Let's Talk About Menopause
It’s important to raise awareness and encourage open conversations about menopause – will you join us on our mission this World Menopause Day? Find out more as we talk all things menopause.
Almost all women experience symptoms of menopause at some point in their life
With almost all women experiencing symptoms of menopause at some point in their life, it's important to start conversations and raise awareness of the impact it can have on women's lives.
What is the menopause?
The menopause is a stage in life that usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, however it may start earlier or end later and happens naturally as hormone levels decline. It may happen suddenly if a woman is going through treatment that impacts the ovaries. In the UK, the average age for woman to reach the menopause is 51. There are many common symptoms that include hot flushes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, low mood or anxiety and also problems with memory and concentration.
Managing menopause symptoms
You might find it helpful to...
- Find out more about menopause in general
- Talk to your GP about treatment choices
- Talk with a manager / HR department you feel comfortable with
- Use technology where it can help you – setting up reminders on your phone or taking more notes
- If you have supportive work colleagues talk about your experiences with them, you may find you’re not alone. Humour can help deflect embarrassment and increase your confidence
- Look into mindfulness techniques you can practice at work and home
- Consider lifestyle changes – could you exercise more? Stop smoking or set a revised weight goal?
About World Menopause Day
World Menopause Day is held every year on the 18th of October. The day was designated by the International Menopause Society (IMS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness of the menopause and to support options to improve health and well-being for women in mid-life and beyond.
This year, the theme is 'Bone Health'.
In healthy bone, before menopause, the production of new bone happens more than the removal of old bone. The opposite happens after menopause when ovaries stop the production of the hormone estrogen. This leads to increased removal of bone which decreases bone strength.
How Abbeyfield are marking the occasion
At Abbeyfield we employ a high proportion of female employees (over 80%) and over 40% of our female employees are over the age of 50. It is essential that we support both our female employees and residents through the menopause. World Menopause Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness and also encourage open conversations about menopause amongst our teams.
To mark the occasion we have shared a variety of resources with our staff, created a quiz to help educate those who may not know much about the menopause and our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providers are hosting a live webinar for all staff to attend if they wish. In support of the high number of female employees, especially those in the 50+ age group, we have also created a menopause policy, which sets out the things to consider when employees are going through the menopause.
The aim of this policy is:
- To educate and inform managers about the potential symptoms of the menopause.
- To explain how managers can support women at work.
- To help employees understand the menopause and related issues and how they can affect female employees.
- To raise wider awareness and understanding amongst employees.
Abbeyfield is a dedicated employer who strives to support all of our employees. This is just the start in our support for those experiencing menopause.
Useful resources
Davina was 44 and felt like she was losing it - hot flushes, depression, mental fog. Now she tells her menopause story, busting midlife taboos from sex to hormone treatment.
An award-winning, independent website providing up-to-date, accurate information about the menopause, menopausal symptoms and treatment options.
Website for tailored menopausal advice for individuals provided by experts.
A website that aims to help empower women with necessary information to make informed decisions regarding any treatment they may take to help turn the menopause into a positive experience that does not negatively impact their lives.
- NHS information about menopause and early menopause.
Join the movement
Help us raise awareness across social media channels. Us the hashtag #MenopauseAtWork, #WorldMenopauseDay, #WorldMenopauseDay2021 or search for Let’s Talk Menopause.
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