Very few things are certain in life, but for any person who menstruates, menopause will surely follow eventually. Interestingly, menopause was only defined as a condition in 1821 by a French doctor, who noted that women experienced a ‘change’ which had been treated with everything from a round of acupuncture, to opium! *Shakes head in despair*
The first treatment for menopause came about in 1942, and is still in use today although I’m sure it’s been refined. Premarin, thus named because it’s main ingredient was urine from a pregnant mare. Pregnant Mare Urine. Treatments have definitely come a long way since then, and in fact HRT is no longer the gold standard, owing to links with heart attack, stroke, blood clots and certain cancers (as if we don’t have enough to worry about!) but there is still something lagging behind, as usual.
Support.
With the decline of HRT usage, it seems many of us hit menopause and we are facing it alone, with not even a small pill to help us through the worst of it. Additionally, like many of the issues facing women, talking about it is still seen as pretty taboo. Activists and advocates, as well as charities across the world are opening up the conversation, and yet the support is still failing to materialise.
Are we making progress?
Last month, the Guardian published an article about a public inquiry into the treatment of women in the workplace who, when menopause hit, might not be protected from discrimination by current legislation. Almost one million menopausal working women, referred to as ‘an invisible cohort’, have left jobs as a result of their symptoms. Typically at this age, we are at the top of our game, in the peak of our career. Why should women sacrifice everything they have worked for, because of a lack of support around menopause?
The simple answer is that, they shouldn’t have to.
How could we support women?
Thankfully, the tides of change are upon us, and a number of agencies and charities are rising to the occasion. Our wonderful NHS has the facts, while The Menopause Charity has some great, practical advice. Furthermore, ITV compiled this handy list of resources for women seeking advice and support.
Part of the battle now is finding your tribe. I hear this all the time as a transformational life coach, as women are terrified to be facing menopause alone with all its struggles and complexities. Many are finding comfort in numbers, and due to COVID-19, more of this is via social media communities. These groups open the conversation in a safe place, allowing women to share experiences, rant to their kindred, and see the experience in a more positive light.
Change takes time, but hopefully it is moving in the right direction when it comes to supporting our fellow queens in the prime of their lives.
