New Intimina examine of 4,000 ladies reveals the numerous affect menopause has on physique picture, confidence and shallowness
Lately, menopause has turn into one of the standard matters in ladies’s well being discussions. It has been a very long time coming, but it surely seems to be just like the world is lastly prepared to interrupt the stigma surrounding this tough stage of life that the majority ladies expertise. With a view to assist ladies world wide, the general public and media are more and more protecting menopause. For many individuals, this life stage can convey discomfort with a number of signs. Nonetheless, this can be a regular transition and needs to be acknowledged as such. It’s important for ladies to navigate this time with entry to correct info and assist after they want it.
Intimate wellness model to higher perceive how menopause impacts ladies in the present day Intimina Survey of over 4,000 ladies aged 40 to 60 within the UK, Spain, France and Italy. The analysis targeted on ladies who’ve skilled or are at present experiencing menopause and revealed the extent to which menopause adjustments ladies’s relationships with their our bodies, revealing a major disaster of confidence and highlighting the necessity for larger illustration and assist.
Menopause seems to have a big impact on ladies, with ladies who’ve skilled or are at present experiencing menopause reporting feeling extra unfavourable (51%), dissatisfied (50%), essential (41%) and fewer assured (46%) since experiencing menopause.
Maybe not shocking, contemplating the affect menopause has on ladies. 61% of those ladies are at present dissatisfied with their our bodies, and 21% say they don’t seem to be in any respect happy.
Bodily adjustments trigger dissatisfaction
When requested about the reason for this decline, ladies overwhelmingly cited bodily adjustments. The bulk stated weight achieve (56%) and scorching flashes or different seen signs (50%) have been the most important components affecting their confidence, adopted by pores and skin (28%), adjustments in vaginal or sexual well being (22%), and muscle pressure (22%). Many additionally famous that hair thinning, breast adjustments, and facial getting older are notably tough to cope with.
Social strain and lack of illustration
The examine discovered that these struggles are exacerbated by social strain and lack of illustration. Two in 5 ladies (41%) say they examine themselves to youthful ladies greater than they used to, and almost 4 in 10 (39%) say they really feel pressured by society and the media to keep up a youthful look. Surprisingly, greater than half (54%) say they do not see many relatable menopausal ladies within the media, highlighting how invisibility can exacerbate an already susceptible stage of life.
Coping methods and their limitations
Whereas many ladies are actively searching for methods to manage, from train and health (53%) to dressing flatteringly (43%) and skincare routines (30%), almost one in eight (12%) admit that nothing helps them deal with these adjustments. Some depend on self-talk, conversations with friends, and even magnificence therapies, however the general image is of ladies struggling to keep up their confidence with restricted assist.
Change your priorities round health and beauty
Regardless of these challenges, it seems that menopause may also result in significant adjustments in values. Greater than 4 in 10 ladies (41%) stated they’re now extra targeted on their well being than their look, whereas one other 42% stated they keep an equal steadiness between the 2. Practically half (47%) additionally reported that their definition of magnificence is evolving, with 26% saying they now not care about conventional requirements and 23% saying they’re actively redefining their very own magnificence.
cultural blind spots
The cultural established order stays grim. 41% of ladies imagine that older ladies are considered negatively of their tradition, however solely 14% really feel that older ladies are valued positively. This lack of cultural consciousness, mixed with physique adjustments and social pressures, has led to a decline in physique acceptance. In comparison with their 30s and 40s, 39% of ladies really feel much less accepting of their our bodies, and solely 28% say they’ve turn into extra accepting.
What nonetheless makes ladies really feel stunning
However there are additionally sparks of positivity. Many ladies are discovering magnificence and confidence in new locations, with 49% saying they really feel most stunning when taking good care of their well being and 41% believing in self-acceptance. A 3rd stated bodily health (33%) and peace of thoughts (33%) performed a central position, whereas others stated they derived confidence from relationships, accomplishments and private model.
Help that ladies search
When requested how one can really feel higher about getting older, ladies pointed to clear options. 35% stated they needed higher entry to magnificence and wellness sources particular to menopausal ladies, 33% stated they needed extra genuine representations of older ladies within the media, and 32% emphasised the significance of supporting psychological well being and shallowness. Slightly below a 3rd additionally referred to as for extra open conversations about menopause. However nearly one in 5 ladies (19%) say change will not occur with out sources, exhibiting how deep-seated this belief disaster is.
Dunja Kokotovic, international model supervisor at Intimina, stated: “These findings reveal a sober reality: For too many ladies, menopause is accompanied by a lack of confidence and a deep sense of dissatisfaction with their our bodies. Redefining magnificence in an empowering approach. Though some ladies do, the bulk nonetheless really feel missed, pressured, and invisible. There may be rather more work to be executed to assist ladies really feel completely happy, assured, and represented at this stage of their lives. It is time to break the taboo, change the best way society views older ladies, and supply actual sources to assist each the physique and the thoughts.”
The survey was carried out utilizing a census survey of ladies aged 40 to 60 who had skilled/at present skilled menopause within the UK, France, Spain and Italy. Information was collected between July 21, 2025 and July 28, 2025. Census Complete complies with and employs members of the Market Analysis Affiliation and follows the MRS Code of Conduct and the ESOMAR Rules. Censuswide can be a member of the British Opinion Analysis Council.
