Most women unaware of shocking and strange menopause symptoms

The survey polled 1,000 females who are yet to go through perimenopause or menopause and found 65% don’t feel prepared for it. Although more commonly known menopausal signs include hot flushes and night sweats, as many as 94% of everyone polled aren’t or weren’t aware electric shock sensations are another potential sign.

Similarly 94% don’t know burning mouth is - and it’s the same for tinnitus (93%) and body odour (86%). Other little-known effects include dental problems (89%), dry eyes (84%), dry mouth (84%) and heart palpitations (73%).

A further 1,000 females who have experienced menopause or are currently experiencing it were also polled - and 52% admitted they didn’t feel prepared for the life stage.

And perhaps it shows - on average they experienced menopause signs one year and one month before realising they were going through it. While 13% didn’t know for two years or more.

Commissioned by CanesMeno, makers of menopausal support products, the research found 65% of those yet to experience the menopause don’t feel prepared for it. While 21% have never thought about perimenopause or menopause, 25% anticipate it will have a large impact on their life.

Dr. Anne Henderson, consultant gynaecologist and menopause specialist, said: “The menopause is a highly individual experience, yet far too many women still enter this stage of life feeling unprepared and unsupported. From physical symptoms like hot flushes to emotional and cognitive changes, the impact can be wide-ranging.

“It's vital that women have access to clear, credible and balanced information and feel empowered to not miss the signs and seek support should they need it.

“Education, open dialogue that help women to make more informed decisions are key to changing the narrative around menopause.”

Angela Cook, 49, a psychologist from Banbury, Oxfordshire, has gone through the menopause and she experienced a lesser-known symptom – gum ache.

She said: “I never had any tooth or gum problems before [the menopause] - dentists would tell me how healthy my teeth were. So this was a massive surprise. It left me in great pain and apprehensive about eating food that had to be chewed.”

A lack of knowledge or understanding of the menopause might be a factor - among all research participants, 52% believe more needs to be done to educate women on it.

And similarly, 48% think the wider public needs to be better educated on the topic. While 35% wish they’d been taught about menopause at school, university, or college.

But it goes further, 21% believe the menopause is a taboo subject. As many as 75% of those who have gone through menopause admitted they avoided talking about their signs with others. It emerged the most experienced signs are hot flushes (63%) and night sweats (52%).

The research carried out through OnePoll.com also found 46% would avoid talking to a pharmacist about menopause. With 30% being too embarrassed to chat to them and 26% unconvinced pharmacists would be knowledgeable enough. While 38% prefer to consult their GP instead.

Daria Costantini, brand lead for CanesMeno, which has launched a training programme to educate Boots pharmacists on the signs of menopause and a digital service featuring educational content, said: “These findings highlight the clear need for better education, and accessible support during this life stage.

“Whether tracking signs or seeking expert guidance, we want to give women the tools to take control of their individual menopause journey with confidence.”