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ROCK ICON Tina Turner has simply the best attitudeto life at a time when most women are going through the menopause,a new study reveals today.

The 61 year-old singer tops a poll of women most admired forgetting on with life during the years when many women experiencemenopausal symptoms.

Close on Tina's high-heels are British stage supremo Dame JudiDench and Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn, in the 'Managing theMenopause' research commissioned by Norwich Union Healthcare.

Of the seven and a half million women* who suffer menopausalsymptoms, two in five say their partner was unsympathetic when theywere undergoing the menopause.

A third of women also felt that if their husband or partnerunderstood what they were going through, it would have made thewhole experience much easier.

The research, which looked at both male and female attitudes tothe menopause, shows that men reject the idea of a 'male menopause'- with two thirds of men denying its existence. However three infive men suffer typical menopausal symptoms such as sleeplessnights and aches and pains.

The 'Managing the Menopause' survey also reveals:

• Nine in ten menopausal women have suffered uncomfortablesymptoms such as hot flushes or insomnia
• Women would rather talk to their friends or doctor about themenopause than to their partner
• Three in five men say their partner's mood swings were thehardest thing to cope with during the change
• Two in five women and one in three men think women should begiven extra time off work during the menopause
• Both women and men feel the menopause is the third most tabooissue in society, after death and sex

In response to the need to provide both women and their partnerswith realistic information and advice about the menopause, NorwichUnion Healthcare has produced a guide called 'Managing theMenopause'.

The free guide is designed to give people practical informationand advice on how best to survive the common physical and lifestylechanges during the menopause, such as alternative remedies, dietand exercise and who to contact for advice and guidance.

Dr. Doug Wright, of Norwich Union Healthcare, said: "Eachwoman's experience of the menopause is different, yet many womenfeel their lives have come to an end.

"However for decades women have proved that life can be asexciting as ever, and continues to be as enjoyable and fulfilling.Our research also highlights the fact that women feel that theirpartners and family need to be better informed about the menopause,and we hope this guide is a good resource for women - along withthe support of their GP and other support groups - when discussingtheir experiences with others."

To request a free copy of Norwich Union Healthcare's'Managing the Menopause' guide call Freefone 0800 200203.

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*Source: Office for National Statistics and GeneralRegister Office for Scotland

Notes to editors

• Norwich Union Healthcare commissioned Brand and Issues toconduct an independent survey of 250 men and 250 women between theages of 45-70. The survey was carried out in May 2001.
• Norwich Union Healthcare was founded in 1990 as the healthcarearm of Norwich Union and now provides a range of income protectionand private medical insurance products to around 675,000customers. It is one of the largest providers of income protectionand private medical insurance in the UK.
• CGU and Norwich Union merged on 30 May 2000 to create CGNU plc- the world's 6th largest insurer, the UK's largest insurancegroup and one of the top-five life insurers in Europe withsubstantial positions in other markets around the world.

  CGNU's principal business activities are long-term savings,general insurance and asset management with worldwide premiumincome and retail investment sales of £26 billion and assetsunder management of more than £200 billion

• Norwich Union's news releases are available on the internet atwww.cgnu-group.com
  
  The combined life and pensions, general insurance and retail fundbusinesses in the UK operate under the Norwich Union brand, whilethe institutional business operates under the Morley FundManagement brand.

For further media information, contact Anja Kueppers or JaneWheeler at QBO on 020 7379 0304 or Louise Zucchi at Norwich UnionPress Office on 08703 66 68 60