The data: Eighty-two percent of women attribute the early signs of perimenopause to something else such as anxiety or everyday stress, according to a July ThisIsMenopause survey of 1,000 women ages 35-59.

Why it matters: Awareness of menopause and perimenopause is growing, but that hasn’t translated into recognition, accurate diagnoses, or informed treatment for most women.

Social recognition remains a hurdle when women discuss symptoms with others. Some 72% of respondents faced pushback from doctors, family, and friends when they brought up symptoms of permimenopause—40% of those women were told it is just aging and 24% were told they were too young, per ThisIsMenopause. Even when seeking medical care, securing an accurate diagnosis remains difficult. While 53% of women who brought up symptoms say their doctor took it seriously, 43% left the appointment wishing they had gotten more information about treatment options, per ThisIsMenopause.

Uncertainty often continues even after diagnosis. Some 38% say they ran into conflicting or questionable advice around treatment, especially around hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Some of the confusion may stem from the fact that black box warnings on FDA-approved HRT medications were recently lifted in November after 20 years. Major medical groups like the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists agreed with the FDA decision as removing an unnecessary barrier for patients. Since then, HRT treatment has increased, up 26% among women ages 45 to 54 between July 2025 and February, per Truveta Research, but the decades of conflicting guidance still seem to be influencing treatment decisions.

Implications for pharma companies and telehealth providers: Raising awareness of menopause care is only a first step; women also need the straightforward guidance they’re seeking. For pharma companies, there is an opportunity to pair product marketing with education anchored in clear risk and benefit clinical evidence. Menopause therapy drugmakers and digital health companies in this emerging space can build credibility by helping women turn symptoms into informed treatment discussions, differentiating themselves from generic, uncredentialed wellness sources.

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