Menopause
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Key findings
- Symptoms reported: hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance, joint pain, urinary issues, anxiety, mood changes and “brain fog” that affect daily life and work.
- Early onset for some groups: research with South Asian women in Rotherham found menopause sometimes begins in the 30s–40s, with later recognition and confusion with other conditions.
- Delayed recognition and misdiagnosis: many people are told they are “too young” or have symptoms dismissed, prolonging distress and delaying HRT where appropriate.
- Inconsistent clinical access: variation in GP knowledge, referral pathways and time to HRT or specialist care is common across the borough.
- Workforce impact: 46% of the South Yorkshire health and care workforce are aged 40–60, and poor menopause support risks staff retention and wellbeing.
- Community support exists but is uneven: Menopause cafés, local courses and some employer policies (including a Menopause Friendly Employer accreditation) provide models to scale up.
- Key challenges
Recognition and training gaps among primary care clinicians and mental health services lead to misdiagnosis and fragmented care. - Socioeconomic barriers (costs, transport, time off work) and cultural stigma limit access to support for many residents.
- Patchy workplace adoption of menopause-friendly policies outside a few employers leaves many unsupported at work.
If you would like to read the full report, you can do so by clicking the link below
Steel City Community Consultancy LTD - Menopause Report Launch - South Asian women
‘’Last year we received funding from Working Together in Research via NHS England, which allowed us to undertake research on South Asian Women’s Experience of Menopause. We held four focus groups with 22 Rotherham women taking part.
Some recognised that menopause starts earlier for South Asian women. Many participants thought they began menopause in their 40s, but some started in their 30s. They realised they had started menopause when they had hot flushes, night sweats, or their periods stopped. Women mentioned that they did not always know when menopause had started, had confused menopause symptoms with other conditions, and had found out many years later.’’
