To mark World Menopause Day, here are 10 ways that awareness is improving, from the business world to the big screen
It happens to around half the global population, yet the menopause has long been shrouded in taboo. Now, from workplace support to cultural portrayals, things seem to be changing for the better. Ahead of World Menopause Day, here are 10 ways that perceptions are shifting.
Menopause-friendly spaces are on the rise in a bid to tackle the isolation and loneliness that can be associated with this phase of life.
The Menopause Cafe runs popup events where people can enjoy cake and tea while having open discussions about the menopause. The project, which draws inspiration from the death cafes model, began in Perth, Scotland, and now events take place across the UK, as well as a handful in the US, Canada, Mexico and Austria.
“Humans learn through relationship and storytelling,” says Rachel Weiss, the project’s founder. “We need to know we’re not alone.”
Image: SolStock/iStock
From the Highlands of Scotland to Suffolk, libraries, spas and a range of grassroots projects are offering support to people who are going through menopause. Organisations are educating the public about the ‘change’ through workshops and toolkits.
In the UK, the Menopause Support community interest company provides individual support and menopause training for businesses, as well as for therapists. It has recently released a guidance booklet, sharing expert advice on menopause and its symptoms.
Image: Natasha Hall
UK employers are leading the way in creating flexible workplaces for menopausal staff. In 2018, just a measly 10% offered some form of menopausal support, but fast forward to this year, and it’s more like 46%.
In 2021, Vodafone UK offered remote working to its menopausal employees and shared its menopause toolkit with the public. In 2022, NHS England embraced flexible working for menopausal women, with health chiefs urging others to follow suit.
Image: AllGo
Despite the UK government deciding against providing special protection for menopausal employees under the Equality Act earlier this year, campaigners maintain cautious optimism when it comes to menopause policies.
“The women’s health strategy could potentially be very helpful,” Diane Danzebrink, founder of Menopause Support says. “But it needs funding.”
Grassroots campaigns have been key in boosting menopause policies, with Danzebrink’s Make Menopause Matter campaign leading to the inclusion of menopause in relationships and sex education in England.
Image: James Newcombe
High-profile campaigners like TV presenter Lorraine Kelly have helped many to understand the daily reality of menopause. But it’s not just the downsides that are gaining attention, the benefits are also becoming more visible.
As writer Sharon Blackie puts it, menopause can be a “sacred pause in the hurtling trajectory of life”, offering women a time for self-discovery.
And it’s not just cis women either. Psychotherapist and writer Tania Glyde’s Queer Menopause Project is shedding light on the ‘gender euphoria’ – the opposite of gender dysphoria – which LGBTQ+ people can experience during menopause. Gender euphoria is defined as when someone’s perceived gender not only aligns with their sense of self but also causes them to be happy and feel at ease.
Image: Elvert Barnes
With period tracking apps expanding to include menopause features and wearable tech monitoring symptoms, the digital age isn’t leaving menopause behind.
In the UK, digital health apps like Peppy and Stella enable users to receive personalised support, sign up to courses, access on-demand videos and take part in live events.
As always, consulting a healthcare professional before making a major health decision is advised.
Image: Anna Shvets
The rise in menopause awareness owes much to campaigners around dedicated hormone replacement therapy (HRT), including TV personalities like Davina McCall and politicians like Carolyn Harris (pictured). Their efforts have championed the efficacy of HRT, resulting in broader recognition and accessibility.
However, this success has not come without challenges, as national HRT shortages loom large and women have, in some cases, had to resort to the black market or to bartering to get their medication.
Image: Chris McAndrew
Approximately 13 million people in the UK are currently peri or menopausal. Yet, as Danzebrink points out, “most GPs and practice nurses have never been taught about menopause in their training”.
Not only will menopause education be included in medical school curricula from 2024, but we may be on the cusp of exciting medical advancements. At Imperial College London, researchers are exploring a drug that targets receptors in the brain, potentially offering relief from challenging menopausal symptoms.
Image: Cottonbro studio
As HRT is not universally accessible, either due to its scarcity or medical concerns, holistic alternatives are gaining traction.
Healthcare professionals are beginning to recommend natural remedies to help manage symptoms, from acupuncture and herbal supplements to a healthy diet.
Image: RDNE Stock project
From the rise of the ‘menopause novel’, to Sex and the City portraying menopausal women as sexy, and entire TV shows dedicated to ‘the change’, the menopause is finally claiming the cultural spotlight it deserves.
Hot flashes, mood swings and brain fog are hitting our screens not as punchlines, but as genuine narratives, offering insight into this inevitable transition that was once shrouded in mystery.
Image: JESHOOTS.com
Main image: DisobeyArt/iStock
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