What Society Still Gets Wrong About Aging and Women’s Health
Aging is natural, yet society still perpetuates harmful stereotypes, especially about women’s health. Women in midlife often face dismissal, misinformation, and inadequate care, from menopause myths to youth-obsessed culture. Despite healthcare progress, these misconceptions distort perceptions and hinder women from getting the support and treatment they need. In this article, we will explore the pervasive myths and systemic failures that still shape the conversation around aging and women’s health.
Aging Women Are Still Treated as Invisible
One of society’s biggest biases is the erasure of women as they age. While older men are seen as distinguished, aging women face dismissal in media, work, and healthcare, with symptoms often downplayed. Aging women deserve visibility, respect, and fair treatment, not to be ignored or overlooked.
A study by Taylor and Francis found that 86% of participants experienced social rejection due to ageism, reducing their civic engagement. While, 71% felt irrelevant, with their opinions ignored as they aged. Additionally, 77% of older participants reported feeling incompetent, which highlights how aging women are often made invisible.
Menopause Symptoms Are Minimized, Not Managed
New research from the CIPD shows that over a quarter (27%) of UK women aged 40–60 in employment have experienced menopause symptoms. These women report that menopause has negatively affected their career progression. This figure represents an estimated 1.2 million women.
A common misconception is to treat menopause symptoms as nothing more than a temporary and insignificant discomfort. For many women, these physical and emotional changes last longer and deeply affect their lives. Instead of proper care, they frequently face dismissal or receive insufficient treatment.
This downplaying comes from limited research and discomfort in discussing women’s hormonal health. Many women suffer silently through hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep issues without proper care. Normalizing this suffering delays treatment and keeps symptoms unmanaged.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse Is Common But Rarely Discussed
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) occurs when the muscles and tissues that support the pelvic organs become weakened. This can cause organs like the bladder or uterus to move out of their normal position and press into the vaginal area.
Though it affects nearly half of women over 50, it’s rarely talked about. It leaves many to suffer silently with symptoms like pressure or urinary issues, often too embarrassed to seek help. This silence leads to delayed diagnoses and limited access to safe, effective treatments.
For years, vaginal mesh implants were promoted as an easy solution for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). However, they led to serious complications for thousands of women. According to TorHoerman Law, side effects included mesh erosion, infections, painful intercourse, and even permanent organ damage.
Thousands of women filed a vaginal mesh lawsuit nationwide, exposing how women’s health treatments are often poorly tested and communicated. These cases highlight systemic issues in healthcare and society’s neglect of aging women’s concerns. It underscores the need for open talks, better screening, and safer treatments.
POP is common but shouldn’t be overlooked. We must end the stigma and ensure aging women get the care and information they deserve.
Is surgery always necessary for treating POP, or are there non-surgical options?
Surgery isn’t always required to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Non-surgical options like pelvic floor therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and pessaries offer effective relief. These methods work well for mild to moderate cases or those wishing to avoid surgery.
Mental Health Challenges Are Overshadowed by Physical Symptoms
In aging women, mental health issues are often ignored while physical symptoms take priority. Conditions such as depression and anxiety are often mistaken for normal aging, which results in missed diagnoses and inadequate support. Many women avoid seeking help, as they fear stigma or feel they will be dismissed by healthcare providers.
This neglect affects overall health and places women in a cycle of silent suffering, with no access to holistic, compassionate care.
According to the National Health Statistics Reports, women are more likely than men to experience anxiety symptoms, with rates of 21.4% versus 14.8%. Also, depression affects 24.5% of women compared to 18% of men. These figures underscore how mental health challenges, especially in aging women, remain overshadowed by physical concerns.
What role does loneliness play in the mental health of postmenopausal women?
Loneliness has a strong impact on postmenopausal women’s mental health and increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Hormonal changes increase emotional sensitivity. Life changes like retirement or an empty nest lead to fewer social interactions, so emotional support and connection become essential at this stage.
Healthcare Systems Still Lack Tailored Support for Older Women
Despite the rising number of aging women, healthcare systems rarely offer support tailored to their specific needs. Most medical guidelines stem from research focused on younger or male patients. As a result, older women face gaps in care that ignore hormonal shifts, multiple health conditions, and critical social influences.
Without personalized care models, many women receive fragmented or inadequate treatment, which compromises their health outcomes and quality of life.
HelpAge International reported that women live a larger portion of their lives with illness or disability, which raises their need for care. Around the world, women hold 70% of roles in both formal and informal caregiving, and many of them are older women themselves. Despite this, healthcare systems often overlook their specific needs.
How can routine checkups better reflect aging women’s actual needs?
Routine checkups can better support aging women through detailed evaluations of hormonal balance, mental health, bone density, and heart risks. Personalized screenings improve early detection. Open conversations about menopause and cognitive shifts help tailor care to their evolving needs.
We Still Don’t Fund or Research Aging Women’s Health Enough
Despite the rising number of aging women, research and funding for their health remain insufficient. Key issues such as menopause, heart disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline receive limited attention. This neglect restricts progress in developing treatments and prevents a deeper understanding of aging women’s unique biological and social needs.
Without targeted research, medical guidelines often depend on incomplete data. This creates gaps in care and leaves millions without adequate support. Increasing funding and focus on aging women’s health is essential to develop evidence-based interventions that truly improve their quality of life.
Rethinking Women’s Aging
Outdated views on aging and women’s health still cause serious harm, from ignored symptoms to fragmented care and minimal research. Real change requires cultural shifts, better healthcare systems, and improved media representation. By valuing older women’s experiences, we can build a future where aging is met with respect and support.
