A quarter of women with menopause symptoms felt dismissed by their healthcare provider, a survey of 2,000 women, ages 40-64, found.

The survey, conducted by the women’s healthcare company Bonafide, also found that nearly 80 percent of the women believed the best way to learn about menopause was through their own research rather than depend solely on the healthcare system.

However, after having their symptoms addressed 90 percent said it improved their quality of life, with nearly half of them saying the impact was significant, and 65% said they wish they’d sought treatment sooner.

Nearly half say they turned to the internet for most of their advice; nearly a third to a healthcare provider and 18%, friends or family.

Three quarters of those surveyed said education is the best investment for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Previous studies have suggested clinicians believe their own education about menopause is lacking, with nearly 84% of OB/GYN residents saying their residency programs needed more resources dedicated to the topic.

Similar to last year’s Bonafide survey, the latest version continued to reflect that many women feel ill-informed about menopause, its timing, symptoms and potential treatments.

In 2022, the women surveyed said these were the top things they would have liked to know before entering menopause:

• What symptoms they should expect?
• What can trigger symptoms?
• How to relieve symptoms?
• That talking about perimenopause more openly helps, and
• That perimenopause affects every individual differently.