Women can experience menopause symptoms for up to 12 years and this usually starts in our early 40s so it makes sense that more awareness should be available to younger women so they are prepared. After all knowledge is power.

As a woman I do not believe that we ever feel ready for the menopause. I started getting symptoms when I was around 46 but because I had no prior knowledge of what to expect, I didn’t link any of my symptoms to perimenopause ( the stage leading up to menopause ) One because I really didn’t , and still don’t feel ‘old enough’ and two because importantly I was never taught about it. My mother didn’t talk about hers and there was no mention in school and little mentioned about this natural transition.

There are so many symptoms related to perimenopause

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Weight gain

• Headaches

• Hot flushes

• Night sweats

• Heart palpitations

• Irregular periods

• Mood swings

• Skin changes

• Brain fog

• Clumsiness

• Lack of libido

• Insomnia

• Poor concentration

• Vaginal atrophy (dry vagina )

• Hair loss and thinning

• Urinary infections

• Aching joints and muscles

• Restless leg syndrome

• Loss of confidence

• Agoraphobia

About 80% of women will experience more than one of these symptoms.

The fallout from these symptoms can be massive and effect both our personal and work life.

I know from the work and research into this that women are losing and leaving their hard-earned careers because they do not feel able to talk about the symptoms they are experiencing and don’t feel supported by the organisations they work for. This is not acceptable. Workplace policies need to be up to date so that menopause is considered if women are absent and also in performance reviews.

Relationships are also affected by the symptoms and because of lack of knowledge in this once taboo subject, couples and families are at risk of breaking up. So sad when you think that if we had open conversations around menopause, we could be prepared for when it creeps up and be equipped with some tools to manage it.

It’s certainly not all bad news and when we begin to change the way we view menopause and ageing as a society we will I am sure be in a position to embrace the change and think of it like any other life event linked to our hormones as all part of our rich tapestry of being a woman.

In Japan they call the menopause ‘The Second Spring ‘I leave you with that. I think it’s beautiful.

If you would like any more advice or help, I offer a free 20 minute call to discuss anything that may have come up for you in this post.

My website has a FREE perimenopause symptom checker so you can start logging yours.

I run awareness sessions and manager training in organisations so please let me know if I can come and demystify the menopause in your workplace.

info@workwithmenoapause.co.uk