Results from The Peri/Menopause Coaching Survey 2026
From March to April 2026, 25 midlife women respondents completed an online survey of ten questions about menopause called The Peri-Menopause Coaching Survey. The survey aimed to get a sense of knowledge, attitudes, and gaps around menopause and menopause coaching. Respondents ranged between 42-66 years old. Most women who completed the survey, (26%) were 53 years old, followed by 17% being 50 years old. Participants were not compensated for their responses. The survey revealed unmet needs but also how women think about menopause during this time in their lives. Lastly, the survey shed light on what women identify as challenges with addressing their menopause symptoms and how they prioritize their health. Using data from this sample, a set of recommendations was created for menopause coaches to better focus on what women struggle with and key ways to deliver menopause health information and menopause coaching.
THE RESULTS FROM THE DATA
While the majority of women feel moderate about their knowledge of “healthy lifestyle habits for peri/menopause”, they rate their current health behaviors more moderately. 32% rate their knowledge about healthy behaviors followed by 28% saying they are knowledgeable, and 20% stating they are very knowledgeable. However, when it came to rating their current health behaviors, inclusive of nutritional intake, sleep, exercise, and mindfulness practices, ratings dropped. 60% of respondents stated their current health behaviors address menopause symptoms moderately. A mere 8% said their current health behaviors address their menopausal symptoms. The interpretation here is that while women may feel they know more about what constitutes healthy behaviors, most are not implementing those behaviors. Only a very small portion of participants (8%) know what healthy habits are for providing relief from menopausal symptoms. The survey didn’t directly ask why women have a gap in knowledge and implementation of healthy behaviors. Additionally, further questioning is required to know whether women’s knowledge of healthy behaviors coincides with the science-backed current recommendations for midlife women for sleep, nutrition, exercise/movement.
Given that change is difficult for many people, It’s important to learn how women feel about changing their current health behaviors to reduce menopausal symptoms. Health behaviors are inclusive of nutritional needs, exercise and nervous system regulation. Women could select as many options of how they feel as they wanted. 44% of participants say they feel ‘hopeful that there are answers’ [for reducing menopausal symptoms], followed by 28% feel ‘Overwhelmed, there is so much to know, ' while an equal 28% cite they feel, ‘Excited, I love a challenge.’ Because women were asked to select “all that apply” they can feel multiple and opposing truths at once. The interpretation is that overall women feel hopeful and excited about learning new ways to be healthier but need the approach to not feel overwhelming to them.
The survey laid out a multiple choice selection for participants to state what they would expect from a menopause coach. An overwhelming majority of 80% say they want help managing symptoms of menopause. More than half (52%) of women state they want coaching around lifestyle changes. A surprising 44% of women indicate a need for emotional support. 28% of women say they want a coach to help them “reclaim identity” and another 16% want coaching around “rebuilding confidence.”
A follow up open-ended question prompted respondents to expand on their expectations of what a menopause coach can provide to them. The responses were clustered into themes. The main themes in order of importance were:1) helping to manage symptoms ( nutrition and exercise are mentioned multiple times), 2) having personalized plans of action to reduce symptoms, 3) holding clients accountable, and 4) the coach having a deep knowledge and accreditation. Some drew comparisons of coaches to information they can ‘Google’, citing the need for personalization of a plan versus what they can find on the internet. Though no participants mentioned AI as a similar tool for information, it can be inferred women want an experience with a coach that differs from one they can achieve with using AI. The interpretation is that while women know they want to adopt behaviors to feel better both physically and emotionally, they want to be held accountable for adopting these behaviors. Their priority is to manage symptoms using a personalized plan. It could be that the idea of a ‘personalized plan’ could also mean that it might seem easier, or more accommodating to their life circumstances. Further questioning about why women feel a personalized plan is important should be explored.
Women tend to feel isolated and confused during peri/menopause because their body is shifting, they don't know what is happening, and don’t feel prepared. Also, many women experience anxiety and depression during this time which can feel isolating. Therefore, a key element of care during menopause is conveying the understanding to midlife women,” you are not alone.” Based on this understanding, participants were asked, “ How helpful do you think sharing your peri/menopuase experience with other peri/menopuase women will help your learning and adopting health behaviors targeted to reducing menopause-related symptoms?“ 44% of women say they feel it would be ‘helpful’ and another 28% say it would be ‘very helpful’ to share their experience. A small percentage ( 20%) say ‘somewhat helpful’ and only 1 participant says sharing is not at all helpful. This result is in concert with the understanding that women tend to be naturally prone to want to share and help each other, particularly when it comes to a shared experience that is challenging like menopause. People also feel less alone when they are able to share with others who have the same challenges.
Midlife women tend to have multiple competing priorities both at home and in their careers. Oftentimes women are at the top of their career, have children, a partner, and involved with the caregiving of their aging parents. Women were asked,”What would make you hesitate to invest in menopause coaching support?” An overwhelming majority (72%) say that time was their primary reason for hesitation. A close second reason for hesitation is the (perceived) cost (68%) for coaching. Only a mere four participants said skepticism would hold them back from menopause coaching. A follow up question with a 5-tiered choice of different payment plans for a six-week menopause coaching package (includes personal plan, accountability partners, and weekly virtual group calls) was asked. Almost half (48%) choose the lowest tier of $150-200; this breaks down to roughly $33/week.
The last question of the survey revealed 40% of participants think their menopause wellbeing is a priority from a scale of 1-5, five being highest priority. 32% say their well being is ‘somewhat a priority’. Equally 12% of participants fall on either side of the spectrum, saying wellbeing is not a priority, while another 12% say their menopause well being is a “very high priority.” These results can be interpreted as women think their health is a priority but don’t think they have the time to dedicate to menopause coaching. While women were not asked why time was an issue for them, it can be extrapolated that women don’t think they have the time to spend on their health because of competing circumstances in their lives. Lastly, women don’t want to spend very much money on menopause coaching even if that means helping with their number one need to manage menopausal symptoms. Further inquiry about costs associated for menopause coaching are needed.
ANALYSIS
Women going through peri/menopause are not sure what they are experiencing because it is a gradual effect. Estrogen gradually reduces through a dramatic rhythm of surges that both escalate and de-escalate estrogen creating a cascade of symptoms like: hot flashes, moodiness, sleep deprivation, joint pain, vaginal dryness/ painful sex, anxiety, and unwanted weight gain. During this time women are asking themselves, ‘Is this peri/menopause?’ ‘How do I know I’m in peri-menopause?’ Two main reasons this is unclear for women are: 1) No definitive lab testing determines a “diagnosis of menopause”; 2) Women haven’t been given any menopause information by their doctors nor female family members. Common phrases about menopause include: ‘No one tells you about this”; “My mom never told me this”; “People just don’t talk about it.” Women are woefully underserved with consistent and accurate menopause information that can reduce menopause symptoms and save their lives.
Results from The Peri-Menopause Coaching Survey both solidify some preconceived notions but also offer new insight to what women are experiencing during per/menopause. It’s not uncommon for people to divulge that while they know what ‘healthy habits’ are, they are not following these habits in their daily lives. After all, diet and fitness books exist not because the general public doesn’t know what healthy habits are, it is because changing health habits is difficult. Changing health habits while “juggling” competing priorities is very difficult. Menopause coaching can offer women a space to get personalized plans that work with the competing priorities in their lives. Group coaching can allow women to learn about topics related to their menopause health, lessen the difficulty of changing health habits, and be a part of a group where they can share experiences and not feel alone.
Very few survey respondents are skeptical about coaching; they believe in menopause coaching. In fact, It is encouraging that most women feel ‘hopeful’ to take on new health habits. However, women are equally excited and overwhelmed at the same time. The gap here is that while the willingness is there, they seem overwhelmed about what to do and how to implement health habits. Women want personalized plans, having accountability, and science-backed information to manage their symptoms. There is a tremendous need for coaching to help women to manage their symptoms and lifestyle changes, and not feel overwhelmed by implementing these changes. However, responses reveal that while women believe that menopause coaching can help them, spending time and money to manage symptoms is a major obstacle. The majority of women think their menopause wellbeing is a priority, but struggle with carving out time to focus on it. Menopause informational sessions in the workplace or within a community-based setting provides an opportunity for women to get the information they need without having to carve time in their schedules.
RECOMMENDATIONS
A menopause coach and supportive community from a peer-based coaching group can help to close the knowledge-implementation gap for midlife women. Currently, women face several challenges to get accurate menopause information and support during midlife. Knowing women face several challenges gives opportunity to explore different modalities for reaching out to midlife women to deliver life saving health information that could change the trajectory of their life.
Working with Healthcare Providers. Healthcare providers that have sought out additional training on menopause health know how important lifestyle fits into managing menopause symptoms. However, as providers they simply do not have the time to coach women on adopting new health behaviors. Therefore, menopause coaches working with healthcare providers who refer patients is an opportunity for women to get the personalized plans they want and weekly accountability to adopt healthy behaviors to manage menopause symptoms. A coach can also help women to know what questions to ask their providers and how to understand their lab results. Having an informed dialogue with a provider will increase confidence about caring for themselves during menopause.
Workplace Education. Women don't think they have the time nor money to engage with a menopause coach. Whether time and money are a perceived or real issue, women overwhelmingly cite these as specific obstacles. Menopause education and support for health behavior change can start in the workplace. Menopause coaches can offer informational sessions during work hours (lunch and learns) providing women the opportunity to learn about menopause without having to carve out time before or after their work day. Education sessions like this can spur workplace group activities such as “walking after lunch club” that can make a difference in reducing blood sugar (a health risk for women during midlife), and engage in social activity.
Economic Assistance Through the Workplace. Companies know their midlife women employees are at the height of their career and are also facing health concerns due to menopause. These concerns can lead to missed work, or even early retirement for some. Partnering with workplaces that have menopause-friendly benefit packages can offer reduced or free menopause coaching sessions through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) where menopause coaching can be added as a wellness benefit funded by the employer rather than insured. Alternatively, HSA/FSA-eligible services offer flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts allowing employees to use tax-advantaged funds for menopause-related services. Lastly, self-funded employers can choose to include non-traditional providers in their plans, and it is generally easier for self-funded plans to add benefits, like menopause coaching that aren't covered under standard commercial insurance.
CONCLUSION
The data is clear: midlife women are ready for menopause support—they're hopeful, willing to invest, and hungry for personalized guidance that meets them where they are. Yet they're caught between two competing realities: they know their health is a priority, but they don't have time, or for some, financial flexibility to pursue it alone. This gap is not a reflection of women's commitment; it is a gap in the healthcare delivery system. Healthcare providers lack the capacity to engage in menopause coaching and most insurance policies don’t cover it. Individual programs, while valuable, remain inaccessible to some women juggling careers and caregiving. While this survey is a small sample, it demonstrates that the workplace represents an unprecedented opportunity to bridge this gap—a place where women already spend their time, where employers have financial incentive to support them, and where a peer community can flourish naturally. By meeting women in their workplaces with evidence-based menopause education, personalized menopause coaching, and peer support networks, we can transform menopause from feeling isolating and overwhelming into the manageable, empowering, new life chapter that it is. The question is no longer whether women need this menopause coaching support. The question is: how quickly can we make it accessible to all midlife women?