We need to teach everyone about the menopause

We need your help. I am want to ask everyone what they think and know about the menopause so we can improve menopause education.

We have just launched a survey for women aged 40 and under to ask them about the menopause and we really need as many women as possible to complete the survey – including teenagers. So please share this post to anyone who is eligible.

I am in the process of publishing the data from the survey we did last year for women aged 40 and over. I am also considering doing a survey for men, non-binary and trans. Everyone will have different attitudes, experience and knowledge.

From the data I have so far, most of the women over 40 are angry that they are entering this key stage in their lives and they do not know what to expect. It is not surprising that some are fearful of the unknown which is not helped by the negative image people have of the menopause.  People associate the menopause with difficult symptoms and getting old.

I strongly believe that being post menopause is a key stage in a woman’s life where she can embrace a life free of her menstrual cycle and the need for contraception. Most of the women I know are excited about entering a new time in her life with new challenges; a time where they can put themselves first and decide what they want to do with their lives.

But the journey to being post menopause is associated with a long list of symptoms which can affect some women’s quality of life. It is important to know what are menopause symptoms and how they can be managed.

It is encouraging that menopause in the workplace appears to be a rising priority for employers. In the UK there is a national campaign to help employers understand menopause in the workplace. This new focus of companies and institutions will provide improved working conditions as more companies continue to instigate policies and procedures to support their midlife employees.

Women have also let me know that many of their doctors have been unsupportive and ill informed about the menopause. Too many women in their 40s are told they are too young to be perimenopausal and they are sent away, some doctors give the wrong treatments and some do not understand menopause symptoms.

Through my work in schools I have also found out that many young people do not know what the menopause is. Why should they when they have not been taught about it and very few people openly talk about it.

A historic taboo, combined with the overarching lack of education and knowledge has rendered the menopause ‘hidden’ and menopause related matters to be considered private. This secrecy that enshrouds the menopause has the capacity to permeate many areas of women’s lives including family, friends and the workplace. It is hoped that increased education will bring the menopause to the forefront of conversations. But we need to find out what people understand before we can develop education resources.

If you are aged 40 or under and can spare 10-15 minutes to complete the survey – you can access it here and please share. Thank you.