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DID YOU KNOW?

1

There are around 30 different menopausal symptoms

2

Women experience 7 different menopausal symptoms, on average in the UK

3

Right now an estimated 47 million women around the world are experiencing menopause

COMMON SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

  • As you approach menopause, changes in your reproductive hormone levels 
    can lead to irregular periods.
     

    At first, your periods might start coming closer together. Later on, the cycle length might increase, with periods spaced farther apart. During this time you may also notice changes to the flow. This process can take several years until your periods eventually stop completely.
     

    It can be helpful to track your cycle to help you spot patterns and make it easier to share details with your healthcare provider if necessary. And if you are finding irregular periods are affecting your daily life, don’t worry, your healthcare provider is there to help.

    Changes in your periods

  • Affect about 80% of women in Europe
     

    A hot flush is a sudden burst of warmth that is usually most intense over your face, neck, and chest. It typically lasts 1–5 minutes and can interrupt daily activities or cause sleep disturbances.
     

    Hot flushes vary in intensity and can include:

    • Mild: feeling warm without sweating
    • Moderate: sweating and warmth
    • Severe: excessive warmth and sweating that forces you to stop your daily activities

     

    The impact of VMS on individuals’ quality of life(QOL) can be significant. Women with moderate-to-severe VMS may experience sleep problems, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, that may impact the ability to work and carry out day-to-day activities.
     

    If they’re untreated, hot flushes can even affect health measures such as cardiovascular disease risk factors.
     

    Find out more about what causes hot flushes and what hot flushes feel like.

    Hot flashes, day or night

  • Affect about 69% of women in Europe
     

    Sleep disturbances are common, especially during perimenopause, and can impact performance throughout the day.
     

    Sleep can be affected by hormonal changes in different ways:

    • Difficulty falling asleep
    • Difficulty staying asleep
    • Waking up earlier than expected
    • Not getting enough sleep
    • Not getting enough high-quality sleep

     

    Menopause-associated sleep disturbances can have a broad impact, both physically and mentally. They are linked to:

    • Depression
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Increased body weight

     

    They can negatively affect alertness, mental health, learning and memory.
     

    Menopause-associated sleep disturbances also make it harder to enjoy life, 
    and to focus and be productive at work.
     

    Find out more about how menopause can affect your sleep.

    Sleep disturbances

  • Affect up to 56% of women in Europe
     

    These can include new or increased anxiety, irritability, depression, brain fog or low mood. New or worsening mood symptoms can be especially common during the perimenopause stage, and can make it hard to focus on work and other tasks.
     

    You aren’t alone if you are struggling with your mood. This can be important to seek help for, as untreated depression can make it hard to carry out daily activities and can lead to a drop in quality of life.
     

    Find out more about the psychological impact of menopause.

    04_Effects on mood

  • Affects up to 44% of women in Europe
     

    Vaginal dryness is common during menopause due to falling oestrogen levels.
    You may experience an itching or burning sensation, find sex painful and/or have a reduced sex drive (loss of libido).
     

    As well as causing pain during sex, vaginal dryness can make it uncomfortable to sit, stand, exercise, pee or work. Vaginal dryness can affect everyday life, whether women are sexually active or not, and can have a big impact on quality of life.
     

    These kinds of changes to the body can also have an emotional impact.
    They can be difficult to accept and can lead to a loss in self-confidence and sexual confidence.
     

    Find out more about how menopause can impact your sex drive.

    Vaginal dryness, pain or sexual issues

  • Affects up to 43% of women in Europe
     

    As your oestrogen levels fall, you may need to pee more frequently, experience recurrent bladder infections or have difficulty controlling your bladder (incontinence).
     

    Incontinence during menopause can have a big impact on wellbeing.
    Many women report feelings of embarrassment, anxiety, and social isolation related to the condition.
     

    These psychological effects can lead to reduced self-esteem and reluctance to engage in social or physical activities. Some women may avoid exercise, travel, or even intimate relationships due to fears of incontinence, which can impact overall well-being and lifestyle.

    Bladder issues or incontinence

GET HELP WITH YOUR SYMPTOMS


Almost 45% of women in the UK have never discussed menopause with a healthcare provider – no matter what you’re going though, it’s vital you get the support you deserve.
 

The good news is that, no matter how mild or severe your symptoms are, help is available. Many symptoms associated with menopause are treatable, so it’s important to tell your healthcare provider which ones you’re dealing with and how much they affect your life, so that together, you can decide the right course of action.

MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS MAY BE PART OF LIFE, BUT THERE ARE BENEFITS TO TREATING THEM

In fact, without appropriate support, symptoms such as hot flushes, anxiety and sleep disturbances can impact everyday activities or professional life.

You’re not alone if you’re struggling at work:

23% of women in the UK have considered quitting their jobs due to the challenges of managing menopausal symptoms at work.

Over time, symptoms may also affect other aspects of life such as sex, relationships, 
heart health and bone health, if they aren’t effectively controlled.
 

Find out more about the benefits and risks of menopause treatment options.

 

MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS CAN BE VARIED

If you’re finding you’re impacted by less common symptoms, this isn’t unusual.
This is because the hormones that decrease during menopause play a crucial role in lots of areas of our lives, including physical and emotional wellbeing and metabolism.
 

As a result, you may experience heart discomfort (such as a skipping or racing heart), physical or mental exhaustion, joint or muscular pain, and hair, skin or weight changes, as well as other issues. If not addressed, disruptive menopausal symptoms can affect all sorts of things, including quality of life, engagement in activities, performance, motivation, and relations with employers.
 

If you’re unsure whether any symptoms you’re experiencing are caused by menopause, it can be useful to discuss them with your healthcare provider.

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PP-UN-WHC-GB-0261 June 2025