Bringing Light to the Knowledge Gap Regarding Menopause Symptoms and Hormone Therapy

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to raise awareness about the knowledge gap regarding many common menopause symptoms and the positive impact of hormone therapy (HT), a.k.a. hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and menopause hormone treatment (MHT). Methods: An initial review of current literature is useful for identifying relevant professional resources of knowledge and understanding the problem. Further, analyses of The Menopause Society, the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, and Dr. Mary Claire Haver's work shed light on the problem and provide insights to help build a successful educational campaign. Additionally, visual analyses of "When to Try Hormone Therapy," "Menopause in Numbers," and "Hot Flashes" infographics provide inspiration and reveal design strengths and weaknesses to help inform design choices for an effective educational campaign to build awareness about common menopause symptoms and HT. Discussion: HT has tremendous benefits for the treatment of menopause symptoms and minimizing health risks when taken by women suspected to be healthy who are under 60 years of age or within 10 years of menopause, yet it is significantly under prescribed and underutilized due to the knowledge gap. Conclusion: Research indicates clear knowledge gaps for women as well as medical professionals that results in symptoms not being associated with menopause and, for that reason, inadequate care and a shortened life span for many women.