Menopause: One in four say the biggest emotional burden is the pressure to appear fine

Low mood or anxiety, self-doubt and the pressure to appear fine: these are just some of the experiences identified by Menopause Dialogues – The Census*, a survey of Irish women by menopause support brand CanesMeno. The research found that almost one in four women (23 per cent) say the pressure to appear “fine” is the biggest emotional burden of perimenopause and menopause.

“These research findings really hit home,” says Maia Dunphy, TV presenter and menopause advocate. “As women, we’re often expected to just ‘get on with it’, but menopause is a profound life stage that impacts almost every aspect of wellbeing, from sleep and energy to relationships and work. The fact that so many women feel unsupported, or even unaware of what they’re experiencing, is a clear call to action.”

Anxiety, says Dr Louise Fitzgerald, a Dublin GP with a special interest in menopause, is one of the “most prominent signs that I see in menopause”.

“It can be complicated,” she says, “as a woman may have a history of anxiety, and it has worsened as they go through perimenopause and menopause. But really, what can be alarming for women is when anxiety appears out of nowhere. They’re suddenly experiencing this, and it’s something they haven’t experienced before.” Many fail to connect their feelings with the perimenopausal and menopausal stages, she adds. “It’s hard to know what a sign is when you haven’t had it before.”

For some women, this can have a tangible – and negative – impact on their career, as anxiety may impact upon their concentration levels or make a workload seem overwhelming. Fitzgerald says this is something she is increasingly cognisant of.

Women going through the menopausal transition may not even understand why they no longer feel at the top of their game, she says. “Suddenly they find themselves under the scrutiny of their employer or their manager because their performance is not as good as it used to be. What’s happening is that they are experiencing severe anxiety that’s impacting on their performance.”

This can be a vicious cycle, Fitzgerald notes, with worry and fear worsening as time goes on. “We often see women coming into a clinic and saying, ‘I need to do a presentation next week, and before I would have been absolutely fine, and now I cannot sleep, I’m just thinking about this presentation’. And it’s becoming overwhelming.” 

Menopause Dialogues – The Census also found that one in 10 women said increased self-doubt or questioning their capabilities was the biggest emotional burden of perimenopause and menopause.

The impact should not be underestimated, Fitzgerald adds. “We do, unfortunately, see women dropping out of the workplace or certainly taking time off while they manage their anxiety before they get back into the workplace again.”

‘A menopause champion is someone who’s trained in menopause and understands a bit more about menopause than others in the workplace’

—  Dr Louise Fitzgerald, a Dublin GP with a special interest in menopause

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting the menopausal transition, as every woman’s experience is individual and signs can vary by menopause stage, in duration, severity and impact.

Anxiety is something that can be addressed, says Fitzgerald. “Anxiety in general is actually quite treatable,” she notes, “the key is to open the discussion and seek support from a trusted GP.”

The working environment has a part to play, with differing workplaces offering different levels of support. “Some workplaces are better in terms of menopause policy than others, by a long shot,” says Fitzgerald. She believes that employers should strive to create an environment where meaningful dialogue about the menopause is the norm, and adequate support is given.

“One thing we’re seeing more commonly now is the menopause policy and this can be really helpful in providing a structure for menopause support that’s available for women,” she says. Employers can make very “simple, reasonable adjustments”, she says, for any employee who requires accommodation during the menopausal stage.

Certain workplaces now have “menopause champions”, trained advocates who help raise awareness about menopause-related issues and offer peer-to-peer support for their colleagues. “A menopause champion is someone who’s trained in menopause and understands a bit more about menopause than others in the workplace,” Fitzgerald explains. “They are somebody that the employee can go to and talk about their menopause experience in an open, safe, understandable environment, and that can be really valuable.”

For many women, getting accurate and empathetic advice on menopause can be a game changer. Menopause Dialogues – The Census found that 61 per cent of women believe there is an insufficient number of trusted and credible resources available for those navigating menopause or perimenopause. This sentiment is particularly strong among perimenopausal women, suggesting a feeling of unpreparedness for the onset of symptoms.

Fitzgerald directs many of her patients to the CanesMeno Hub, a free-to-access comprehensive digital service that provides information and guidance. Users may track signs of the menopause using the CanesMeno Hub, helping them to log changes, gain insights and feel empowered to have meaningful conversations with their doctor.

“These can answer some of the questions you might have,” Fitzgerald says. “And the CanesMeno Hub can really help in recognising the signs that you might notice around menopause and perimenopause.”

The CanesMeno range of scientifically formulated products includes food supplements and a gynaecologically-tested vaginal dryness gel, CanesMeno Hydration & Comfort Gel, available only from pharmacies nationwide in Ireland.

Support, and knowing where to find it, is the key takeaway. “We know that almost one in four women reported that pressure to feel fine was the biggest non-physical burden they felt as they went through the menopause,” Fitzgerald concludes. The spotlight needs to be shone on the “invisible” emotional and psychological burden of menopause, she says. “I think we underestimate how much it is impacting on women.”

*Research conducted by Empathy Research on behalf of Canesten, August 2025. n=279. CanesMeno® products are available in pharmacies nationwide and the CanesMeno® Hub is completely free to access at canesten.ie.

CanesMeno^® Hydration & Comfort Gel is a medical device. The CanesMeno® Hub provides education on menopause; it is not intended to be a substitute for advice from a doctor and it is not a diagnostic tool