A new BIRN survey reveals the impact of menopause on women's professional, social, and sexual lives in Greece, highlighting that many women suffer in silence, and experts are calling for increased support from the authorities.
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Perimenopause and menopause are a phase in life that all women who menstruate experience when their periods stop. This change, which occurs due to lower hormone levels, can cause both physical and psychological symptoms that can significantly impact women's lives.
Despite being experienced by half of the population, in Greece – like many other parts of the world – perimenopause and menopause are rarely discussed. As a result, women in Greece often lack access to clear information or support. According to experts, this often makes the experience more difficult, and they urge greater awareness and support.
Natasa Kefallinou, a communications expert at Diotima, a center for gender rights and equality in Athens, describes menopause as a "silent experience," linked to stereotypes surrounding youth, appearance, and motherhood.
Now, a new survey by BIRN shows that, while experiences vary, stigmatization and ageist stereotypes affect how menopausal women in Greece are perceived both socially and professionally.
Of the 145 survey respondents, almost two-thirds said they believed that menopause had a negative social impact on women's lives in Greece.
Regarding their own experiences, approximately 40 percent said that menopause had affected their personal lives, while about 30 percent said it had affected their professional lives. More than half of those surveyed said that menopause had affected their sex lives.