A new survey has found that a large number of young women do not know what to expect from menopause

It’s an inevitable part of life, and a stage that comes with both emotional and physical challenges, and yet menopause is often swept under the rug, leaving those who face it with little knowledge of what to expect, and others experiencing a sense of isolation as they try their best to navigate new territory.

Now, a new study from menopause support app Stella has highlighted just how prevalent the lack of menopause education is among younger women. Surveying British women aged between 18 and 34, the results found that nearly a fifth of young women don’t know how menopause might affect their bodies.

Two-thirds of women in their late teens and early 20s shared that they feel they don’t have a good understanding of menopause, as compared to a similarly high 73% of those in their late 20s and early 30s.

Additionally, the survey also looked at which symptoms of menopause the women were able to recognise. From a list of common menopause, the top symptoms the women surveyed recognised included:

  • Hot flushes
  • Night sweats
  • Weight gain
  • Mood swings
  • Fatigue

And the symptoms less commonly recognised included:

  • Acne
  • Painful sex
  • Aches and joint pain
  • Headaches
  • Heart palpitations

The results show the urgent need to improve awareness and education around menopause, so that women are better prepared for what’s to come.

Learn more about menopause

One of the participants, Sara – aged 29 from Sheffield – shared, “I wish we could get a better understanding of women’s health, especially menopause. Most women will go through it, and it doesn't only affect their bodies, but it can also affect their jobs and their families as well.”

“It’s important to know how much British women understand about this stage of their life,” comments Andrea Berchowitz, Stella CEO and co-founder. “We were surprised to see that the younger generation appeared to have more knowledge about perimenopause and menopause compared to that of the older age group.”

Find out more about menopause counselling and find a therapist to support you at counselling-directory.org.uk.