Menopause study to follow 100,000 women in France

Saturday, October 18, is World Menopause Day- an occasion used to raise awareness about its symptoms and treatment. 

Despite the fact there are 14 million menopausal women in France, and around 500,000 entering this phase of life each year, little is known about menopause.

Indeed, it is only in recent years that menopause has begun to feature regularly in mainstream media, although a 2025 parliamentary report, La Ménopause en France, suggests it is still somewhat taboo: 50% of women have never discussed their menopause symptoms with their doctor, and just as many feel they cannot even talk about it with their partner.

Few studies into the menopause have been conducted. 

In France, the scales and criteria for managing it date back to the 1970s. 

They are finally due to be updated by the Haute Autorité de Santé (French National Authority for Health) in early 2026.

Online study

Another breakthrough is the launch of a major study into menopause, which will follow 100,000 French women aged 30 and over. 

Called Climatère (a term that refers to the transition phase before and after menopause), participants can live anywhere in France. 

They will complete questionnaires online and do not need to be menopausal to participate.

The study was launched by doctors at Foch Hospital in Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine) to understand the 30 or so possible symptoms that occur during menopause. 

It will also attempt to understand why menopause is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, certain types of breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

A final aim is to create a profile of French women going through menopause. 

“We have little scientific data on menopause, and even less on French women,” Professor Jean-Marc Ayoub, one of the leaders of the study, told France Info. 

“Scientists often rely on international studies. But we can't transpose everything. There may be French specificities caused by our environment, our vaccines, our healthcare system, prevention, and screening. It's important to understand all of this."

For further details or to get involved in the study, click here. All questionnaires are completed on a secure platform and explore diet, activity, physical and mental health, and menopause symptoms for those who have reached that stage. 

Regular questionnaires on specific topics will be sent out every two months and the study is expected to last for 10 years.

Menopause causes and symptoms

As a woman reaches the age of 45 to 55, her hormone levels drop and monthly periods stop. 

What we call menopause means that you have not had a period for at least 12 consecutive months. 

The reality is that it is rarely so straightforward, as the majority of women have menopause symptoms for several years before their periods stop. 

As well as happening naturally, menopause can also be brought on after surgery to remove the ovaries or uterus, or after cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. 

Some women go through early menopause for no identifiable reason other than genetics.

Aside from irregular patterns of menstruation, physical symptoms include hot flushes, weight gain, joint pain, dry skin and headaches.

Other symptoms range from heightened anxiety and irritability to forgetfulness and ‘brain fog’, or an inability to concentrate. 

Getting medical help

France has been somewhat behind the curve on menopause treatment, and doctors can be reluctant to prescribe HRT (THM, traitement hormonal de la ménopause), making it hard for women from other countries to access their usual treatment here. 

However, the 2025 parliamentary report is pushing for improvement and recommends that each woman receives personalised support from the first symptoms, starting with a check up (bilan) from a GP, gynaecologist (or sage-femme), nurse or pharmacist. 

Speak to your pharmacist about natural remedies and you can also ask your sage-femme to prescribe hormone medications such as oestrogen gels to treat localised symptoms.