With so much coverage on social media on menopause it is easy to get overwhelmed and a little confused -it’s fantastic that menopause is, at last, being discussed and is now high on the agenda in the UK. But menopause is a very personal issue and affects women in so many different ways. It is a natural stage in a woman’s life and sadly some struggle a lot more than others. The two of us have had totally different menopause journeys and cannot stress enough that you must talk to a doctor or health expert about your symptoms.
The Menopause Mandate
In our recent podcast, we interviewed some of the amazing women behind The Menopause Mandate including Carolyn Harris MP, Lavina Mehta MBE, Alice Smellie and Laura Biggs. who are a group of motivated women from all walks of life who share a common interest in perimenopause and menopause.
As they say: 'This isn't a feminist issue or a niche topic. This affects our whole society as women make up over half the population’.
These incredible women are devoted to creating a coalition of campaigners to achieve everyone's ultimate goal of revolutionising the support and advice women receive from both our health service and wider society’.
There are thought to be an estimated 18 million peri and post-menopausal women in the UK, and for millennia menopause has been off the map. Now, thanks to this tireless campaigning, it's the biggest women's issue of the moment. Yet menopause provision in the UK remains shockingly poor.
Healthcare professionals aren't routinely educated about the subject, and health advice is often out of date. Women are regularly refused Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and other treatments despite the NICE Guidelines. Even if they obtain a prescription, the medication is frequently unavailable - with ongoing shortages.
There could be more than 50 symptoms of menopause, and the majority of women will experience at least one. Plummeting hormones, particularly oestrogen, can lead to symptoms lasting years and long term health problems
Ensuring that women, are seen by trained doctors and nurses and given the latest and best advice isn't a luxury, it's a human right. Millions in the UK are struggling mentally and physically because of this catastrophic failure in women's health, leaving jobs, relationships are suffering, and there are even suicides.
Source: The Menopause Mandate
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