Hot flush? Why - just open a window! How men are in the dark on menopause

It will come as no surprise to the millions of long-suffering women putting up with one of the biggest changes to their lives with precious little sympathy from their other halves.

But a study has revealed how men remain in the dark about the menopause – including how nearly a quarter think that hot flushes can be dealt with simply by 'opening a window'.

A third of chaps were revealed to have 'little' to 'no' understanding of their partner's menopause symptoms.

And 40 per cent were unable to even list 'hot flushes' as a sign of the change.

Some 57 per cent had never heard of 'perimenopause' – the transitional period before menopause.

And 80 per cent of both men and women did not know dry eyes were a common symptom.

The study of 2,000 adults was commissioned by Vision Express, which is introducing menopause training to its high street stores in an attempt to address the knowledge gap concerning the impact on women's eye health.

Dan McGhee, clinical services director at the opticians, said: 'These findings starkly show the widespread lack of understanding surrounding perimenopause and the menopause, even the misconception that a hot flush is simply solved by "opening a window".

'Adults wouldn't spot dry eyes as a menopausal symptom. Too often, women are left to navigate these changes without the support or information they deserve and we hope to change that.'

The study by OnePoll.com also found 22 per cent of women admit they too have a lack of knowledge of perimenopause.

Some 44 per cent didn't know mood swings were a menopause symptom, while 57 per cent were unaware of weight gain. And 40 per cent hadn't realised anxiety was also a sign.

And while 66 per cent of men admit their knowledge of the topic could do with work, a third of couples said they 'rarely' discuss menopause.