Why half of women hide menopause from their partners

HALF of women who have been through the menopause kept it secret from their partners.

A poll of nearly 2,000 women in the UK also found that a fifth did not tell anyone at first and 43 per cent felt ‘completely alone’.

Only two in ten confided in a female relative and 77 per cent didn’t even tell their mothers at first. A majority did not open up to friends and more than threequarters didn’t consult a health professional, the poll found.

Some said they felt the subject was still taboo to many people. The research also found that 39 per cent of younger women are ‘dreading’ the menopause.

But on the positive side, almost half appreciated post-menopausal benefits such as an end to periods or PMS and no more sanitary products. A further four in ten enjoyed having sex without worrying about contraception.

Incontinence products firm TENA, which was behind the poll, has launched a campaign encouraging women to open up to loved ones about ‘the change’. It is backed by TV presenter Lisa Snowdon, who said: ‘It’s no wonder the word sparks fear in the hearts and minds of women across the globe. For too long women experiencing the menopause have suffered in silence, alone and fearful of what is to come.

‘Synonymous with “middle age”, in a society where ageism is rife, menopause is not celebrated – it’s seen as the beginning of a decline. By discussing the menopause with our daughters, nieces, mothers, grandmothers, friends, and partners, we can end the cycle of loneliness.’

Dr Jane Davis of the Primary Care Women’s Health Forum, added: ‘The campaign strikes at the heart of the issue of taboo around menopause – it’s about not being embarrassed to talk about it. The mother-daughter story is one heard over and over again: “My mum never told me what the menopause was like”.

‘It is getting better in terms of conversations, but there is more to be done. Menopause is a transition, one that is to be celebrated because things are better after.

‘It’s all about supporting each other, opening up those intergenerational conversations and not being afraid to ask for help from your healthcare professional.’

As part of the Daily Mail’s campaign to Fix the HRT Crisis, we are calling for women to be given information on the menopause at their NHS health checks.

Supply shortages and poor planning have created a postcode lottery which leaves many women unable to get hormone replacement therapy, with some so desperate they use the black market.