Menopause is a major health milestone, yet health records barely track it—new research
Anyone with ovaries who lives long enough will experience menopause. While menopause is a natural transition in midlife, it can strongly affect a person's quality of life and their current and future risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and other issues. So you might think that whether someone is experiencing or has gone through menopause would be noted in their medical records.
Menopause, a natural transition in midlife for anyone with ovaries, can significantly impact a person's quality of life and future health risks such as heart disease and osteoporosis. However, a new study published in the journal Menopause reveals that menopause is often inadequately documented in electronic health records, despite being reported by more than half of the women surveyed.
The study examined the medical records of nearly 240,000 women and found that only 12% of them included any mention of menopause, even though the women reported experiencing the transition themselves. The missing data on menopause timing, symptoms and demographic factors limits research and personalized care, highlighting the need for routine documentation of menopause status and symptoms to improve health outcomes for women in midlife.
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