Perimenopause has an impact on the emotional and social well-being of people going through this stage of life, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Institut d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAPJGol).

The study, published in the journal Women’s Reproductive Health, explored the experiences of 20 women in perimenopause or early menopause living in the Barcelona metropolitan area, some of whom were from neighbourhoods with high levels of economic vulnerability. Using a qualitative methodology based on focus groups and the photo-elicitation technique, participants shared images that represented their experiences and used them as a starting point to reflect on this stage of life.

The results show that perimenopause is a diverse experience marked by often contradictory emotions. On the one hand, it represents a period of loss associated with ageing, the end of fertility and traditional gender roles. On the other hand, it is an opportunity to redefine one’s identity, prioritise self-care and free oneself from certain social pressures.

Lack of information

One of the main findings of the study is the widespread lack of information about perimenopause. Many participants explained that they did not recognise the onset of this stage because they were unaware of its symptoms and had to seek answers on their own, by talking to other women, consulting books or searching for information online.

This lack of knowledge not only makes it difficult to identify what is happening, but can also delay the adoption of self-care measures or the decision to seek professional help. For this reason, participants called for information about perimenopause to be made available before the first symptoms appear and for greater visibility to be given to this stage both within the healthcare system and in society at large.

The research also highlights the value of community spaces and peer support networks. Sharing experiences with other women helped many participants better understand what they were going through, reduce feelings of isolation and feel supported.

Greater support

The women who took part in the study called for greater support and more information from the healthcare system. Many participants highlighted the tendency to attribute perimenopause symptoms exclusively to hormonal changes or to consider them “normal”, without providing sufficient tools to manage them.

The researchers who authored the study point out that “making distress invisible can contribute both to the trivialisation of symptoms and to their psychiatrisation, without sufficiently taking into account the emotional, social and contextual factors that also influence this stage”. They add that “a gender perspective should be adopted in addressing perimenopause, taking into account the diversity of women’s experiences during this stage of life”.

Implications for primary care

The study coordinator, Laura Medina Perucha, a researcher at IDIAPJGol, highlights that “the study’s findings can contribute to transforming the approach to perimenopause in primary care”. Medina explains that the research provides evidence to “promote specific care protocols, strengthen the training of healthcare teams and promote preventive, personalised and person-centred care”.

The study also highlights the importance of incorporating community resources and support spaces that complement clinical care and help improve emotional and social well-being during this stage.

The research formed part of the master’s thesis of the article’s first author, Isabel Baena Mateo, supervised by IDIAPJGol researchers Laura Medina Perucha and Andrea García Egea. It was conducted in collaboration with the Barcelona Public Health Agency and with the participation of the La Vida en Rojo Menstrual Culture Association.

The research team, together with the participants, has prepared a report to disseminate the findings among healthcare professionals, community stakeholders and the general public.

The research findings were presented at the European Public Health Conference, held in Helsinki in November 2025, and at the IDIAPJGol Conference, held in June 2026. The study also builds on a line of participatory research focused on emotional health care during perimenopause.

Article reference

Baena Mateo, M. I., García-Egea, A., Jacques-Aviñó, C., Puig-Barrachina, V., & Medina-Perucha, L. (2026). “It Meant Changing My Skin”: A Photo-Elicitation Study on the Emotional and Social Well-Being of Women During Perimenopause in Barcelona, Spain. Women’s Reproductive Health, 13(1), 109–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2025.2567387