By Joni BoydSunday 20 Oct 2024She Wasn't Born YesterdayPodcastsReading Time: 3 minutes
Menopause is hugely misunderstood.
Key points
- 85% of women experience at least some menopausal symptoms.
- “Improving understanding among peers and supervisors about menopause ensures that women can continue to be vibrant, healthy contributors,” Dr Devine said.
- Listen to this episode of She Wasn’t Born Yesterday on the Hope 103.2 app, in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Dr Amelia Haines and Janet Evans from She Wasn’t Born Yesterday decided it was time to talk about it.
Associate Professor Bronwyn Devine is an esteemed obstetrician, gynaecologist, and fertility specialist. With a career spanning multiple decades, Dr. Devine has guided numerous women through the various stages of their reproductive lives, including childbirth and menopause.
Her expertise lies in hormonal health, fertility treatments, and menopause management, making her a highly sought-after expert in her field.
Dr Devine brought her expertise into the She Wasn’t Born Yesterday studios, to shine a light on this important topic.
Let’s get started with the basics.
What is menopause?
“We define menopause as the time when we get to twelve months of no periods,” Dr Devine said.
“When you get to menopause, you’ve got about 1000 eggs left in your ovaries, but those eggs are pretty much done and dusted.”
There are different stages of menopause – perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause – and each stage has unique symptoms and therefore requires a different approach.
85% of women experiencing at least some menopausal symptoms.
Why is menopause such a dirty word?
Menopause can be a challenging journey for many women, characterized by a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and brain fog.
With 85% of women experiencing at least some menopausal symptoms and 25% facing severe effects, understanding and managing menopause is crucial.
“Hot flushes are a really quite unpleasant experience where you can really feel like your whole body’s on fire,” Dr Devine said.
“One of the things people say is that I just can’t seem to get my thoughts together, I feel like I’m not thinking clearly, I’m forgetful.”
Is it hard to keep working through menopause?
While women often continue their careers well into their menopausal years, this can become increasingly difficult, if the workplace lacks support.
“Improving understanding among peers and supervisors about menopause ensures that women can continue to be vibrant, healthy contributors,” Dr Devine said.
“Covid has spurred significant workplace changes, emphasizing employees’ wellbeing and accommodating health-related needs.”
Corporations are beginning to recognize the need for policies that account for menopausal health challenges, including flexible working hours, work from home options and health and wellness programs.
“Improving understanding about menopause ensures that women can continue to be vibrant, healthy contributors.”
How can we better support menopausal women?
Attitudes towards menopause – and womens health in general – are shifting as people become better educated.
Ensuring that women can address their health without fear of stigma is pivotal.
Many women who are experiencing menopause are parenting young children, managing senior roles, and possibly supporting elderly parents. It’s not easy.
Supporting menopausal women at work, and in the community is not just an act of compassion but a productivity and culture booster.
Dr Devine says more personalized, empathetic, and knowledgeable support networks are invaluable, ensuring that women can navigate this natural transition with confidence and dignity.
She reminds women of the importance of listening to their bodies, seeking appropriate medical advice, and fostering environments of support and understanding.
While it may be challenging, with the right knowledge and support, menopause can also be a time of empowerment and renewed vitality.
Listen to this episode of She Wasn’t Born Yesterday on the Hope 103.2 app, in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Article supplied with thanks to Joni Boyd. Joni is the Digital Media Coordinator at Hope 103.2. She is passionate about the power of stories shared, to transform lives.
Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro