Today (Tuesday 18 October) is World Menopause Day.
The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing. Julie Simpkin is our HR Business Partner for the North West and is extremely keen to encourage further discussion on menopause in the workplace.
In this blog, Julie shared with us her own experience, in the hope that by championing this, others will feel more at ease discussing the menopause, whether this is someone who is experiencing it themselves, or looking to educate themselves on symptoms and how they can support others.
It's always been a taboo subject, people just don't feel very comfortable talking about it. Not just in the workplace, but at home too - many of us will have experiences of Mum's or partners who suffered in silence with their symptoms and felt it was something they couldn't talk about. But talking or just reading a couple of the resources we've made available this week is the best way for you to find out more and we can break down some of the traditional barriers and misconceptions when it comes to menopause.
In 2007 I had major surgery which resulted in me experiencing an immediate medical menopause. It was a sudden shock and something I just wasn't expected to happen just yet. My body felt like it was falling apart. I gradually found normal tasks that I would undertake in my work or home life, suddenly becoming a source of anxiety and I began to doubt my abilities. I found this very unsettling, and I began to feel low in mood.
My consultant did not recommend that I take HRT, due to my age so I spent many years “toughing” out my symptoms and tried a variety of herbal supplements and exercise – none of which really helped. I found work and my daily life difficult and was struggling with hot flushes day and night. I was exhausted and felt like I had become someone else.
It has taken a number of years to get to the point where I feel I may be back to my old self!
My husband has never wavered in his support, and he has learnt a lot about the menopause too. We talked and kept communication going even when I felt at my lowest. For some this is enough, but others may find speaking to a specialist in menopause may also help, and for Morgan Sindall employees Employee Assistance Programme and online GP service are also available for support. We recently undertook a menopause survey to gauge people's experiences and understanding and we've been sharing some of those this week as part of our Menopause awareness week, this insight has helped us move forward with our plans, and look at what other support we can make available to all our employees.
We'd like to encourage everyone in the workplace to find out more about the menopause, even if it's something you wouldn't experience yourself. For those who are suffering with symptoms it can be a very scary time. There might be times when people jokingly cast aside their 'forgetfulness' and take a step back from their work, but deep down they might be feeling really down. Likewise, it can sometimes be difficult for family members and friends, who would like to help, but just don't know how to.
I feel really passionate about supporting those in the workplace, but also ensuring that everyone has access to information. If there's something you'd like to discuss, I'd be more than happy just to have a chat with you.
I hope that sharing my own menopause story will shine a light on what is ordinarily a natural part of ageing that most women will experience.
More information
What is the menopause?
The menopause is the medical term given to a woman who is in the final stages of her menstrual period. Colloquially it might also be referred to as the change of life or the change. Although it usually occurs between the ages of 45-55, there may be occasions when the menopause starts earlier or continues beyond the age of 55.
Surgical or medical interventions such as fertility treatment, hysterectomy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy drugs or hormone therapy as part of someone’s transition to a true gender can also bring about menopause symptoms. You can find out more about the menopause on the NHS website.
Know your definitions
- Menopause: a biological stage in a woman’s life that occurs when they stop menstruating and reach the end of their natural reproductive life. Usually it is defined as when a woman has not had a period for 12 consecutive months
- Perimenopause: when a woman experiences menopausal symptoms but her periods have not stopped
- Post-menopause: the time in life after the menopause has occurred when a woman has not had a period for 12 consecutive months
- Menopausal: this includes those in perimenopause and post-menopause.
- POI – Premature Ovarian Insufficiency is if the menopause occurs before the age of 40.