.svg)
The data is in: 10,000 women share their menopause experiences in a new study. Here's how they feel and why they need your help with practical strategies and education.
It’s well known that the psychological well-being of women experiencing menopause is regularly overlooked and misunderstood. Researchers from Baylor University recently explored the often-invisible challenges of menopause through an in-depth study of the Evia hypnotherapy app for hot flashes and sleep disturbances.
The groundbreaking study analyzed data from just under 10,000 participants, with findings that underscore how an app-delivered hypnotherapy program can effectively enhance menopause patient care delivery. With a notable user group reporting five or more moderate-intensity hot flashes daily, the study emphasizes the necessity of non-hormonal interventions, highlighting how Evia can fit into every clinician’s toolkit.
Menopausal and unaware
A significant revelation emerged concerning the participants’ awareness of their stage of menopause, where 31.2% of users found themselves in perimenopause. Intriguingly, a notable portion (33.5%) remained uncertain about which stage of menopause they were in. This indicates potential gaps in user awareness that could be addressed through psychoeducational components both in the Evia app and in a clinical setting.
Hot flash frequency and poor sleep
Intricacies of hot flash characteristics revealed that a substantial 41.6% of users experience five or more hot flashes daily, emphasizing the intensity of this very unwelcome symptom. Sleep disturbances, a common repercussion of hot flashes, manifest as 51.2% of users reporting difficulty falling asleep, coupled with subpar sleep quality. This aligns with the existing body of research and underscores the need to fortify Evia's intervention with targeted components to address sleep-related challenges.
The commonality of anxiety and depression
The psychological dimension surfaced prominently, with users reporting varying levels of anxiety and depression. The majority of study participants (39.6%) occasionally feel anxious or depressed, but only fractionally fewer (38.4% of participants) report these feelings as frequent. Surprisingly, a very small, negative correlation emerges between hot flash frequency and anxiety/depression frequency, challenging conventional notions and prompting a closer examination of the complex interplay between symptoms.
Reaching a unique patient population
The study offered a nuanced understanding of this patient population. The results showed that Evia users, with an average age of 49.31, aligned with the onset of menopause, underscoring the app's relevance in addressing the needs of this specific age group.
While shedding light on user characteristics, this study also acknowledges its limitations and requires future research to encompass a more comprehensive profile. But as we continue to chart new territories in understanding the psychological nuances of women experiencing menopause, this study lays the foundation for optimization of an intervention like app-delivered hypnotherapy for hot flashes and improved sleep.
