A Majority of Women With Menopausal Symptoms Who Experience Insomnia Lose
Three or More Hours of Sleep Per Night and Experience More Fatigue and More
Irritability, and Nearly Half Have a Harder Time Carrying Out Daily Tasks
NEW YORK, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from the second annual Menopause at Work survey conducted by Harris Interactive among members of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), found that 80 percent of respondents age 35 and above who currently experience menopausal symptoms or have in the past said that one or more of their symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia were problematic in their daily lives.
Hot flashes (84%) and night sweats (77%) were the most frequently experienced menopausal symptoms. Women suffering from insomnia reported that insomnia was the symptom of menopause that bothered them the most with 72 percent of participants experiencing it frequently (at least once per week) and 59 percent losing on average three or more hours of sleep each night. The survey found that 88 percent of women with insomnia associated with menopause report experiencing more fatigue during the day, 62 percent say they are more irritable and 44 percent say they cannot do their job as well.
"Insomnia is very common among women who are experiencing vasomotor symptoms of menopause. The majority of the women I treat are juggling work, family and household responsibilities and can't afford to lose sleep, which can make them feel unproductive during the day," said James A. Simon, MD, CCD, Clinical Professor, George Washington University. "It's important for women experiencing problematic hot flashes and night sweats to discuss their treatment goals with a health care provider to determine what their options may include."
"I was going through menopause misery -- sleep disturbances, hot flashes, mood swings -- which affected all facets of my life. The symptoms were particularly distressing at work, especially since I am often the only woman in the room," said Susan Brown, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer, NAFE member and mother of three. "My doctor and I decided on a treatment regimen that helped me get back on track. I didn't let menopausal symptoms slow me down."
Thirty-one percent of the women surveyed said menopausal symptoms are either extremely problematic or problematic to their romantic lives and twenty-eight percent said that they are extremely problematic or problematic to their overall emotional well being.
"Executive and professional women excel at finding solutions, whether at work, at home, or their personal lives," said Betty Spence, Ph.D., NAFE president, "and when it comes to health care, all they need is accurate information, which is not always readily available. NAFE conducted this survey of menopausal symptoms to foster an open discussion of a topic long considered taboo and to encourage women to talk with their doctors and find solutions that work for them."
Other survey findings include:
- Top three menopausal symptoms: 84 percent of respondents experience hot
flashes; 77 percent experience night sweats and 72 percent experience
insomnia;
- Menopause is worse than expected: 52 percent of respondents experiencing
both night sweats and insomnia say that menopause has been worse than
expected;
- Insomnia affects majority of women at work: 72 percent of respondents
who experience insomnia said that menopause-related insomnia has
disrupted their professional life at some point; and
- Prescription medications are rated as more effective than over-the-
counter remedies: Twice as many respondents felt that prescription
medications (32%) were more effective than over-the-counter treatments
(16%) for menopausal symptoms and, of that group, 67 percent are
satisfied with the relief their prescription medication provides.
About the Survey
Harris Interactive(R) conducted the online survey in the U.S. on behalf of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. between March 21 and April 7, 2006 among 622 members of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) ages 35 and over who currently experience menopausal symptoms or have in the past. Figures for age, race/ethnicity, education, and business ownership were weighted, where necessary, to be representative of the population of women who are members of NAFE.
Though this online sample is not a probability sample, in theory, with probability samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty that the results for the overall sample have a sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. The sampling error of the sub-samples of women who experience insomnia (n = 445), experience both night sweats and insomnia (n = 360), use a treatment for their menopausal symptoms (n = 533), and prefer prescription medication to treat their menopausal symptoms (n = 168) is higher and varies.
About Menopause
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when the menstrual period ceases and the ovaries permanently stop releasing eggs. Menopause is considered complete when a woman has been without her period for a full year. While some women experience no menopausal symptoms, others suffer severe symptoms that require treatment. Vasomotor symptoms (night sweats, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness) are the most common menopausal symptoms. Although the majority of women experience "natural" or spontaneous menopause, some women may experience menopause due to a medical intervention such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
About Survey Partners
The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), one of the largest women's professional associations and the largest women business owners' organization in the country, provides resources and services - through education, networking, and public advocacy - to empower its members to achieve career and personal success.
Harris Interactive Inc. (www.harrisinteractive.com) based in Rochester, New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll(R) and for its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry. Long recognized by its clients for delivering insights that enable confident business decisions, the Company blends the science of innovative research with the art of strategic consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to measurable and enduring value. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe (www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France (www.novatris.com), and through an independent global network of affiliate market research companies.
Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) currently markets a portfolio of 17 proprietary products, largely focused in the area of women's health. Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is also the leading manufacturer and marketer of oral contraceptives in the United States with a portfolio that includes 22 generic and five proprietary (branded) oral contraceptive products. Duramed has provided NAFE with a series of educational grants to support increased awareness of women's health topics.
CONTACT:
Lindsey Karp
HealthSTAR Public Relations
212-532-0909
lkarp@healthstarpr.com SOURCE National Association for Female Executives
