Cleveland Clinic Survey Reveals Insights into Women's Health, Sheds Light on Gaps in Knowledge and Barriers to Care

A new national survey of women in the U.S. by Cleveland Clinic, in collaboration with YouGov, highlights knowledge gaps, barriers to care, and growing interest among women in clinical research participation. The results come ahead of National Women’s Health Awareness month, which is May.

The survey revealed that many women are not aware of how certain health conditions impact women and men differently. For example, despite nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s disease diagnoses being in women, 32% of women believe it affects both sexes equally. Similarly, 31% of women believe stroke affects women and men equally, even though it’s more common and fatal for women. In addition, even though heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States, 62% of women don’t realize it impacts women and men at similar rates.

“Midlife is a critical time for women’s health, and making informed decisions starts with women understanding their health risks and getting the appropriate screenings,” said Beri Ridgeway, M.D., Executive Vice President and Enterprise Chief of Staff at Cleveland Clinic. “We are committed to supporting women with the tools and resources they need to feel confident in managing their health.”

Barriers to care centered on cost. Almost half (47%) of women said the cost of healthcare (33%), and/or the cost of healthy food or exercise (27%) prevents them from prioritizing their health. Stress and anxiety (30%) and caregiving (14%) were also common challenges.

The survey also showed that when it comes to menopause, women are divided on the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). While a combined 41% of women believe MHT is unsafe (12%), have been advised against its use from their doctor (7%), and/or don’t think they need it (26%), a combined 29% said they currently use it and find it helpful (5%), would consider it even though they have concerns (11%), and/or want to learn more (15%). In addition, 33% stated they were not familiar enough with MHT to form an opinion.

“From research, we know menopause is a critical area of study and treatment for women’s long-term health, including, as a potential factor in reducing risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Maria Shriver, founder of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at Cleveland Clinic, and Chief Visionary and Strategic Advisor of the Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center. “We now understand that a woman’s health must be treated holistically, and I am excited that Cleveland Clinic is leading the way in creating a groundbreaking center where every woman will be treated in her totality.”

While women have historically been underrepresented in clinical trials, the national survey also showed that 53% of women would be interested in joining clinical trials — especially ones focused on women’s health (29%). However, 17% expressed interest but said they don’t know how to get involved.

“We’re committed to moving medicine forward through innovative clinical trials and research,” said Serpil Erzurum, M.D., Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Research and Academic Officer. “It’s encouraging to see strong interest in participating in research. We will continue our focus on creating opportunities for women to join studies that could have an impact on women now and in the future.”

Research is a priority of the Women's Comprehensive Health and Research Center launched by Cleveland Clinic in April 2024. The center supports women in midlife and beyond, focusing on four areas: access, connectivity, education, and research and innovation.

“The center was designed with women’s specific needs in mind, particularly as they navigate midlife,” said Pelin Batur, M.D., Medical Director of the Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center at Cleveland Clinic. “Through personalized care, support, and resources, we’re empowering women to feel heard and confident as they manage their health during this important stage of life.”

Since its launch, the center has helped more than 8,600 patients, scheduled more than 14,000 appointments, and hosted more than 850 virtual menopause-focused shared medical appointments.

To celebrate its first anniversary, Cleveland Clinic will host a Women’s Health Forum on June 5, 2025, at the InterContinental Cleveland Hotel. The event will feature expert speakers, including Maria Shriver and Janice Kaplan, writer, magazine editor, and author known for her work on gratitude and women’s issues.

Survey Methodology:

The survey was conducted online with 2,106 U.S. women, ages 18 and older, from March 28–April 2, 2025. The results were weighted to be representative of the U.S. population of adult women.