A surprising 43% of menopausal and post-menopausal women feel younger than they actually are, according to new research.
The survey of 1,000 menopausal women and 1,000 post-menopausal women found that in spite of the aches, pains and emotional side effects of menopause, many are feeling more youthful than expected — and a lot of it has to do with a positive mindset and approach to life, according to the study.
Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Solaray, the study uncovered some of the most unexpected menopausal symptoms, how this stage has influenced women’s lives, relationships and self-image and how they’ve used it as an opportunity for getting in touch with their bodies.
According to the study, the most unexpected menopausal symptoms for the women polled were hot flashes (40%), night sweats (34%), weight gain (28%), mood swings (23%), insomnia (21%) and joint and muscle aches (20%).
Along with physical symptoms, the study also revealed that menopause is a multidimensional challenge for women, impacting their relationships, work and self-perception.
Most respondents (55%) confessed that menopause symptoms have negatively impacted their romantic relationships, 38% said symptoms have caused them to struggle at work and the majority (66%) said menopause symptoms have harmed their sense of self and self-image.
Adding to these struggles with self-image, most (72%) feel that aging is portrayed differently for men and women in media and pop culture and 68% said women are seen as “older” sooner than men as they age.
“We commissioned this study to highlight how difficult and multifaceted menopause can be for women,” said Max Willis, chief innovation and science officer at Solaray. “However, the research found that while menopause poses a significant challenge for women, it’s not stopping them from living life to the fullest. It’s heartwarming and inspirational to see menopausal and post-menopausal women tackling this life stage head-on, aging gracefully and continuously evolving.
The research found that a heartwarming seven in 10 menopausal or post-menopausal women feel more in tune with their bodies than ever and 67% said they’re more health-aware with every passing day.
Possibly because of this, the majority (58%) believe the best in life is yet to come.
The study highlighted how women are using menopause as an opportunity to get in touch with themselves, getting to know their bodies and health better.
Contributing to this improvement in health, the women cited getting daily exercise (54%), a vitamin or supplement regimen (51%), better mental wellbeing (47%) and more consistent sleep (44%).
For those who feel younger than they actually are, many said it’s all due to staying active, exercising and eating healthy and others said it’s all about positivity, optimism and growth mindset.
One respondent summed it all up well by saying, “I feel as if I am just discovering myself and who I am and what I really like.”
Many women are feeling happier these days, with the top reasons being that they’re avoiding negativity (48%), taking better care of their overall health (47%) and embracing their age (47%).
And as they’ve gotten older, respondents have noticed that they’re making wiser choices (45%), standing up for themselves more (43%), nurturing important relationships (39%) and cultivating high self-esteem (39%).
To navigate the complexity of womanhood, the survey asked respondents to write their secrets to a happy life and uncovered common themes around positivity, meaningful relationships, taking charge, having purpose, building community and always looking on the upside.
“As respondents so wisely said, many of the secrets to happiness involve an optimistic attitude and health-conscious approach to life,” said Willis. “Life’s all about taking things one day at a time and taking good care of yourself, so you’re able to enjoy the moment and appreciate what life has to offer.”
When it comes to the advice they’d like to give their younger selves, respondents said to “work on yourself each day and foster your relationships,” “stay in tune with yourself,” and “live in the moment.”
SECRETS TO A HAPPY LIFE
- “Positivity”
- “Meaningful relationships”
- “Not taking things too seriously”
- “Forget about what other people think”
- “Take charge and dive in”
- “Having purpose, friends and community you belong to”
- “Staying healthy and having a good sense of humor”
- “Showing appreciation to others”
- “Not sweating the small stuff”
- “Looking on the upside to life”
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 women going through menopause and 1,000 women who are post-menopausal; the survey was commissioned by Solaray and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 30 and May 6, 2025.
