“For Me, It Meant Changing My Skin”: A Photo-Elicitation Study on the Emotional and Social Well-Being of Women During Perimenopause in Barcelona
This report presents the findings of a qualitative study led by the Institut de Recerca en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol i Gurina in collaboration with the Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona on the emotional and social experiences of perimenopause among women in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. Through discussion groups and photo-elicitation techniques involving 20 women aged 41 to 66, the study explores how this life stage relates to gender roles, care responsibilities, sexuality, social relationships, and healthcare experiences. The findings show that perimenopause is a diverse experience strongly shaped by social and economic factors, often marked by lack of information, invisibility, and the dismissal of women’s discomfort and needs. At the same time, many participants described this stage as a process of transformation, self-knowledge, and empowerment. The study highlights the need to strengthen community support spaces, improve healthcare responses, and promote more comprehensive and non-stigmatizing public policies.
