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Misinformation about perimenopause on social media ‘putting women at risk’

The Guardian · · 791 words · By Nicola Davis
Women's Reproductive Health Medical Misinformation Social Media Influence
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/25/misinformation-about-perimenopau…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

9 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 3
check_circle Corroborated 3
verified Verified By Reference 2
verified Verified 1
info
“According to the British Menopause Society (BMS), more than 80% of women will be menopausal by the age of 54”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific statistic (80% by age 54) is attributed to the British Menopause Society in one web search result, but other provided sources only give general age ranges (45-55) without confirming this specific percentage.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The breasts are two prominences located on the upper ventral region of the torso in humans and other primates. Both sexes develop breasts from the same embryological tissues. The relative size and dev…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy or postmenopausal hormone therapy, is a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with female menopause. Eff…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Menopause is the time when menstrual periods permanently stop, marking the end of the reproductive stage for the female human. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, although the exact tim…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“meaning they haven’t had a period for 12 months or more”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources, including a news cross-reference, a Wikipedia-based web result, and medical information sites, all define menopause as 12 consecutive months without a period.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy or postmenopausal hormone therapy, is a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with female menopause. Eff…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Menopause is the time when menstrual periods permanently stop, marking the end of the reproductive stage for the female human. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, although the exact tim…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tamsen Fadal (born December 4, 1970) is an American journalist, writer, and menopause advocate. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller How To Menopause, Reclaim Your Health, Take Charge of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamsen_Fadal
+ 4 more evidence sources
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“about 5% of women reaching menopause before the age of 45”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web sources (NHS inform, Office on Women's Health, and a medical research paper) all state that approximately 5% of women experience early menopause before age 45.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — An approximation is anything that is intentionally similar but not exactly equal to something else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximation
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Hobby Lobby smuggling scandal started in 2009 when representatives of the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores received a large number of clay bullae and tablets originating in the ancient Near East.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobby_Lobby_smuggling_scandal
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In computational learning theory, probably approximately correct (PAC) learning is a framework for mathematical analysis of machine learning. It was proposed in 1984 by Leslie Valiant. In this framewo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probably_approximately_correct…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“women experience a transition, known as perimenopause, over a period of months or years”
CORROBORATED
Multiple medical sources confirm perimenopause is the transitional period leading up to menopause that lasts for months or years.
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 2, 2026 ... Perimenopause (PER-ee-MEN-oh-pawz), or the menopausal transition, is the time leading up to your last period. Perimenopause means “around ...
https://womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-basics
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web search NEUTRAL — This phase begins with the onset of menstrual irregularities and continues until a woman reaches menopause, or one year after amenorrhea has occurred.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6082400/
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web search NEUTRAL — Aug 8, 2024 ... Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause. During perimenopause, levels of estrogen start to decrease.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21608-perimen…
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“females produce their own testosterone lifelong, even women without ovaries”
VERIFIED
Web search results confirm that females produce testosterone throughout their lives, though in smaller amounts than males.
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web search NEUTRAL — Puberty is the process of physical changes through which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction. It is initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads: the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puberty
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web search NEUTRAL — Testosterone Isn't Just a Male Hormone. Many women are surprised to learn that their bodies produce testosterone throughout their lives.
https://www.bristolmenopause.com/blog/the-missing-hormone:-w…
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web search NEUTRAL — Don’t Blame it on Testosterone. Testosterone is indeed a powerful hormone. In males, it helps drive puberty, sperm production, muscle strength, bone density, and sexual desire. Females also produce te…
https://www.zmescience.com/science/biology/scientists-looked…
verified
“IVF stops working well beyond the age of 42”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While sources confirm that fertility declines with age and that outcomes are best for those under 30, none of the provided evidence specifically confirms the claim that IVF 'stops working well beyond the age of 42'.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — IVF is in vitro fertilization, an assisted reproductive technology that involves fertilisation of an egg outside of the human body. IVF may also refer to: Integrated Vehicle Fluids, a technique/syste…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IVF_(disambiguation)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process of fertilisation in which an egg is combined with sperm in vitro ("in glass"). The process involves monitoring and stimulating the ovulatory process, then rem…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_fertilisation
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Partner-assisted reproduction, reception of oocytes from partner (ROPA), reciprocal IVF, shared motherhood, partner IVF or co-IVF is a method of family building that is used by couples who both posses…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partner-assisted_reproduction
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“there are many progestogen-only contraceptives that can be used alongside HRT”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results provided for this claim are irrelevant (Gmail login pages) and do not contain information about progestogen-only contraceptives or HRT.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — To open Gmail, you can sign in from a computer or add your account to the Gmail app on your phone or tablet. Once you're signed in, open your inbox to check your mail.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/8494?hl=en&co=GENIE.P…
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web search NEUTRAL — Create an account Tip: To use Gmail for your business, a Google Workspace account might be better for you than a personal Google Account. With Google Workspace, you get increased storage, professional…
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/56256?hl=en-EN
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web search NEUTRAL — To open Gmail, you can log in from a computer, or add your account to the Gmail app on your phone or tablet. Once you've signed in, check your email by opening your inbox.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/8494?hl=en-GB&co=GENI…
info
“there are modern forms of the combined pill that are safer for use in women experiencing perimenopause than traditional combined pills, as they contain a natural form of oestrogen”
SINGLE SOURCE
This specific claim about 'modern forms of the combined pill' containing 'natural oestrogen' being safer for perimenopause is only found in one web search result quoting a specific individual (Jayaesna). Other sources discuss combined pills generally but do not corroborate this specific safety claim.
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web search NEUTRAL — In addition, she said, there are modern forms of the combined pill that are safer for use in women experiencing perimenopause than traditional combined pills, as they contain a natural form of oestrog…
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/25/misinformati…
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web search NEUTRAL — Some women are concerned about how contraceptive pills could be affecting their mental health.First, there's the most popular kind, the combined pill, which contains synthetic versions of oestrogen an…
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250220-can-the-pill-rea…
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web search NEUTRAL — Progestin-only pills. Combined oral contraceptive pills. Implants or barrier methods. Our GPs can guide you through the safest, most suitable options for your situation. Perimenopause and Long-Term He…
https://womenshealthhub.com.au/what-is-perimenopause-underst…
verified
“contraception is needed until menopause is confirmed or until age 55”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided Wikipedia results define birth control generally but do not provide the specific medical guideline regarding the age of 55 or the confirmation of menopause for stopping contraception.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Medieval contraception is a debated topic among historians, though methods of contraception have been developed not just in modern times. In ancient times, women attempted to protect themselves from u…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_contraception
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_control
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Contraception is birth control, the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Contraception may also refer to: Contraception (journal), a peer-reviewed journal covering reproductive me…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contraception_(disambiguation)
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.