Nearly 1 In 2 Women Have Their Menopause Symptoms Dismissed Says New Research

Posted on 16/10/2026 by Boris Clair

Research into menopause and perimenopause is vastly improving. This means that while we may have always associated mood swings and hot flushes with these life changes, we have learned that they can actually fundamentally change the body.

While this is very hopeful for future generations of women, a new survey conducted by Holland and Barrett in partnership with Menopause Mandate has found that 46% of women are still having perimenopause and menopause symptoms dismissed by other women.

Additionally, the research found an age disparity with younger women entering perimenopause feeling the most isolated. Over half (51% of 30–44-year-olds have reported symptom doubt, compared to 40 per cent of those aged 55 or over.

Women are dedicating an average of 2.3 hours a week to ‘menopause admin’

Beyond managing their symptoms, women are dedicating on average over two hours a week to menopause admin. This includes:

Menopause comes with a range of symptoms including difficulty concentrating, electric shocks on the skin, vaginal atrophy and recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs).

A full range of potential menopause symptoms can be found on The Menopause Charity’s website but it’s fair to say, we are likely dismissing one another’s symptoms because we simply don’t know the extent of the changes menopause can bring.

Laura Biggs, Founding Director at Menopause Mandate, comments: “Perimenopause and menopause can affect women in very different ways, and symptoms can change over time. It’s so important that women know what they might experience and can find help and support when they need it.

“Since launching in 2022, the Menopause Mandate nurse helpline has offered free advice from trained professionals.”

There’s A Reason Your Periods Can Get Heavier In Your 40s, Expert Says

Posted on 12/10/2026 by Boris Clair

For many women, perimenopause, or the period that leads up to menopause, begins in their 40s. This happens when your body is getting ready to stop having periods for good.

Often, the process changes your menstrual cycle. It can make your periods irregular, longer, or shorter. And it can lead to heavier periods, too.

Here, HuffPost UK spoke to Dr Ghazala Aziz-Scott, a specialist in women’s health at the Marion Gluck Clinic, to work out why this happens, what’s normal, and when you should speak to a GP.

Why do some people’s periods get heavier in their 40s?

During this decade, Dr Aziz-Scott explained that the amount of progesterone women produce during the second half of their menstrual cycle (the luteal phase) can decline.

Meanwhile, some women actually start to produce more oestrogen in perimenopause.

Progesterone “is a hormone that stabilises the endometrial lining and oestrogen has the opposite effect of stimulating the endometrial lining,” the doctor stated.

If your progesterone declines while your oestrogen rises, you might become what Dr Aziz-Scott calls “oestrogen dominant”.

This “imbalance leads to the endometrial lining being less stable and a greater blood loss”. Some people don’t ovulate at all for certain menstrual cycles during perimenopause (anovulation), which can also make periods heavier.

What is normal for periods in perimenopause?

Irregular ovulation and changes to hormones in our pituitary gland, like FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinising hormone), can make periods “erratic”, the expert advised.

The perimenopause “can go on for many years, with initially the odd anovulatory cycle to periods of amenorrhoea [having no periods at all] for several months,” she continued.

“Perimenopausal periods tend to be closer together, and much heavier; for example, a 28-day cycle might be 22 days. Periods can be clotty, and flooding may occur”.

But this can vary from woman to woman. Some might find that they see a sudden stop to their periods, “and it is also very common to have several months of no periods and experience spotting or very light bleeds”.

How can I make periods in menopause easier?

Eating well, including consuming more cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and cabbage), milled flax seeds, and “a wide variety of colourful fruit and vegetables” might go some way towards balancing oestrogen dominance, the specialist said.

Hormonal treatments, including those which include progesterone or the Mirena coil, are “popular” among those with very heavy periods, she added.

“If periods are very heavy, medications such as mefenamic acid and tranexamic acid can reduce the blood flow while menstruating, as one of the common patterns of perimenopause is iron deficiency anaemia due to the heavy blood loss,” Dr Aziz-Scott told us.

In some cases, “a small dose of synthetic progesterone directly onto the lining of the womb [can] make periods much lighter or disappear altogether, restoring quality of life and decreasing the risk of anaemia”.

But in general, she added, you should speak to your doctor to work out what’s going on with your hormones.

When should I see a GP about heavy periods in my 40s?

The NHS said that you should see your doctor if you notice any menopause or perimenopause symptoms for the first time and want to know what you can do about them.

And Dr Aziz-Scott shared that you should speak to your GP if your periods are affecting your quality of life – you might also want to go for “education and reassurance about what is going on in your body”.

Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe appropriate treatments like mefenamic acid.

“It is also helpful to discuss any symptoms you may be experiencing and how to manage these,” the expert ended.

“Iron deficiency anaemia is a very common occurrence, and many women don’t realise this until they are really feeling unwell, with low energy, weakness and even breathlessness. So if you do have very heavy periods, checking your haemoglobin and iron levels is very important.”

‘It’s Never Over’: 6 Women On The Good And Bad Of Life Post-Menopause

Posted on 15/09/2026 by Boris Clair

Menopause and perimenopause – the lead-up to losing your period, which can last for years – are linked to symptoms like hot flushes, palpitations, poor sleep, stiff joints, and many more.

All in, the entire process can take over a decade. But less is said about the next life stage – postmenopause – in which women remain for the rest of their lives.

The Cleveland Clinic points out that this is not always a neutral or symptomless state. Some menopause symptoms can continue years into postmenopause, and low oestrogen levels increase the risk of heart conditions and osteoporosis.

Postmenopause is also linked to depression, urinary incontinence, changes in sex drive, and dry skin.

Nonetheless, there are some benefits to the life stage, too.

Compared to those in menopause, women in postmenopause have better memory. In general, over-70s sleep better, and following a lull in our mid-50s, life satisfaction rates seem to rise again soon, peaking at about 69.

So what do postmenopausal women themselves say about the experience?

On Reddit’s r/Menopause, site user u/wlftn asked: “when menopause is finally over do you feel better mentally, physically?”

Here are some of the top responses:

1) It’s “different”, but symptoms are “never over” for some

For poster u/leftylibra, the experience of menopause never really felt “over”, even though she found her mood swings settled as her hormones stopped fluctuating as “wildly”.

“We are led to believe that all other symptoms stop once we reach post-menopause, and this simply isn’t true,” she wrote.

“For instance, according to Harvard Health, studies indicate that 30% of women still had hot flashes 10 to 19 years after menopause, and 20% had hot flashes more than 20 years after menopause.”

Postmenopausal symptoms, including aches, the thinning and drying of the vaginal lining, and bone and muscle loss, continue, the poster added.

She saw some benefits from lifting weights (which has been described as “critical” for maintaining muscle mass and improving bone health after menopause).

“Menopause is a time to look inward and figure out how we want to spend the next 40-50 years of our lives, and that means taking an active role in our health by managing exercise, sleep, stress, dietary needs, etc. Overall, we do feel better without the nagging cycles, but it’s a whole new different way of being,” the Redditor ended.

2) “My years of insomnia left”

Site user u/curiously71 said that her long-standing issues with sleeplessness seem to have stopped after menopause. Early postmenopause seems a particularly good period for sleep, especially compared to menopause.

But this poster added that for her, a “lack of energy and motivation” has continued three years after menopause.

One study found that “postmenopausal women endorsed higher levels of anxiety, as well as lower levels of vitality and overall mental wellbeing compared to perimenopausal women”.

Another showed that early postmenopausal women were about two to four times more likely to experience a major depressive episode than women who hadn’t experienced menopause yet.

The NHS has information on its site on how to access its mental health services.

3) “There is a sense of relief”

“I think there is a sense of relief that the ‘ride’ of peri[menopause] has concluded,” writes u/citychickindesert.

“Once you know the periods are over, for example, there is some sense of calm – there is for me anyway.”

The Cleveland Clinic notes on its site that while issues remain for some, many women feel relief from menopause symptoms during postmenopause.

4) “I feel 1000% better”

Though postmenopause can bring its own challenges, one survey showed that about 65% of women feel happier than they did before menopause.

This seems to be the case for u/HelicopterJazzLike73, who shared that leaving menopause “was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders and 30 lbs from my body.

“I feel a lot less angry, and the hot flashes are once every six months now. I’m so glad it’s over”.

5) Hormones feel more “balanced”

Redditor u/Secretvault-tH20 added, “I actually do not feel like any hormones are out of balance. The only problem I have is less tolerance to being hot.”

Some experts think changes in temperature tolerance like these are down to differences in vascular function, which is controlled in part by oestrogen.

6) “We are all different”

A now-deleted user said that for her, things did get better after menopause.

“Some symptoms may stay, but they are way less intense. My insomnia is almost gone; I get hot flashes maybe once or twice a week, but less intense,” the poster stated.

“Anxiety got… better, but [I] still sometimes feel the waves. It’s definitely better than in the midst of it.”

Still, she pointed out that everyone is “different”.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, research has her back here. The NHS says that some women will see a complete cessation of menopause symptoms once it’s done, but for others, they can remain for years.

While a high percentage of postmenopausal women say they’re happier and more confident than they’ve ever been, a notable section faces mental health issues.

Physically and mentally, the postmenopause experience can vary from person to person. The NHS says you should speak to your GP if you experience vaginal bleeding after sex and/or recurring or chronic UTIs, and if your mental health is suffering, reach out to a qualified expert.

A healthy diet, strength training, and attending scheduled screenings can also help to keep you well during postmenopause.

Researchers Warn Autism In Menopause Is A Major Overlooked Gap In Women’s Health

Posted on 30/08/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how menopause is increasingly driving women with suspected ADHD to get a formal diagnosis. The life stage can “amplify ADHD-related challenges,” Eve Lepage, a reproductive health specialist at Clue, shared with us previously. Scientists have long suspected that hormones like oestrogen can affect how ADHD presents.

But researchers only began formally tracking ADHD symptoms across women’s menstrual cycles recently, with scientists calling the much-reported issue scientifically “overlooked”.

And in an article published in Frontiers in Reproductive Health, study authors wrote that “Autistic women navigating the menopause transition face a constellation of challenges that remain critically understudied”.

Issues with body awareness, sensory overstimulation, and systemic barriers can make the experience uniquely challenging for autistic women, they added.

Here, HuffPost UK spoke to Dr Claire Agathou, a GP with a specialist interest in women’s health and the co-founder of A-Z General Practice at HCA’s The Wellington Hospital, about the topic.

How might autism affect menopause and vice versa?

Dr Agathou told us that menopause “can affect virtually every aspect of a woman’s wellbeing from sleep and mood to concentration, memory and temperature regulation – and for autistic women there may be an additional layer of complexity”.

Emerging research suggests that autistic women might experience an intensification of autistic traits during the transition – “In particular, sensory
sensitivities may become more pronounced, emotional regulation can become more difficult, and changes in sleep, concentration and executive function may have a disproportionately disruptive effect on everyday life”.

Take, for instance, a hot flush, the GP said. “For someone who already experiences heightened sensitivity to temperature, clothing or touch, it may become intensely uncomfortable or overwhelming.

“Similarly, sleep disruption and the cognitive symptoms commonly described as ‘brain fog’ may compound existing difficulties with executive function, planning or managing competing demands”.

As with women who have ADHD, Dr Agathou continued, autistic women might find it harder to “mask” their neurodivergence during menopause.

Strategies they may have spent years adopting in order to hide struggles or navigate their professional or social sphere could be harder to maintain, which may be distressing, “particularly for women who have spent much of their adult lives functioning at a very high level, some without recognising that they may have autism”.

However, the doctor stressed that not every autistic person going through menopause will necessarily have a more intense experience.

“Menopause itself varies enormously between individuals. At present,
the evidence base is relatively small, so we need to listen to women’s individual
experiences rather than make assumptions based simply on a diagnosis,” she said.

Both autism and menopause are “historically neglected” in scientific research

When asked how we can support autistic women through menopause, Dr Agathou said it’s important to recognise the experience isn’t uniform.

“Healthcare professionals should actively ask about sensory symptoms, sleep, emotional regulation, executive functioning and the impact symptoms are having on day-to-day life, rather than focusing solely on hot flushes or changes to periods,” she said, adding that clear, written explanations and avoiding info-dumping on patients might also help some women.

“We should also recognise that autistic women may describe or experience internal bodily sensations differently, which can sometimes make identifying and communicating symptoms more difficult”.

But unfortunately, she continued, the intersection of menopause and autism simply isn’t all that well-studied.

“There are two historically neglected areas intersecting here. Women have traditionally been under-recognised in autism research because our understanding of autism was largely developed from studies of boys and men.

“Many autistic women… therefore reached adulthood without a diagnosis, often becoming very skilled at masking their difficulties. At the same time, menopause itself has historically been under-researched, and, for many years, women’s symptoms were too readily normalised or dismissed,” the GP explained.

“When those two gaps overlap, it isn’t surprising that autistic women going through menopause have received relatively little attention.”

This, despite some early evidence suggesting that menopause can be especially difficult and/or have unique side effects for some autistic women.

“The key message is that we shouldn’t assume menopause looks the same for every woman,” Dr Agathou ended.

“If somebody tells us that this transition has fundamentally changed how they are able to function, we need to listen, explore why, and provide care that reflects their individual needs.”

Meanwhile, the Frontiers In Reproductive Health study argued: “As the autistic population ages, and as researchers continue to learn more about the presentation of autism in the female population, it will be imperative to support autistic females in their experience of menopause”.

5 Steps For More (And Better) Orgasms During Menopause

Posted on 15/08/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about the best sex positions for menopausal women.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Elisabeth Neumann, a sexologist at Lovehoney, said menopause can “make sex feel unfamiliar and frustrating, especially when things that once worked perfectly well no longer feel as comfortable”.

And that might affect the quantity and quality of your orgasms, too.

Pharmacist and author of Love Your Vulva: Celebrating Women’s Bodies, Laura Dowling, said: “As oestrogen falls, the vulva and vagina can become drier, more sensitive and less elastic, so sex may become uncomfortable or painful. And if sex hurts, you’re hardly going to be thinking, ‘Great, now let’s have an orgasm’.

“Then add poor sleep, hot flushes, stress, body-image changes, medications, relationship pressures and being absolutely exhausted.”

Here, she shared how to up your odds of the big O.

How can I increase my chances of orgasm during menopause?

Neumann said some ways to increase your odds of orgasm during menopause include:

Taking the pressure off yourself,
Giving yourself more time,
Using plenty of lube,
Focusing on clitoral stimulation (“most women need direct clitoral stimulation to orgasm”),
Listening to your body – “If sex is dry or painful, don’t just push through it.”

“One of the reasons I wrote Love Your Vulva is because so many women were never properly taught about their own anatomy,” she added.

“Knowing what feels good and being able to say it out loud is a very good place to start.”

Anything else?

Yes – paradoxically, Neumann said, focusing less on the big finish could sometimes make sex and masturbation more enjoyable.

“Sex does not have to be a race towards an orgasm,” she told us. “It can be about touch, pleasure, intimacy, laughing, feeling close to somebody or simply enjoying what feels good.

“And what you enjoy may change as you get older. That doesn’t mean your sex life is finished. It just means the rulebook might need a rewrite.”

We know, for instance, that hormone changes in menopause might mean some people take longer to “get going” in the bedroom, as their levels of sensitivity change.

And some people find that penetrative sex becomes uncomfortable during the life stage, too.

The author ended, “I’d much rather a woman have sex that feels pleasurable and connected than spend the whole time worrying about whether she is going to finish.

“There is no gold medal for having an orgasm. If it feels good and you enjoyed yourself, that counts.”

Christmas Season Triggers That Can Make Menopause Symptoms Worse

Posted on 21/12/2025 by Boris Clair

The Edward Pola and George Wyle song says that Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year” but when you’re having hot flushes from some of the ‘best’ parts of the season, it can suddenly feel like the most overwhelming time of the year.

Adrienne Benjamin, in-house expert nutritionist explains: “At Christmas we see the perfect mix of alcohol, stress, late nights, richer food, and drastic indoor and outdoor temperature variations, which can all nudge the gut out of balance.

“When the gut is under strain, the whole body can feel more uncomfortable and reactive, including the brain and blood vessels that drive hot flushes.”

Thankfully, Benjamin has shared her tips for getting through the festive season comfortably.

How to reduce menopausal hot flushes at Christmas

Central heating and overheated homes

Gone are the days when having a warm home felt ‘cosy’. Benjamin explains: “Warm indoor air is one of the most common hot-flush triggers as it raises core temperature quickly and it can be difficult to cool down in this environment.”

Of course, it’s not reasonable to expect your loved ones to endure cold homes in December. Instead she suggests: “Try lowering the heating slightly where possible, have a window open whilst cooking, and always have a glass of water at hand to sip when a flush starts.”

Crowded shops and busy venues

Yes, Christmas shopping looks very romantic in Love Actually and YES, Christmas markets appeal to many of us but these crowded spaces can be overly warm, elevating stress levels and cortisol.

Benjamin adds: “Sudden stress itself can trigger a hot flush, and stress also impacts gut motility and microbiome balance, which may make the body more prone to sudden flush ‘waves’ in menopause.”

She advises choosing quieter times to shop, taking breaks outside or chjilling in a cafe and adds: “stepping into cooler spaces during events can help the nervous system settle without needing to leave the fun entirely.”

A lovely winter breeze will feel like BLISS.

Too many layers

While getting bundled into heavy coats and gorgeous thick scarves can be a treat, Benjamin warns: “Multiple thick layers can create a heat ‘lock-in’, especially when moving between outdoors and warm interiors.”

Instead, she says, wear breathable base layers and ‘easy off’ outer layers so you can adjust quickly rather than feeling trapped in rising heat. Yuck.

Shapewear and tight festive outfits

Gorgeous glittery dresses with sheer tights, isn’t this what Christmas parties were designed for? However, Benjamin says that tight waistbands, shapewear, and high-compression fabrics don’t just trap heat, they can compress the abdomen and worsen bloating, reflux, or gut discomfort.

You don’t have to hang up your dancing shoes just yet, though. Benjamin says: “Prioritise comfort, choosing looser silhouettes or natural fibres that don’t constrict the stomach, and allow the body to cool itself more effectively. ”

Extra caffeine in cold-weather routines

Whether you’re rushed off your feet, finding time to get coffee with friends or just warming up with more cups of tea and coffee throughout the day, Benjamin warns that caffeine can be a risk.

She says: “Warming coffee, strong tea, and seasonal hot drinks can stimulate the blood vessels to widen and increase blood flow triggering flushes, and may also increase gut sensitivity and discomfort, particularly in women who are prone to reflux or IBS-type symptoms in midlife.”

She suggests altering these drinks with herbal tea or water will help moderate stress signalling and digestive irritation.

Happy holidays!

Doctor Shares Signs You Might Have ‘Hormonal Insomnia’

Posted on 02/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Even though I have insomnia, I didn’t recognise that I had a problem for years.

That’s because I thought the condition only meant struggling to fall asleep. But I have sleep maintenance insomnia, which means I wake up in the middle of the night and then struggle to return to the land of nod.

I heard the phrase for the first time last year. But I only read the words “hormonal insomnia” this week.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr Giuseppe Aragona, GP and medical adviser for Prescription Doctor, explained that those with the condition “often have trouble falling asleep initially, wake during the night and struggle to return to sleep, or wake too early in the morning”.

But what does the term mean, why does it happen, and what can you do if you have it?

What is “hormonal insomnia”?

The term “refers to difficulty sleeping that arises as a result of changes or imbalances in the body’s hormone levels,” Dr Aragona explained.

“Several hormones play a key role in regulating sleep, including melatonin, which signals to the brain that it is time to sleep, and cortisol, which promotes alertness and can interfere with sleep if elevated at night.”

Reproductive hormones, like oestrogen and progesterone, can also lead to the condition because they, too, affect our sleep patterns.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that the GP said: “Hormonal insomnia is most commonly observed during life stages when hormone levels are changing significantly, such as during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause, and may also occur in thyroid disorders or other endocrine conditions.

“These hormonal shifts can disrupt the body’s temperature regulation, circadian rhythm, and mood, all of which contribute to sleep disturbance.”

What are the symptoms of hormonal insomnia?

They’re quite like those of “regular” insomnia, Dr Aragona said.

“People experiencing hormonal insomnia often have trouble falling asleep initially, wake during the night and struggle to return to sleep, or wake too early in the morning.

“Sleep may feel fragmented and of poor quality, leading to daytime fatigue, irritability, poor concentration, and low mood.”

If your hormonal insomnia is linked to hormonal changes like menopause, you might notice other symptoms keeping you awake, like hot flushes and night sweats.

If a GP were to check for hormonal, rather than general, insomnia, the doctor tolf HuffPost UK, they “would typically explore a person’s life stage, hormonal history, and the timing and pattern of symptoms.

“It is also important to consider associated symptoms such as mood changes, night sweats, or bladder issues, and to rule out other causes of insomnia such as stress, poor sleep hygiene, sleep apnoea, or pain.”

Blood tests can help to rule out thyroid issues or hormonal imbalances, too.

What should I do if I have hormonal insomnia?

Dr Aragona recommends a blend of different strategies.

“Maintaining a consistent sleep routine, avoiding stimulants and screens in the evening, and keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet can help,” he advised, while “Relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or breathing exercises can reduce stress and cortisol levels, making it easier to fall asleep.

“Addressing underlying hormonal symptoms, for example, through lifestyle strategies or, where appropriate, medical treatments for menopause-related symptoms, may also improve sleep.”

If your insomnia lasts for a long time ― some doctors put it at more than three nights a week, for three months or longer ― see a GP, said the expert.

Lastly, “General health measures, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding excessive alcohol or nicotine, also support better sleep,” said Dr Aragona.

“Hormonal insomnia is usually multifactorial, so addressing lifestyle, behavioural, and medical factors together tends to be the most effective approach.”

A Sexologist’s 7 Rules For Great Sex During And After Menopause

Posted on 30/11/2025 by Boris Clair

Though you might associate menopause with hot flushes, that’s just one of 62 symptoms linked to the phase.

Menopause and perimenopause are also associated with changes to your sex drive and even differences in your vaginal and vulvar tissue.

And seeing as the entire menopausal process can last for decades, it seems unfair to expect people to navigate it without much guidance on their changing bodies and needs.

Which is why we spoke to licensed sexologist, relationship therapist and author at Passionerad, Sofie Roos, about how to establish a healthy sex life during and after menopause.

Here, she shared her seven rules:

1) Accept changes to your lust levels

“During and after the menopause, your lust tends to change. Some people get less interested in sex, while others [develop] a [stronger] desire,” Roos said.

“It’s also common to experience a different or deeper and more emotionally based lust than before.”

As much as possible, the sexologist advised, try not to “panic” about these changes.

“See it as a chance to discover something new, rather than trying to go back to how things used to be… if you can accept that things won’t be the same, you also open up the door for better pleasure than pre-menopause.”

2) Lube is your BFF

Vaginal dryness can increase during menopause thanks to changes in your oestrogen levels. This “tends to make sex uncomfortable, which puts many in a negative loop where they get less interested in sex due to it not feeling as good anymore,” Roos stated.

“Therefore, take the help of lube, ideally a silicone-based option of good quality, and make sure to use a lot – this will be a saviour!”

3) Take more time to warm up

Some research suggests that menopause may mean some people take longer to “get going” in the bedroom, as hormonal changes lead to different levels of sensitivity.

“This means that you should invest more time in foreplay, and switch up how you do it,” advised Roos.

“Try a sensual massage, kiss and cuddle longer, focus more on slow touches that build up in intensity, and don’t be afraid to take the help of sex toys such as vibrators, which can help blood to flow [more easily] to the vagina.”

4) Rediscover masturbation

Partnered sex is only one side of the equation here. Roos said menopause is a great opportunity to work out how to offer your own body what it needs, too.

“Discover new ways of turning yourself on, for example, by reading sex novels or watching new types of porn… invest in sex toys, especially vibrators, use lots of lube, and build up the pleasure [over] a longer time,” she stated.

“Also, be open to adapting and changing the way you masturbate based on how things feel and what works, and don’t give up if it takes some time to find solo sex that feels as amazing as before… You will get there eventually.”

5) Communicate with your partner

If you have a partner, they may benefit from learning about any changing needs, too, Roos said.

“Try to have a good, honest and respectful communication around intimacy. Boundaries and needs get even more important when the body changes, so make sure to open up [about] what feels good, what doesn’t work as it used to, and what you’re curious about trying.

“Invite and help your partner to help you have good sex, and don’t keep it to yourself, as that often leads to stress and anxiety, which is a real killer for [your] sex drive. It’s the two of you in this!”

6) Try pelvic floor exercises

“I really recommend strengthening the pelvic floor as that helps manage many menopause symptoms, especially symptoms related to sex… it leads to higher sensitivity, more pleasurable intimacy, and a better ability to orgasm,” said Roos.

A 2022 paper found that Kegels and lube both improved sexual function in menopausal women, with Kegels potentially being the more effective of the two.

7) Stay playful

It sounds obvious, but Roos said that remembering sex is meant to be fun is key to a better connection with your body – whether you’re pre-, post-, or mid-menopause.

“Switch the mindset of sex being something you need to perform, to it instead being a moment of emotional and physical intimacy, playfulness and… pleasure.

“The less pressure, the easier it is to find your own lust and sexiness during and after menopause,” she ended.

3 Habits I Thought Were Normal But Were Actually Sleep Apnoea

Posted on 21/09/2025 by Boris Clair

Recently, my kids started teasing me about snoring. I didn’t realise I was snoring, so I headed down a Google rabbit hole.

I searched through the reasons why people snore, and soon I discovered that lifelong habits that I thought were normal were actually warning signs for obstructive sleep apnoea.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition that involves a person’s airway closing when they sleep. It might close partially or completely.

Of the nearly 30 million Americans who live with obstructive sleep apnoea, up to 80% have never been diagnosed, according to a report from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

How are so many people missing the signs of sleep apnoea? I asked experts to break down the symptoms and explain why they can be easily overlooked.

Snoring is the biggest red flag ― but it’s not always consistent.

Snoring is a well-known sleep apnoea sign, but many people don’t realise they’re doing it. I missed this sign for years because I was asleep, my husband was asleep, and I wasn’t doing it consistently. Sleep apnoea can look a little different for women, and snoring isn’t always the No. 1 sign.

Snoring can also get easily overlooked by a person who lives alone. Eventually, they might move in with a significant other or share a room while traveling with friends who will point out their noisy sleep habits.

Once the person’s snoring becomes bothersome, they might decide to get checked by a specialist.

“The most common reason why people end up in my clinic is because they have what we like to call ‘unacceptable snoring,’” said Dr. Robson Capasso, chief of sleep surgery at Stanford Medicine in California.

While most snoring tends to feel unacceptable, it’s not always caused by sleep apnoea, and it’s not always a health risk. When you breathe, air passes the tissues at the back of your throat, causing them to vibrate and make noise. This is called primary snoring, and there’s no disruption to airflow. It might be annoying to others, but it’s not dangerous.

With sleep apnoea, those tissues can relax and collapse, causing your airway to become fully or partially blocked. Snoring is the sound of air working its way through the tissues. It can also cause pauses in breathing, choking or gasping, depending on the severity of the blockage.

“I would say that for almost everybody who has received complaints about their snoring, it really doesn’t hurt to have a further evaluation and see if this is primary snoring versus sleep apnoea,” Capasso said.

A sleep assessment will show if you are having drops in oxygen frequency, which point to sleep apnoea. It’s important to get treated since the condition can lead to health issues like heart disease, stroke, or accidents.

If you’re curious about whether you snore, Capasso recommended the SnoreLab app, which helps you track the frequency and intensity of your snoring. While it can’t diagnose sleep apnoea, it can give you a clearer picture of your habits, like whether you’re snoring for five minutes or several hours.

Don't ignore these three major indicators of sleep apnoea. — Don’t ignore these three major indicators of sleep apnoea.

Feeling tired during the day is also a sign (even more so if you believe you’ve had a full night’s rest).

We live in a rise-and-grind culture in which it’s easy to tie our exhaustion to a full-time job, a busy schedule or parenthood. But if you’re getting less oxygen and experiencing breathing disruptions all night long, you’re not just going to be tired. You’re going to be sleepy to the point of passing out at inappropriate times.

Ever since I started driving at age 16, I’ve had trouble staying awake on trips that take more than 20 minutes. It’s grown worse as I’ve aged, and I always thought this “highway hypnosis” was normal. Now, I’ve learned that it’s a warning sign.

In addition to getting sleepy while driving, sleep apnoea sufferers might drift off in situations in which a well-rested person wouldn’t be struggling to stay awake.

“You’re allowed to be bored, but dozing off or falling asleep whenever you are sedentary — watching TV, reading a book, sitting in the theatre —those are not normal things,” said Dr. R. Nisha Aurora, a sleep clinician and AASM spokesperson.

Of course, the key here is determining whether you’re still falling asleep in these situations despite getting consistent, lengthy sleep most nights.

“If you’re having a good number of hours of sleep … and the sleep schedule is regular … you shouldn’t be sleepy; if you are, you should see a sleep specialist,” Capasso said.

Before ordering a sleep test, physicians will typically evaluate environmental factors: Does the person work overnight shifts? Do they drink or smoke? Do they stay up late bingeing movies?

The first step is fixing those issues. Once good sleep hygiene is established, if problems persist, a provider might recommend a sleep test.

Sleep apnoea can also be confused with normal signs of aging or stress.

Beyond snoring and sleepiness, I was surprised to discover that insomnia, nighttime awakening, and certain daytime problems like mood changes and cognitive issues can be connected to sleep apnoea. These are symptoms that can easily be attributed to other conditions like aging, stress, menopause, or, in my case, the challenges of being a parent.

Aurora said that there’s a “glaring issue with underdiagnosis in women who really tend to present differently, especially once they’re post-menopausal.”

Many post-menopausal women experience insomnia, and physicians might focus on that rather than testing for sleep apnoea. Other markers of sleep apnoea in women can include headaches, depression, brain fog, and frequently waking up to urinate.

Research shows that the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea increases as women experience menopause, which can disguise the symptoms and make diagnosis even more difficult.

“We can’t just say, ‘this is normal, this is part of aging,’” said Aurora. “It could be just menopause alone … but they still should get checked out.”

So… what should you do?

Report any symptoms to your doctor, even if they seem “normal.” As awareness has increased, physicians are more likely to proactively evaluate a person with symptoms that look a little different.

“You’re always going to find that one paper that’s going to link sleep apnoea to almost everything… golf scores, hair loss, skin health,” Capasso said.

While sleep apnoea can affect various aspects of a person’s life, it’s important to avoid obsessing over sleep perfection or less-established symptoms.

“You hear sleep apnoea is underdiagnosed, and therefore, untreated,” Capasso said.

“My feelings are actually kind of mixed about this, as I believe there is a significant dichotomy. On one side, there is a community that’s super tuned to their health, longevity-oriented, wellness-oriented … I jokingly say there is almost hyperawareness of sleep apnoea, as sleep tests are positive in a significant percentage of adults.

“On the other hand, perimenopausal women, underserved communities, people with cardiovascular diseases – this is the population where we should work harder to increase awareness. This is a population that needs to be more proactively investigated.”

Wake Up Sweating At 3am? This May Be Why

Posted on 31/05/2025 by Boris Clair

Try as I might (and believe me, I’ve tried), I constantly manage to wake up hot and sweaty at 3am.

I’ve always attributed that to my insomnia. But hormone and sleep specialists have shared my issues might be partly down to my biology.

We know it’s crucial to keep bedrooms cool (experts recommend 16-18°C) to be able to sleep well – and this is perhaps even more important for women.

When a study found rising temperatures are impacting sleep globally, it also revealed women were impacted more than men. The Guardian noted “women’s bodies cool earlier in the evening than men’s when going to sleep, meaning higher night time temperatures may have a bigger impact on women”.

Women’s slightly higher core body temperatures can also make us “feel” external cold and warmth more intensely, Dr Karan Rajan previously shared.

Women appear to wake up overheated more often than men – but why?

Dr Renee Young, an endocrinologist and founder of the Young Naturopathic Centre For Wellness, told Pretty You London that “hormones like oestrogen and progesterone play a central role in how the brain regulates body temperature”.

She added: “Even slight fluctuations can confuse the body into thinking it needs to cool down. That often looks like a hot flush or a sudden sweat episode, especially at night.”

These are not exclusive to menopause or perimenopause, though both of these can lead to similar symptoms.

Clinical dietitian Dr Colleen Fogarty-Draper said it’s not just hormones, though.

“Women in midlife often have a lower stress threshold… Higher cortisol levels, especially when they don’t follow their normal rhythm, can interfere with sleep and make overheating worse,” she shared.

How can I stop overheating at night?

Though you might be tempted to take a cooling shower before settling down, NHS GP Dr Hana Patel said this may not be the answer.

“A cold shower can cause your body to generate more heat as a response,” she advised, while the cool-down period following a warm shower “tells your brain it’s time to sleep”.

Wearing thinner pyjamas, avoiding heavy bedding, and even keeping your partner out of your bed (if needed) may help, The Sleep Foundation said.

Whatever the cause, though, you should see your GP if your sleep is consistently interrupted.

“Menopause and hormonal changes don’t have to steal your sleep,” Dr Fogarty-Draper stressed. “When we understand the cause, we can take back control.”