A QUARTER of women experiencing menopause say the best thing about it is getting a ‘second wave of sisterhood’, according to research.
A study of 2,000 who are peri-menopausal, menopausal or who have had the menopause, found 14 per cent have made more friends by sharing their experiences of the life stage than they could ever have imagined.
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While three in 10 admitted it felt like a new community of people formed around them – women who were experiencing the same things and who wanted to share their journey.
With 64 per cent feeling the recent rise of celebrities such as Linda Barker and Davina McCall talking openly about what has happened to them has had a positive impact.
And although menopause, with its 62 symptoms, brings with it a host of problems, 61 per cent admit they are more than willing to share what is happening to them with friends, family and work colleagues.
The research was carried out by hygiene and health company Essity, which continues its quest to keep the conversation about menopause open.
Spokeswoman Debbie Thomas said: “Menopause can clearly be a challenge for a lot of women and we certainly don’t want to suggest that it can be an easy time for those experiencing it.
“But as we can see from our research, there is comfort to be had from sharing stories with others in the same boat.
“And women are no longer as embarrassed to talk about what is happening to them as previous generations might have been – it feels like that mindset of hiding the truth is finally changing.”
The research found for those first experiencing menopause symptoms, feelings were overwhelmingly negative at first – with 36 per cent worried it made them old, 18 per cent upset and one in 10 in denial.
But 26 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll.com, were quickly surprised to discover how open some women are when discussing their experiences.
And it only took around three months before they became comfortable sharing their own stories.
By doing so, these women immediately felt supported by others (43 per cent), as well as a sense of solidarity (37 per cent).
Women are most likely to talk to their female friends about their experiences (71 per cent), but 40 per cent will chat to work colleagues, happily so in a workplace setting (38 per cent).
It emerged 41 per cent tended to stay on the sidelines of any conversation they were hearing about menopause soon after realising they also had symptoms – but 42 per cent are generally relieved when others open up as it makes them feel more normal.
As well as feeling reassured (29 per cent) and supported (27 per cent), 63 per cent admitted talking with like-minded people about what they are going through is as important to their mental health and well-being as any medication could be.
Sharon Clapp, 56, from Sidmouth, Devon, trained as a menopause practitioner after going through the menopause early due to a hysterectomy.
She said: “I trained as a menopause practitioner, I’m not a qualified GP – I don’t prescribe, or tell people that’s what they should be doing.
“I provide support and being an ear to talk to, help with exercise and point them in right direction with diets.
“There is support out there, women are not alone, there are communities and individuals that can help.
“Now things are spoken about more openly, it’s more understood by partners and people are understanding a lot more.
What is the menopause and how does it affect women?
The menopause is a transitional period all women go through in mid-life.
Hormones related to the reproductive system deplete namely oestrogen, over a period of time.
This doesn’t just cause periods to stop. Sex hormones act all over the body, from the brain, skin, vagina and more.
Therefore, dozens of symptoms affect all areas of the body, to varying degrees.
Women’s experiences of menopause vary greatly. While some breeze through it, others’ lives are significantly impacted. It can feel as though it lasts a couple of years, or for decades.
It cannot be predicted how each woman will fare.
When is menopause?
Perimenopause is when symptoms start but periods have not yet stopped, although they will be irregular. This can start in the early 40s.
Menopause is when periods have completely stopped for a year. The average age this happens is 51, but it can be any time from 45 to 55, according to the NHS.
The term ‘menopause’ is used to describe the experience overall.
Menopause before the age of 45 is called early menopause, affecting five per cent of women. Menopause before the age of 40 is called premature menopause, affecting one per cent of women before 40 and 0.1 per cent of women under 30.
This may happen for no clear reason, but also as a result of surgery, genetics or medications.
A year after that the final period, a woman is considered to be entering the post-menopausal stage.
How does it impact a woman’s life?
The menopause can be an extremely testing time in a woman’s life and for those around her.
The body is going through a significant change, and the symptoms that come with it can feel alien, with women sometimes describing a loss of sense of self.
Physical symptoms include hot flushes (a sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest), difficulty sleeping, night sweats, heart palpitations, headaches, muscle and joint aches, weight skin, skin changes, reduced libido, vaginal dryness and more.
Symptoms affecting mental health or cognition include brain fog, memory loss, low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem and irritation.
There are ways to manage symptoms and cope with menopause – and women need to know that they are not alone in facing it.
Medication, such as HRT or oestrogen gel, can help attack the symptoms.
However, experts often say it needs a rounded approach incorporating good lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and less alcohol.
Many women report that their life began after menopause after it drew them to a healthier way of living.
However, the huge burden it can have – on work, family life and more – is important for society to recognise, as adapting policies at work, for example, can make it easier for women to stick with their job.
Read more about menopause on The Sun’s Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign.
“I’m part of the Issviva Menopause online community and there are other social media groups out there as well.
“There are a couple of really funny ones with ladies sharing their stories, it brings a lighter element because you can relate to it and it makes you feel like you aren’t alone.
“Also, the Menopause charities are good for resources and understanding.”
Janet McQuillan for Essity, which runs Issiva, a platform offering advice and products to women going through the menopause, said: “Support for women comes in all shapes and forms, some like to chat to others in person in the safety of their home, some are happy to prop up the water cooler at work.
“And for others, an online community can be a safer and less daunting way of getting involved.
“We now have around 3,700 active members on our community platform, with topics ranging from shared symptoms to personal relationships.”
The different menopause treatments
THE main menopause treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which replaces the hormones that are at low levels.
There are various types and doses, and it’s important to find the one that works best for you.
Oestrogen comes as:
- Skin patches
- A gel or spray to put on the skin
- Implants
- Tablets
If you have a womb (uterus), you also need to take progesterone to protect your womb lining from the effects of oestrogen. Taking oestrogen and progesterone is called combined HRT.
Progesterone comes as:
- Patches, as part of a combined patch with oestrogen
- IUS (intrauterine system, or coil)
- Tablets
Some people are also offered testosterone gels or creams to help improve sex drive, mood and energy levels, or additional oestrogen tablets, creams or rings for vaginal dryness and discomfort.
Other medicines can be used to treat menopause symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats.
These include a blood pressure medicine called clonidine and an epilepsy drug called gabapentin.
Antidepressants can combat mood symptoms if you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can also help with emotional and physical symptoms.
Alternative treatments, like herbal remedies, are not recommended as it is unclear how safe and effective they are.
Source: NHS