Making sense of menopause: How women understand their menopausal experiences and treatment decisions

Midlife marks many physiological changes for women, including the transition into menopause. The National Institute on Aging (2001) estimates that nearly two million women turn 50 each year which is the average age of menopause in the United States. The large number of women experiencing menopause makes this an important health issue. While some scholars and health practitioners see menopause as a time of empowerment and change, others see it as a health issue that merits medical attention. Less explored in the literature is women's understanding of menopause, particularly how they construct and make sense of their menopausal experience. Further complicating women's understanding of menopause is the uncertainty of how to treat it. Recent studies, such as the Women's Health Initiative, have raised questions about the use of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopausal symptoms because of increased risk of breast cancer and stroke. This study examines the social construction of menopause through qualitative, semi-structured interviews with perimenopausal and menopausal women. Specifically, it explores women's understanding of menopause and their menopausal experiences in order to gain a better understanding of their treatment decisions.