To think this is fine to talk about in a work email

[SandAndSeals]

I’ve NC as this is potentially outing.

An awareness email went out to colleagues about the menopause. Is the email, it lists the symptoms inc. hot flushes, low mood etc and also ‘vaginal dryness and reduced sex drive’.

My colleague has put a complaint email in about it as they don’t think it’s appropriate to mention vaginal dryness is a workplace email. However I disagree. It’s a common symptom and should be listed in an awareness article. You would take out ‘difficulty holding an erection’ when discussing prostate cancer, for example.

The Health team send out other emails about out conditions and illnesses depending on what’s being asked for. I’m in the Women’s Network so I know that menopause info has been asked for.

What do you think? AIBU or is she?

[Toooldtocareanymore]

Personally I think its highly inappropriate for a workplace memo, and entirely pointless , its not a symptom that has any impact on your performance at work or one that other colleagues need to have drawn to their attention. I would be entirely sympathetic to your colleagues position, if I received such an email I would complain.

[justmyview]

Unless vaginal dryness and reduced sex drive may impact on your ability to do your job, I don't see that it's relevant to your employment

[S1naidSucks]

But vaginal dryness is a symptom, which some younger males would also benefit from being made aware of, as this issue will eventually affect them. It’s a nonsense to try to only put the bits in that won’t embarrass people.

[SandAndSeals]

I don’t think we need a menopause policy fyi - it’s just something that had been suggested in the network.

I think awareness emails are good tbh. I’ve learnt an awful lot about mental health from these email chains.

My view is that censoring symptoms make them a taboo subject - we should be tackling the stigma and not feel like we can’t talk about certain things. It feels like so much work is done to reduce the stigma around mental health but when it comes to women’s issues we need to keep quiet at risk of embarrassed.

[Theknacktoflying]

they are symptoms ... it is a bit like when you have a cold your snot becomes gungy ... the e-mail listed vaginal dryness along with other symptoms ... can’t really see the issue

[S1naidSucks]

It might also benefit the menopausal wives/partners of the older staff, if that staff member is made aware that the woman may have vaginal dryness and allow for that, during sex. Lube is good.

[S1naidSucks]

some younger females would 😁

[Pantsomime]

Awareness is a great thing. Menopause affects work. If your manager is male, he may learn something that any female partner could well be grateful for.

[SandAndSeals]

I think my main issue is censoring symptoms because they might be embarrassing is taking things backwards.

It doesn’t happen with men’s health emails, and we’ve just tackled the same barriers with MH (and that’s an ongoing process). It seems bizarre that people would take issue to very real symptoms being mentioned in an awareness piece.

[Starfish28]

My goodness MN can be so anti women. Of course it’s relevant to the workplace. Women can suffer crippling symptoms. I read about a case in the US where a women ‘flooded’ period blood in the office and lost her job. Can you think of anything more horrifying than flooding period blood and your boss then sacking you? Better awareness is the first step in the conversation

[RubberTreePlant]

I'm freaking out at the mention of gungy snot now Was that a comparator or...?

[Trebla]

It's a body part. I dont understand the issue.

[Disfordarkchocolate]

I think it is fine at work. Lots of illnesses and life events are very common and some understanding and awareness helps everyone. Your colleague needs to chill out.

[Alsohuman]

It’s completely inappropriate. Vaginal dryness has zero relevance in the workplace, if any symptoms were mentioned at all it should have been only those that affect women at work. Highly unprofessional.

[NoBaggyPants]

Surely objecting to the brief mention of a symptom is reinforcing the stigma about it?

Our council has a menopause friendly policy, and whilst menopause is not a disability, it reflects the same guidelines, someone might need time off for appointments or if they have particularly severe symptoms and need time off for sickness this is treated in the same way as disability related absence.

These are all good things for women. How anyone could object to it is beyond me.

[TheGrey1houndSpeaks]

younger males would also benefit. Maybe... It’s still utterly bizarre to think they need educating via a workplace memo!

[RubberTreePlant]

My goodness MN can be so anti women. Of course it’s relevant to the workplace. Women can suffer crippling symptoms.

"Anti women"?!

Admittedly I'm pre-menopause so having to exercise my imagination, but I'm thinking if I was menopausal and my workplace started working towards a "menopause policy" to increase understanding in the workplace, I wouldn't really want male colleagues (a proportion of whom are always idiots) to specifically have their attention drawn to vaginal dryness. I think I'd quite like to have a hot flush in peace without remembering that email and wondering who is inwardly thinking "vaginal dryness".

[CostanzaG]

We've had a similar email. It's awareness raising and important for people of all ages to understand.
Most people are aware of the impact of pregnancy and there are policies and procedures in place to support pregnant women in the work place. If you employ or work with women It's important that the impact of menopause is understood.


Your colleague is an idiot.

[NoBaggyPants]

Vaginal dryness has zero relevance in the workplace

It doesn't directly, but if it helps a woman realise what they're going through and enables them to seek medical help, that can only be a good thing. I don't care where the source of that information comes from.

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles]

I really hope it was circulated as the Meno Memo

[StealthPolarBear]

"And if so, surely they’d have zero of awareness of Shirley sitting next to them experiencing vaginal dryness? Odd.."
Love the fact Shirley was the very next poster :o

I'm a little bit on the fence as agree if it's just about making managers and colleagues aware it's not relevant (and I'd say the same about an equivalent men's health email talking about Ed) . However I think on the whole I agree with you. Awareness raising in this way cannot be a bad thing.

[TheCanterburyWhales]

Why in the name of fuck does my menopause have to be discussed at all at work? My vaginal dryness doesn't stop me from doing my job.

Prostate cancer awareness, sure. Breast cancer awareness, bring it on. MH issues, yes.

(And I'm a 53 year old woman so vaginal dryness is my middle name)

[Theknacktoflying]

Comparator ...

My mum has never spoken to me about the menopause and she was pretty useless when I was a teenager needing advice

[StrippingTheVelvet]

Absolutely ridiculous to have a menopause policy. Unless you have one for every other condition as well -which would be even more stupid-. Do you have a cancer policy? Anxiety and depression policy? Fertility policy? If not, why does the menopause get one?

[StealthPolarBear]

Ah now I don't work with many/any idiots. All my colleagues seem to be grown ups. I agree if it's going to lead to sixth form sniggering that's not good.