The hidden signs of menopause – and what you can do about them

Gritty, dry eyes. Persistent tiredness. Little bladder leaks when you’re out and about. It turns out there’s a lot more to menopause than the classic hot flushes, bad sleep and brain fog.

While the conversation has opened up, there are lots of signs you might not have connected to this life transition – 48 in fact, according to GenM, the menopause partner for brands and retailers. And those signs can show up just about anywhere, from your hair to your joints.

As if they weren’t overwhelming enough, we also have to navigate competing advice, alarming headlines and a dizzying array of products. Which is why CEO Heather Jackson set up GenM, after her own experience of menopause left her struggling to find everyday products she could rely on.

With GenM, she has brought together over 170 household names, including retailers Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Pharmacy2U, global brands such as L’Oréal, TENA and Bodyform, as well as British companies Lovehoney and iconic E45, who have all committed to improving understanding of menopause through education, support and trusted products.

At the heart of this mission sits the MTick®, the universal shopping symbol and certification for menopause-friendly products. Every product that carries it has been through a robust independent assessment – ‘You can’t buy the MTick, you’ve got to earn it,’ Jackson stresses. The idea, she says, is to help women navigate everyday products they’re shopping anyway – not, crucially, to encourage them to buy more. ‘I created the MTick to protect women and give them trust, choice and visibility,’ Jackson explains. ‘It doesn’t claim to cure menopause – nothing can, because it’s not something to be cured.’ But, she adds, alongside lifestyle changes (and, where suitable, HRT), it can help you build your own tailored toolkit. Here’s where to start...

Changes to sleep, mood and concentration

Disrupted sleep is one of the most frequently reported signs of menopause. Many women find they wake in the night – often around 3am – drenched or wide awake. And if you’re already battling with brain fog and faltering attention, there’s no doubt that a lack of shut-eye won’t help. Luckily there are ways to improve your sleep. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is gaining traction as a way to manage menopause-related sleep disturbance, while apps such as Meno! offer tools to help quiet racing thoughts. Research also suggests that magnesium may improve sleep – look for MTick-certified supplements like Lumity Night Formula.

If you’re looking for extra support winding down, LoveHoney's intimate wellbeing device Menopulse uses gentle external stimulation to support relaxation and sleep. For hot flushes and night sweats, breathable, temperature-regulating bedding like the duvets and mattress toppers from Woolroom may help by keeping you cooler, while moisture-wicking nightwear from Cyberjammies can make a real difference to nighttime comfort.

What does the MTick mean?
Every product carrying the symbol has been independently assessed through a certification process against menopause-friendly criteria, and must be found to meet one or more of the following:
- backed by authorised medicinal, cosmetic or health claims
- tried and tested by menopausal women
- incorporate features or technology designed to support menopausal needs

Skin and hair changes

If your once-reliable skincare routine has suddenly stopped delivering the goods, you’re not alone. The hormonal shifts of menopause can have a big impact on skin, even if you’ve never had problems before.

To help manage dryness, increased sensitivity or even the unwelcome return of spots, keep things simple with a gentle cleanser, a good moisturiser and daily SPF 30+ to help protect against UV-related collagen damage. Sainsbury’s premium skincare range, The Edit, includes products designed to help hydrate, brighten and renew menopausal skin. And for skin that feels particularly dry or tight, E45 has a range of rich, soothing products formulated to support vulnerable skin.

Midlife hair thinning can be one of the most distressing signs of menopause, but it’s surprisingly common. While no products promise to reverse shedding, look out for formulas that are designed to nourish and protect brittle hair – L’Oréal Paris has a range of MTick-certified products, including its Elvive Collagen + Lifter line and Growth Booster scalp serum, formulated to help prevent hair loss and boost growth.

Energy, strength and nutrition

Feeling more tired than usual, or waking with aching, stiff joints can make movement feel like the last thing you want to do. But supporting strength and mobility is one of the most useful conversations to emerge around menopause wellbeing – particularly strength training. Working with weights helps maintain muscle mass, improve strength and support bone health.

Protein has also gained a lot of column inches for its role in supporting muscle mass, metabolism and bone health, which can be affected by falling oestrogen (general advice recommends aiming for around 1.2g per kilo of your weight a day). Good nutrition in general becomes more important at this life stage too – introducing nutrient-rich food such as a Bio&Me’s high-fibre cereal can help keep you on track.

Bladder and intimate comfort

If you’ve not heard about the vaginal microbiome, it’s time to gen up. Just like the gut microbiome, it’s a community of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, that help maintain a healthy environment and protect against infection.

During menopause, falling oestrogen can alter this delicate balance. The result? Dryness, irritation, discomfort during sex and, for some women, an increased susceptibility to urinary tract infections (UTIs).

The good news is that you don’t have to ‘just put up with it’. Vaginal oestrogen can help restore moisture and improve the health of vaginal tissues, often making a significant difference to comfort. MTick-certified Ovesse Vaginal Cream is a treatment available without prescription from pharmacies following a suitability assessment by the pharmacist.

For many women, declines in oestrogen levels also mean an increase in leaks when you laugh, sneeze or jump. ‘Pelvic-floor muscle training is an important treatment for urinary incontinence,’ advises Good Housekeeping's Dr Mo Khaki. And for added comfort and confidence, TENA and Bodyform both have absorbent liners and underwear designed specifically for bladder leaks, so you can go about your day without worrying about getting caught short.

Whatever way the menopause is showing up for you, think of the MTick as a trusted shopping symbol to help you search, source and shop the support you need.

Know the Sign. Look for the MTick

The MTick® Edit: products for the signs you recognise*

Every menopause journey is unique. Here are some of our top picks for MTick-certified products that can help address one or more of the 48 recognised signs of menopause

*Every product featured has been through GenM’s robust, independent certification process and assessed against menopause-friendly criteria for the specific sign it may support.