Nearly one in five men learn about menopause after having a female partner
New research reveals 18% of men in the East and West Midlands say they only learnt about the menopause once they had a female partner
Last updated 18th Oct 2024
New research from Florette shows that 50% of UK household never speak about women’s health including periods and the menopause, with nearly one in five men admitting they only learnt about the menopause once they got a girlfriend/wife.
So, we've been speaking to a menopause nutritionist who wants there to be more education and research into menopause, in hopes of getting rid of the taboo so people can have more open and honest conversation about how it's impacting them.
Local Statistics
East and West Midlands:
- Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) of men in the Midlands, admit they only learnt about the menopause once they got a girlfriend and wife.
- 1 in 10 (10%) of men in the region say they did not learn about the menopause enough and do not feel equipped to help someone going through it.
- Over half (53%) of people in the region say they would treat menopausal symptoms predominantly through exercise.
Advice from a menopause nutritionist
Emma Bardwell is an author and leading menopause nutritional expert from Suffolk we asked her what advice she has for people who will go through menopause.
“My overarching advice when it comes to managing the menopause is to be prepared, not scared.
"With the right education, support and awareness, it can be an incredibly liberating and positive time of life and there are a wealth of strategies available to women to help them navigate their journey.
"In fact, much of what I do day to day is spent cutting through the sometimes-confusing dietary guidelines to bring women simple, evidence-based actionable strategies that slot easily into busy lives.
"While there’s no such thing as a specific menopause diet, a Mediterranean style way of eating can be a great starting point for women.
"That means lots of fresh, minimally processed produce where possible, including a range of fruit and vegetables, salads, some lean protein, whole grains, lentils and beans, nuts and seeds, some dairy and healthy fats from things like oily fish, olive oil and avocados.
She also explained that in the UK we don't eat enough fibre and need around 30 grams a day, whilst the average person only eats 18 grams.
All of these different types of fibre help to feed the gut microbiome, which in turn produces all these plant chemicals, which can help things like skin health actually helps with hormone production and metabolism and even things like mood. So variety really is key.
How Menopause can impact people
Emma also wants people to be mindful of the stress in their lives and how they're managing it as this also impacts the symptoms. She told us about some of the things her clients have experienced.
"Loss of confidence, lack of self-esteem, some women suddenly find that they can't drive on a motorway. They feel very tearful, they can no longer do presentations at work.
"So it does have a knock-on impact, not just on the woman, but with the people living around her.
"Her work colleagues, her kids, potentially her partners. There's a real spike in divorce around this time and and relationships failing.
"So that is definitely something that we really need to think about."
Emma also wants people to know that going through the menopause doesn't have to be a bad thing.
"I am 53. I am coming out of that kind of hormonal chaos. And I can assure anybody younger who's listening, it's actually a really empowering time.
"I think lots of women, once they do get those symptoms under control, they feel really quite liberated. There's a real kind of freedom associated with this time of life."