausal, despite experiencing significant symptoms; and being met with reluctance to prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT), even when symptoms were severe.

Co-author, Adebukola Ayoade, national menopause lead within the NHS Work Training and Education Directorate, said: ‘As a post-menopausal Black woman, I know how powerful it is when our stories and realities are acknowledged.’

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‘This research shines a vital light on the lived experiences of Black women during menopause, voices that need to be amplified in the national conversation.’

‘Understanding their knowledge and attitudes helps us shape more inclusive, culturally competent menopause support.’

‘This moves us closer to equitable menopause care, as awareness is the first step toward meaningful change in policy, practice, and perception.’

Professor Harper added: ‘Our findings show a stark picture: many Black women are navigating menopause with far too little information and far too little support.

‘This lack of preparation and culturally competent care is leaving many women frightened, dismissed, and struggling alone.’

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Researchers say these findings echo national evidence of racial inequality in women’s health outcomes and underline the need for mandatory cultural competence training across the NHS.

The authors call for prompt change to address these inequalities and recommend:

• Mandatory cultural competence training for healthcare professionals.
• Early menopause education in schools, supporting the 2019 relationships and sex education curriculum changes.
• Accessible menopause resources in GP surgeries, including leaflets and videos.
• Holistic, patient‑centred approaches, acknowledging women’s preferences for lifestyle measures.
• Peer‑supported programmes delivered by and for women from Black communities.

A version of this article was first published on our sister title, The Pharmacist.