Let’s talk | Menopause

By Helen Bowman

Tell us about the story behind Miss Menopause

I started going through ‘the change’ at 47. I refer to it as the menopause magic because it all seems to be smoke and mirrors around the subject.

In my mind, women going through the menopause were old and infirm. They weren’t like me. I was still young with a thriving career and an active social life. I had no idea what was happening to me. It all seemed too early, and nothing seemed to make sense. I was losing sleep due to raging night sweats, and it started impacting my relationship with my partner because we were both so exhausted.

I researched my symptoms and asked other women about their experiences. A peer of mine suggested I could be going through the menopause. I told her she was crazy, but it turned out she was right. I still didn’t understand what was happening. Menopause, it seemed, was the final taboo.

There were two catalysts behind me starting up Miss Menopause. The first was when I attended a mental health first aid course during 2016. It was a comprehensive two-day course covering all the aspects of mental health and Schizophrenia was one of the subjects covered in detail. 

I sat back and thought, only 1% of the population is affected by Schizophrenia, and here we are covering the details of it as a condition. 100% of women (plus all their male family and friends) are affected by the menopause, and it’s one of the biggest causes of poor mental health there could be – why aren’t we talking about this?

The second catalyst was a British Menopause Society event I attended two years ago. It was an event for medical professionals, and I sat in on some of the talks. I learned that GPs elect their specialities in addition to general practitioner training. The menopause is one of those electives, and so few doctors choose to study it – a condition that happens to every single woman.

I knew I needed to do something about the lack of education and training, not just in the medical profession, but in the wider business world and the general public. So, I set up Miss Menopause. It’s my mission to educate businesses and individuals about the impact of the menopause and to help women work through the ‘magic’.

Why is the menopause such a taboo subject, and what does the menopause mean for most women?

I’ve said that women today are pioneers. We’ve never lived so long, and we’re having our children later in life, we’re looking after increasingly elderly parents. Our lives are significantly different from our mothers and grandmothers.

Changes in pension age meant that women have to work longer and that’s a real worry. I’ve witnessed incredibly intelligent, high-achieving women suffer the symptoms of the menopause and consequently lose their confidence completely. They think they’re getting Alzheimer’s or losing their ability to function normally. They step back from their careers and take lower-paid, lesser responsible positions because they believe they can’t do it anymore. 

They’re merely dealing with symptoms which can be managed and overcome. But education around the subject is such that we’re losing a considerable percentage of the workforce to more menial jobs through ignorance around the issue.

My mission is to educate organisations and individuals about the menopause to avoid the loss of valuable team members through misunderstandings related to the symptoms of menopause.

Is it essential to seek the support of GP for menopausal symptoms?

Crucial? No. But it’s advisable if you’d like to go down a medical route for managing your symptoms. I’d also add that it’s nice to get a professional opinion on your symptoms at a time when things seem confusing and overwhelming.

There are four possible pathways for managing menopausal symptoms. None of these is exclusive; I tried several of them before settling on the one that suited my needs and my body the best.

• Medical route – this means HRT, not anti-depressants or sleeping tablets.
• Herbal route – vitamins, minerals, herbs. This route comes with its risks, with many herbal medicines dampening or even stopping the effects of conventional medications, so take care.
• Holistic route – cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), holistic therapies, mindfulness, yoga etc.
• DIY route – eat well, exercise, reduce alcohol intake, reduce caffeine intake and stop smoking.

There are many different avenues to explore, aside from the medical route. It depends on your lifestyle and beliefs

How would you recommend women find support during their menopause?

While there’s still a lack of education and support out there, in the North East I’m championing Miss Menopause. I have a Facebook Group that encourages women to talk about their symptoms, their issues, their worries and banish the taboo. We are not alone in this club and talking about it makes us realise that. My primary mission is to educate organisations to ensure women can work through their menopause. I work with organisations around the country to ensure working through menopause becomes business as usual. Find out more here, at www.missmenopause.co.uk.

Join my Facebook group and find out about the support there is out there.

Thinking about it positively, it’s an end to years of putting up with periods and all their associated problems. Plus, it’s an opportunity to bond with other women with whom you have a common thread. The menopause can be a new chapter to be grasped with both hands.