Lived Experience and Perceptions of Menopause Among Patients Participating in the Multidisciplinary Care Pathways at Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital

NCT07447947 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 825_REVE
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Menopause, often reduced to its biological aspects, is increasingly studied through medical, psychological, social, and cultural lenses. Women's experiences vary widely depending on context-country, era, and social status. Their perceptions are ambivalent: while some associate menopause with the end of fertility and burdensome physical symptoms (hot flashes, joint pain, sleep disorders, mood swings, brain fog, vaginal dryness, low libido, weight gain), others see it as a liberating phase, free from reproductive expectations. Surprisingly, 87% of women report a positive experience of menopause itself, though the transitional phase is less well-tolerated (78%). In France, where women's life expectancy is 87, they spend a third of their lives post-menopause. Yet, menopause remains a taboo subject. While 87% of women aged 50-65 experience at least one symptom beyond the cessation of menstruation, 25% suffer severe symptoms. The silence around menopause is striking: 48% of women under 50 find it difficult to discuss, 39% of pre-menopausal women feel anxious, 46% have never discussed it with their partner, and only 61% have consulted a healthcare professional. This silence stems from outdated sexist views, societal valorization of youth, lack of intergenerational dialogue, and insufficient targeted health policies, leading to isolation and invisibility. Medical support often focuses on a biomedical model, particularly Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which remains controversial since the 2002 WHI study. Only 2.5% of French women over 45 currently use HRT, and 45.4% view it negatively. However, women's experiences extend far beyond hormonal concerns. To address these gaps, multidisciplinary programs-such as those at Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital and Toulouse University Hospital-offer group-based approaches, addressing physical, psychological, and relational dimensions. These programs provide a much-needed space for exchange, often absent in traditional care. Research on the benefits of collective discussion spaces (in-person or digital) in menopause care is limited, making it relevant to explore how these programs influence women's perceptions of menopause, their bodies, and their healthcare journey. While qualitative studies have examined individual experiences, few have focused on the dynamics of shared dialogue.

Conditions

Menopause

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Identify women's specific Experience and Perceptions of Menopause

  1 day

Interventions

Focus Group OTHER

Women will participate in a focus group to discuss their Experiences and Perceptions of Menopause

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 45 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Women participating in the multidisciplinary program offered at the Paris Saint Joseph Hospital and fulfilling the eligibility criteria

You may qualify if:

• Women
• Between age 45 and age 60
• French speaking
• participating in the multidisciplinary program offered a the Paris Saint Joseph Hospital
• Patient who does not object to the use of these data for research purposes

You may not qualify if:

• Patient under guardianship or conservatorship
• Patient deprived of liberty (incarcerated or institutionalized)
• Patient under judicial protection

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hôpital Paris Saint Joseph

Paris, 75014, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Focus Groups

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Officials

• Akila LAZRI, MD

  Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Juliette COURTIADE MAHLER, PhD

CONTACT

+33144127963; jcourtiade@ghpsj.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2026
• First Posted: March 4, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027
• Last Updated: March 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)