Women's experiences of the transition period to menopause

Sammanfattning

Background: Menopause affects half of the population. Knowledge gaps, limited access to evidence-based care, and persistent stigma impact women's health, quality of life and ability to seek appropriate support, defining menopause as a public health problem. Aim: To investigate women's experiences of the transition period to menopause. Method: A qualitative study was conducted based on semi-structured in-depth interviews, analyzed using qualitative content analysis. A total of eight interviews were conducted in early 2026, with women in perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause, aged 35-60. Results: The analysis resulted in four categories and 11 subcategories from which two themes emerged; Uncertainty in transition and Adaptation to a new life phase. The study illustrated that the transition period to menopause initially contained an invisible phase, where bodily changes were difficult to interpret due to insufficient knowledge about symptoms, an unawareness of perimenopause and stigmatization. Lack of information, unequal specialist care, dismissive encounters with healthcare, and educational needs evidenced structural barriers. Life impacts and personal adjustments led to adaptation to a new life phase with increased self-care, lifestyle changes and strengthened self perception, women felt stronger, more confident, and accepting of their life phase. Conclusion: The findings emphasize a need for increased knowledge with evidence-based information to prepare women for a natural phase of the life cycle. Addressing normalization and societal stigma is crucial to improving quality of life, supporting equity and a more holistic approach to women's health.