Women in 2023 are more fearful of the menopause than they were in 2020.

Far too few women, and society as a whole, can name more than just 5 of the 48 menopause symptoms that exist. GenM's Invisibility Report highlights the importance of education and pushing for greater visibility of the needs for women in mid life as of the women surveyed

• Only 1 in 4 felt they are reasonably informed about the effects of the menopause
• 42% knew nothing or very little about the emotional and mental effects of menopause
• 50% couldn't name any phases of the menopause
• 46% hadn’t come across the term perimenopause
• 51% of women can name only 3 of the 48 symptoms assosiated with the menopause
• Hot flushes and mood swings are the most known symptoms, followed by brain fog/memory loss, insomnia, night sweats and weight loss.
• Less than 15% of women could name depression, anxiety or irritability as a menopause symptom, despite research findings showing that these are in the top ten most debilitating symptoms which have a negative impact on women’s lives.

The invisible mental and emotional impact

Many of the symptoms of menopause manifest as emotional responses, and in the absence of knowledge about the impact of the menopause can be easily attributed to other causes or reasons. In fact, 50% of menopausal and post-menopausal women reference a non-physical symptom when describing their experiences. This figure is even higher among those who are experiencing the perimenopause.

When asked how much those close to them knew about the mental and emotional effects of the menopause, 75% of women said their sons or daughters knew nothing or very little, with over two thirds of women saying their partner knows nothing or very little. This research indicates a need to better educate and inform support networks about the invisible but often debilitating symptoms that their loved ones may experience.