Women think Gen Z will have ‘easier menopause’ than Gen X who ‘went in blindly’ as it becomes less taboo, study finds
WOMEN think Gen Z will find it ‘easier’ to go through the menopause than them – as the subject becomes less of a taboo.
A study of 2,000 women found 63 per cent of those who are currently or have gone through ‘the change’ think their younger counterparts will have a more positive experience than they have.
And while half of Gen X admitted they went into it ‘blindly’ with little information, 48 per cent of Gen Z already feel they have the knowledge they need to help them face it.
It also emerged 49 per cent of women no longer see the menopause as a taboo subject, with 61 per cent putting this down to TV shows now openly speaking about it.
While 55 per cent said the same of celebrities sharing their own experiences, and 46 per cent feel society is paying more attention to female-focused issues.
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) put the change in perception down to more scientific research taking place to help everyone understand it.
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A spokesperson for Vitabiotics Menopace, which commissioned the research, said: “The taboo around menopause is slowly starting to fade thanks to the many campaigns of awareness and education over the last decade or so.
“This means younger women now feel more comfortable talking about what is to come in the future, helping them feel more prepared than their mums and grandparents might have done.
“There is still a lot more we can all do to support this natural life stage to ensure no woman has to feel they are going into it without the information and help they need again.”
It also emerged Gen Z women are more open about the menopause than older generations, with 61 per cent ‘comfortable’ whenever the subject of ‘The Change’ comes up.
But this drops to just 44 per cent of Boomers – despite them being among the age group most likely to have gone through this stage.
And while 62 per cent of millennials feel happy discussing the menopause at work, just 47 per cent of Boomers feel the same.
More than half of Gen Z (53 per cent) would happily discuss the menopause with their mum – something just 15 per cent of Boomers did.
While eight per cent of younger women, polled via OnePoll, would feel comfortable talking to their dad about the condition, but less than one per cent of their older counterparts did the same.
A spokesperson for Vitabiotics Menopace added: “We’ve come a long way, and these results show younger women particularly are starting to see the benefit of this new, more open approach to the menopause life stage.
“But there are always more things we can do to make sure that the menopause is a topic we discuss as openly as other natural experiences like pregnancy and childbirth, giving women all the tools and information they need as they approach it.”
The different menopause treatments
THE main menopause treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces the hormones that are at low levels.
There are various types and doses, and it's important to find the one that works best for you.
Oestrogen comes as:
- Skin patches
- A gel or spray to put on the skin
- Implants
- Tablets
If you have a womb (uterus), you also need to take progesterone to protect your womb lining from the effects of oestrogen. Taking oestrogen and progesterone is called combined HRT.
Progesterone comes as:
- Patches, as part of a combined patch with oestrogen
- IUS (intrauterine system, or coil)
- Tablets
Some people are also offered testosterone gels or creams to help improve sex drive, mood and energy levels, or additional oestrogen tablets, creams or rings for vaginal dryness and discomfort.
Other medicines can be used to treat menopause symptoms.
These include a blood pressure medicine called clonidine and an epilepsy drug called gabapentin to help with hot flushes and night sweats.
Antidepressants can combat mood symptoms if you've been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can also help.
Alternative treatments, like herbal remedies, are not recommended as it is unclear how safe and effective they are.
Source: NHS