Breaking the Silence over Menopause
Menopause (to varying degrees) is something all women will go through at some point in their lives but, despite this, it is something that is shrouded with secrecy, full of inconsistencies, and still very much a taboo subject. It is seen as something to be ashamed of and to hide under the carpet. But why is this? Why should we be reluctant to talk about something that can affect our lives so drastically? This silence has detrimental consequences on women’s health and well-being. Celebrities like Davina, Lisa Snowden, and Andrea McLean (for example) are discussing this more openly which is amazing, but I’m still meeting women who want to be informed about what is happening but don’t want anyone to know they are perimenopausal/menopausal. We need to be proud of this change we are going through. This is a new chapter in our lives that we should feel open to talk about without suffering pity or scorn. If we don’t open up, how are we to know that it doesn’t have to be like this; that we do not have to suffer with these symptoms without help and understanding.
I’ve been very open from the start about my journey and have been lucky enough to have a supportive GP to talk to about everything. Without her, I would still suffer from symptoms not commonly linked with menopause. Instead, I had an open dialogue and got the help I needed when I needed it. I’m the first of my friends to go through this and I believe, that talking about my journey will equip them with the knowledge needed to get help and to understand what is happening at an earlier juncture rather than
spending time feeling unsure of what is going on. By being honest with people about how I’m feeling, I’ve been able to help others understand that what they are feeling are probably the first stages of perimenopause and they’ve been able to seek help from their GP armed with more information. I can only speak from my experience, but it’s amazing when I speak about what I’ve gone through, how many women have said that is exactly how they felt/are feeling.
Menopause can and should be a part of everyday life and not a stigma for women to go through alone. By opening a dialogue about menopause, we can help to normalise this subject and therefore break down barriers in daily life and the workplace. We can help empower women to make educated choices about their health and well-being, it opens up new support networks for women, so they don’t have to experience this journey alone, and it gives them much-needed support in their professional lives (I’m very glad I work for myself because I’m not sure I would have been able to keep everything together in a corporate workplace while suffering from fatigue, hot flushes and brain fog).
By breaking the silence around menopause, we can stop the cycle of misinformation and enable women to find answers they can rely on. So, I’m asking you, please don’t be afraid to talk about this. We are stronger as a collective and you never know who you might be helping by opening talking about your experience.