Wednesday 18th October is World Menopause Day and this year there is some really encouraging news about the advancement of the menopause revolution.
A few months ago, a free ‘Understanding Menopause’ information booklet, spearheaded by menopause heroine, Diane Danzebrink (Menopause Support charity), and created with the help of four menopause specialists, was published.
Around 60,000 paper copies have now been distributed around the country, having been sent to NHS Trusts and community groups, the PDF is available on many GP’s Websites, is being texted to patients, can be found on the British Menopause Website as a resource for clinicians, and paper copies have gone to hairdressers and beauty salons.
Watford Borough Council has been praised for ordering 32,000 copies of the booklet, one for almost every household in their area. It’s hoped that other councils will take the initiative and do the same.
Danzebrink: So thrilled that Tesco have supported this initiative
However, today the big news is that Tesco, the country’s largest retailer, have also added to the booklet to the pharmacy section of their Website.
Speaking to members of The Menopause Support Network, Diane said,
“This is absolutely brilliant, I am so thrilled that Tesco have supported this initiative. So huge thanks to them.”
Danzebrink: Far too much talk and not nearly enough action
The inspirational campaigner went on to share her frustration with the lack of action from the Government. She explained,
“This is something that we’ve got on and done because we can’t wait around for those in positions of power to do things.
“There’s been far too much talk and not nearly enough action. It’s really important as a grassroots community that we stand together to make things happen.
“Put simply, people cannot keep waiting.”
Background
Many health professionals, women who have suffered hormone deficiency and more, have been lobbying government and health chiefs for better menopause education and support.
Menopause heroes also include Dr Louise Newson (Newson Clinic and Balance App), as well as more well-known women such as Liz Earle and Davina McCall who have used their platforms to help raise awareness.
Understanding the menopause
Around the globe women will be helping to raise awareness for the often-misunderstood, but devastating symptoms of this hormone deficiency that affects 40 per cent of the population.
There was a time when if you mentioned menopause, people might think it meant a couple a period of hot flushes and mood swings, whilst women went through ‘the change’.
Long-term debilitating, and in some cases, life-threatening symptoms
Thankfully, in 2023 many women (and some parts of the medical profession) have become far more informed and recognise that, in fact, when a women’s body starts producing less hormones – estrogen, progesterone or testosterone – they can suffer with many long-term debilitating, and in some cases, life-threatening symptoms.
More than 45 symptoms
When you understand that estrogen alone plays a function in every organ in a woman’s body, it’s no surprise to learn that the impact of menopause – which ‘generally’ begins at around the age of 45 (earlier in many cases) – can lead to up to 48 different symptoms.
These range from brain fog, swollen joints and joint pain, muscle aches, insomnia, anxiety and skin conditions to night sweats, tinnitus, palpitations, urinary tract infections, migraines, thinning hair, increase in facial hair, painful discomfort during sex, loss of self-confidence, thoughts of suicide and many more.
Suffering in silence
A very lucky 20 per cent of women go through the menopause with no symptoms at all.
However, of the 80 per cent of women who do experience symptoms (that’s 40 per cent of the population), many suffer in silence, without support from their employers or families, or without the prescriptions they need to improve the quality of their lives.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
The symptoms that peri-menopausal and menopausal women experience are a result of the body producing less hormones and for many, but not all women, they can be reversed for the rest of someone’s life by prescribing HRT – Hormone Replacement Therapy.
These days, the type of HRT prescribed – which returns the lost hormones back into a woman’s body, as the hormone insulin is returned into the bodies of those with Type 1 diabetes – is far safer and can be used for as long as a woman needs it.
As an example, the beauty, health and wellbeing entrepreneur, Liz Earle, who has been a pioneer in spreading the word of menopause, arranged for her 80-year-old mother to go back onto HRT to help alleviate certain symptoms she was experiencing and reported a life-changing result.
Benefits of HRT
In the past HRT carried a higher risk of breast cancer, but through the use of gels and transdermal patches, more recently this risk is far reduced and it’s now known that taking HRT can reduce a woman’s risk of heart disease – the biggest killer among women over fifty – by 40 per cent.
Among other things, it can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 40 per cent and more importantly can also prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.
HRT is not suitable for everybody, but for those wo can use it, the benefits can be lifechanging.
Anti-HRT media coverage
We all remember the study that was carried out in the 1990s that focused on HRT and the risk of breast cancer. Even though the type of HRT that is prescribed today is far safer, you will often see the old study cited in the media to this day.
It is probable that the lack of menopause education and anti-HRT media coverage over the last 20 years is what has led to only around 14 per cent of women using HRT to alleviate their symptoms and protect themselves from future health risks.
Sign the petition
Five years ago Diane launched a petition to Government with three very clear aims.
- Mandatory menopause training for all GPs and medical students
- Menopause awareness and support in every workplace
- Menopause to be included in the RSE curriculum in schools
More than 193,000 people have signed the petition, and you can add your name to it by heading over to the Change.org Website.
Arm yourself with information
Any women experiencing symptoms of hormone deficiency can arm themselves with information by visiting trusted sites such as Dr Louise Newson’s Balance Website, or My Menopause Centre. Both offer a huge range of information.
There is one private Menopause clinic on the Isle of Wight, run by Dr Jane Peckham. Visit the Wight Menopause Website for more information.
On social media, there are several excellent menopause related groups such as Menopause Support Network and Totes Merry Peri.
