Friends outrank GPs as the most popular point of contact to talk about the perimenopause or menopause, according to research from MetLife UK.
The research was carried out by Censuswide in February/March 2022, with MetLife sampling 355 women in full-time and part-time employment, and who have gone through or currently going through either perimenopause or menopause.
The research found despite going through perimenopause or menopause and experiencing symptoms, 10% of women admitted they had not talked to anyone about it.
For those who did wish to turn to someone, friends (47%) were most popular, followed by a GP or medical professional (41%), family members – including parents, siblings, children, and grandparents (39%) – and spouse (30%), while almost a quarter (22%) of women said they had turned to their friends at work.
When asked about their experience of perimenopause and menopause, respondents cited the main symptoms as mood changes or low mood (65%), hot flushes, excessive sweating or night sweats (65%), difficulty sleeping (62%), headaches (50%) and memory and concentration issues (45%).
The research also found while the average age at which women said they had gone or were going through perimenopause or menopause was 41, 39% were under 40, with 7% of 18-24-year-olds citing experiencing some form of symptoms.
Amy Tomlinson, head of HR at MetLife UK, (pictured) said: “Retaining women within the workplace is a challenge many businesses face, particularly at present due to the impact of the menopause.
“The impact can be so great that women feel the only option is to leave the workplace early, meaning a wealth of expertise and knowledge can just disappear at all levels across an organisation.
“Perimenopause and menopause remain a taboo subject and is one of many root causes that can lead to early departure from the workforce, because as a society many feel uncomfortable talking about it, despite the large numbers of women it affects every year.
“Historically many may have associated menopause with later life, but our research shows this is an issue impacting people of all ages, with many experiencing symptoms by the age of 40.”
She noted that while it was a difficult and personal subject, the sheer impact that some symptoms may be having meant organisations must create an environment where people feel comfortable opening up.
“Whether you know someone experiencing symptoms or want to advocate on someone’s behalf, showing them support by being there when they need it, can go a long way to helping someone feel understood and less alone,” she added.
