Nutremys Menopause Observatory — Key Figures and Clinical Study
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Menopause in France: the figures
An overview of verified data on menopause and perimenopause — demographics, symptoms, bone health, skin, and treatments — with sources. Page made available to journalists, bloggers, and healthcare professionals, free to quote with a link to this page. Each figure is attributed to its source; Nutremys LAB proprietary data are identified as such.
Last updated: June 2026. Informational documentary summary — does not replace medical advice.
1. Menopause in France
Menopause affects approximately 14 million women in France, and 500,000 women enter it each year. The average age is 51 (between 45 and 55), with menopause confirmed after 12 consecutive months without menstruation. (Sources: Inserm, Menopause dossier; Ameli.fr.)
2. Perimenopause: a long and underestimated transition
Perimenopause generally begins between 45 and 47 years (sometimes as early as 40). It is a phase of major hormonal fluctuations that precedes the end of menstruation: the transition lasts an average of about 4 years (from 2 to 8 years depending on the woman), and associated symptoms may persist for several years. This is often the most confusing period, because symptoms appear while menstrual cycles are still present. (Sources: MSD Manuals; clinical data on the menopausal transition.)
3. Symptoms: prevalence and duration
Menopause is not limited to hot flashes: it affects sleep, mood, skin, mucous membranes, joints, and cognition.
| Symptom / area | Prevalence | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hot flashes / vasomotor symptoms | 70 to 80% of women | Clinical reviews (Merck) |
| Vasomotor symptoms (ages 50–54, France) | 59% (and 31% at ages 60–65) | ELISA 2021 survey (n=3 685) |
| Sleep disturbances | 43 to 69%; up to 60% (SWAN) | Ameli; SWAN |
| Genitourinary syndrome (GSM) | up to 84% | CMAJ, 2025 |
4. Hormone therapy: France’s great disaffection
France stands out for its very low use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). Whereas about one in two menopausal women was receiving treatment around 2000, today the figure is less than 6%. The proportion of women aged 45–60 receiving treatment fell from 6.6% (2012) to 3.6% (2022), before a slight recovery to 4.4% in 2025, representing approximately 496,000 women. (Sources: ANSM, 2025; ELISA survey; Santé publique France.)
This decline, following the warnings of the early 2000s, partly explains the rise in demand for non-hormonal approaches—lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, and micronutrition.
5. Bone health: a critical window
Estrogen deficiency accelerates bone loss. It is greatest in the year preceding the final menstrual period and the following 2–3 years: women may lose up to ~10% of their bone mass in the first 5 years after menopause, at a rate of approximately 2% per year. Hence the importance of calcium, vitamin D, and physical activity from perimenopause onward. (Sources: CNGOF / GEMVi clinical practice guidelines; bone literature.)
6. Skin & collagen: what the science (really) says
The estrogen collapse directly affects skin collagen. Landmark studies (Brincat et al.) show a loss of approximately 30% of skin collagen in the first 5 years following menopause, followed by approximately 2% per year. This explains the thinning, dryness, and loss of firmness often experienced during this period.
Does collagen peptide supplementation help? Several meta-analyses of randomized trials conclude that it improves skin hydration and elasticity: one review (10 trials, 646 participants) reports a favorable effect on hydration and elasticity; another, broader review (26 trials, 1,721 participants) points in the same direction. (Indian J. Dermatol. Venereol. Leprol.; 2021–2023 reviews.)
7. Our expert
Dr Mariam E.K. — gynecologist, medical advisor to Nutremys LAB, with 18 years of clinical practice (Paris). Available for interviews and expert commentary on menopause, perimenopause, urogenital health, and women's nutrition. Discover Dr Mariam E.K. →
8. Sources & methodology
- Inserm — Menopause dossier (demographics, mechanisms).
- Ameli.fr (Assurance Maladie) — menopause, sleep, treatments.
- ANSM (2025) — Menopausal hormone therapy: ~496,000 women treated, 2012–2025 trends.
- ELISA survey (2021, n=3,685) — prevalence of vasomotor symptoms in France.
- SWAN — Avis et al., JAMA Internal Medicine (2015) — duration of vasomotor symptoms (median 7.4 years).
- CMAJ — Canadian Medical Association Journal (2025) — genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
- CNGOF / GEMVi — recommendations on menopause, menopausal hormone therapy, and osteoporosis.
- Brincat et al. — postmenopausal loss of skin collagen.
- Meta-analyses of collagen peptides (Indian J. Dermatol. Venereol. Leprol. and 2021–2023 reviews) — skin hydration and elasticity; methodological limitations noted.
Prevalence figures vary according to the populations studied and the methodologies used; ranges are provided where relevant. We update this page as new data becomes available.
Press contact & citations
You may reuse this data by citing its original source and mentioning Nutremys LAB with a link to this page. Interviews with Dr Mariam E.K., HD visuals, and clinical study data: info@nutremys.com.
For further reading: our guides on collagen and menopause, and the Science & Transparency page.
This page is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle.
