What happens when we go from fertility to infertility? Is there a male menopause, or just for women? Why is this a taboo subject? Is it time to change?
Did you know the largest demographic of employees are women who are in the menopause stage of life?
- 8/10 menopausal women are working,
- 75% of which experience difficulties with going through this stage of life,
- 45% of women experience a negative impact at work, with the feeling that they have to hide their symptoms. Is this right?
When we look back to see the information, education and support that is there for our children as they progress into puberty there is a stark contrast with the information, education and support for adults as they go through puberty in reverse, going from fertility to infertility, and menopause.
We know that there are taboos around many subjects and when it comes to the menopause it is practically forbidden. Why is this? Why do we find it so difficult to talk about the hormonal changes that affect so many of the population?
Body Changes
If we think about the miracle that happens when a child is conceived up to their birth, the phenomenal changes that have to happen to a women’s body to enable a new life to grow. What happens when the body decides this miracle is no longer needed and it’s time to go through the menopause, we are starved of information, education and the right to talk about it. Let’s make a change!
There are impacts on our hormones to every individual. These can be impacted by the environment, and the foods that we eat. Many products are changed by pesticides and chemicals that are given to the animals as their feed. This therefore impacts on our food. There is research into the impact on us, as well as to develop the understanding of why more men are developing man boobs and are beginning to gain weight on their hips and fertility.
Irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, mood swings, bloating, sore breasts, weight gain, changes in libido, headaches, pain in joints, electric shocks, burning tongue, problems with gums, digestive issues, dry and itchy skin, anxiety, tingling sensations in the extremities, sleeping difficulties, difficulties in concentration, dizziness, fatigue, loss of hair, memory lapse, brittle nails, tight muscles, stressing continents, changes in body odour, irritability, allergies, irregular heartbeat, depression, panic disorder and osteoporosis…..34 symptoms of menopause
The impact of the Menopause
Women may experience some or all of these symptoms and in varying degrees levels. We do know that there is an impact on the way in which women are able to cope with them. Support can be provided to help manage the symptoms, we can be open and honest, we can provide a supportive environment, we can understand a fan helps or opening the window to control temperature, there are benefits of taking 10 minutes out to regroup and recover or having opportunity for a short nap to restore energy levels, etc.
MEN-opause
The menopause is not singled out for women, men also have changes in their bodies as they grow older, testosterone levels drop, hair loss etc, which have an impact on the way that men feel and can lead to issues of depression and confusion about what is happening to them.
Now is the time for us to take change.
Now is the time for us to raise the issues that affect all adults as we progress from fertility into infertility.
Now is the time for us to make sure that we have the education and support.
Help remove taboos
Help you and your colleagues and adults of the future to help remove the taboos. Let’s start now as when an individual passes through the menopause it’s their second chance of life. Their bodies are able to reset, we are able to take control of where are next life 30 to 40 years goes and how we want to live our life. Let’s use the wisdom that we have gained to get us to this point to ensure that for future generations these changes are easier and accepted.
So what’s your view on the menopause how can we make it different for those who follow us?
