The Menopause - how women are suffering in silence

Some surprising figures 

I was surprised and saddened by the results of a recent Radio 4 Woman’s Hour poll on how symptoms of the menopause were impacting on women in the workplace.  Beneath that was a picture of women suffering in silence with symptoms that affected all aspects of their life - relationships, work, physically and emotionally. 

What the figures showed

Of the 1009 women aged 50 - 60 questioned on how the menopause affected them:

• 44% said it significantly affected their mood and mental health. 
• 41% said it affected their job. 
• 23% said it lessened their enjoyment of life 
• 20% said their GP had been unhelpful in dealing with symptoms.
• 70% said they had not made their employer aware of their situation 
• One third had not visited their GP for help. 
• Nearly a quarter said it made them want to stay at home. In some cases sufferers had not spoken until they face disciplinary action at work.

Surprisingly high numbers, but not surprising experiences. As a capable, rational, experienced, emotionally aware woman the side swipe of the unexpected bouts of anxiety, hot flushes, mood swings, body changes and memory lapses can make you question who you are becoming. 

All this at a time when your children may be leaving home, you are possibly reflecting on what your new role in life will be and you are becoming more aware of your mortality as it appears there are fewer years ahead of you than behind you.

The perfect storm.

No wonder women struggle with this potentially overwhelming mix of fear, anxiety and loss. And it creeps up on us so that when we are in the midst of the menopause and symptoms are raging we may feel isolated, wondering how we got so lost.

So what can you do?

Just talking to someone can make such a difference. The relief of knowing you are not alone, you are not going mad and there is a future to look forward to. The hardest part can be starting that conversation; it can often seem everyone else is coping and you are the only one with dark thoughts or a body that is letting you down. That won’t be true, but that’s how it feels. 

What support is out there?

Quite a lot actually.

• Dedicated websites and online forums with advice and information
• Local support groups
• Your GP may be able to offer information on ways to alleviate the symptoms with medication or therapies
• Websites offering advice and support for workplace issues and how to talk to your employer
• Personal counselling to explore ways of managing the emotional, psychological and behavioural impact of the menopause

Open the door

And closer to home, your partner, friends or work colleagues may well be concerned for you and appreciate the opportunity to offer you their support. They may be waiting for you to open the door to that conversation. And they too might appreciate the chance to share their experiences with you.