More and more voices are joining in, telling their stories and sharing experiences from the frontline of menopause.
Have your say and comment on here or leave your thoughts on the Forum, share your views or experiences if you wish, and join the conversation.
Here are just some experiences that have been sent to us. More to follow!
“I wish I could have an opinion about the menopause (feeling a bit left out!) but I went onto HRT at 52 when it was about to start and came off at 62, when it was all over. Did I miss much?”
Susan, Suffolk.
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“How lucky I feel to have apparently sailed through the whole thing comparatively calmly! With nothing more than a few deluges of blood (lots of it) at unexpected times, which I struggled to contain within my underwear and which no sanitary product I had to hand was able to hold back for very long, the only tricky situations I found myself in were a couple of times a few years ago.
My courses (taken that word from ‘Bridgerton’ and think it sounds much nicer than ‘periods’) had taken on a new and erratic timetable, but clearly weren’t going to dry up altogether without making a dramatic exit!
I learned fast to expect the unexpected and had to (discreetly!) deal with a couple of awkward occasions, the most difficult being whilst away in Seville, when I was thankful I was wearing a long, dark coloured skirt at the time and had a cardi to wrap round my waist, but that was about it. A couple of encores later, all is quiet and orderly again and it appears to be over…and I haven’t been near HRT, even though at least one doctor and practice nurse tried to put me on it!”
C, Sussex.
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“No hot flushes, no sweating at night. I thought I was going to get off lightly.
But I was so wrong.
I had anxiety and, most shamefully, anger. Terrible anger. I heard myself being awful to my family, the rows with my husband were terrifying. But I couldn’t stop myself. It’s a miracle we made it through. He had no clue what was going on with me, and I couldn’t do anything to help myself.
I did go to my GP but she just smiled and said all women got through it, it would pass soon.
To be honest, I hadn’t told her how bad the anger was. I was too embarrassed and ashamed.
But she didn’t offer any suggestions or solutions. She made me feel like I was making a fuss about nothing.
I look back now and can’t believe that person was me. They were years of hell.
No-one, not one woman in my circle of friends, ever talked about menopause and symptoms. You felt like you were completely alone, no-one else seemed to be having a tough time.
I wonder now how many of them were struggling with symptoms, gritting their teeth and wondering if it was ever going to end?”
G, Birmingham.
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"The symptoms started at 49 - whenever I was rushing out of shops, rushing into the garden etc. Unpredictable bleeding started way before that and was very undignified. I remember having a literal flood when about to go into Church for an ordination. Went onto HRT briefly and almost overnight the overheating and ‘dryness!’ were sorted. However, I then asked myself how I would know if my menopause was over if I continued with the tablets for ages so came off them and just put up with them. Now, aged nearly 59, I am totally symptom free-bliss!”
A, Bucks.
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