Survey Finds Communication Barrier Between Baby Boomer Women, Physicians

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A communication barrier between baby boomer women and their physicians is causing potentially millions of women to suffer from common health conditions in silence. Although boomer women find themselves with increased personal health needs as they enter midlife and beyond, only 16% indicated they are likely to discuss those symptoms with a doctor, according to the new Boomer Women's Health survey of women aged 45 and older in North America sponsored by SCA, Philadelphia, Pa. USA, and conducted by Harris Interactive, New York, N.Y.

The survey also revealed that more than two-thirds of baby boomer women (67%) are less likely to see a physician if they think the symptoms they are experiencing are a "normal part of aging" and therefore may not seek solutions that can improve their quality of life. Furthermore, more than a quarter (26%) feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or judged when discussing even common personal health issues with their doctors.

"Breaking the doctor-patient communication barrier is incredibly important for all patients, but particularly boomer women," says Dr. Cynthia Hall, MD, FACOG, Founder and Director of the Center for Women's Continence and Pelvic Health at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "As this generation enters into midlife, they are likely to experience a number of common, sometimes embarrassing problems, such as bladder control issues. And because we know most of them are not talking with their doctors about how to manage these problems, they're seeing their daily quality of life suffer unnecessarily."

Women, however, aren't the only ones being quiet. The survey also demonstrated that doctors are not initiating conversations with women about these "sensitive" health topics either. Although bladder weakness and low sex drive were ranked as the top two most embarrassing topics to discuss with your doctor, they also ranked as the two issues that had been brought up the least by their physicians.

"If doctors aren't asking and patients aren't speaking up, then women may needlessly suffer for years with what may in fact be a manageable condition," says Dr. Hall. "I often have to coax information out of my patients to identify problems they may be experiencing so I know that it is especially important that doctors spark the conversation because their patients may be embarrassed or reluctant to."

The Boomer Women's Health survey was conducted as part of SCA’s TENA brand "Be TENAcious" advocacy campaign that encourages women to speak up about embarrassing health conditions, such as bladder weakness, a condition that affects nearly 1 in 4 women over the age of 40 and empowers them to find the solutions they need to live the healthy and active lives they desire.

More information about the survey and full results are available online.