I am so sick of hearing about menopause

[haveyouheardthemenopauseisshit]

I get the menopause is a big deal for many women and the symptoms are not nice.

However, do we have to talk about it all the time? I feel like I am hearing about it multiple times a day. We have menopause awareness sessions and e-learning at work. I’m targeted by advertising every time I look at my phone for some new product / vitamin / book etc which is supposed to help with menopause symptoms. I feel like it’s constantly being mentioned on the radio, TV, by people I know.

If someone is forgetful, it’s the menopause. If they’re tired, it’s the menopause. If they’re angry, it’s the menopause. If they’re hot, it’s the menopause.

I’m 39 and I feel bombarded by all of this “THE MENOPAUSE IS COMING SOON AND IT WILL BE SHIT” messaging.

I am also a bit worried that it will make it even harder to be taken seriously as a woman in the workplace, since the prevailing message now seems to be that women over 45 are basically useless because of all the issues caused by their hormones.

I’m guessing I’ll be in the minority here and everyone else will think that the awareness raising is a good thing but I just find it quite depressing!

If you read this thread from the top you will see many people claim menopause will be awful and render women functionally disabled ("just you wait")

Well that isn't quite true.but would you rather body changes fluctuating libido and body pain was a complete suprise ?

Who's subnormal? I don't understand.

You'd only ask for adjustments if you needed them - that would be driven by you, not anyone else.

All women, if they reach that age, will go through menopause. As with all health info, you should be consider the source, but noone reputable is saying every women will get every symptom or every woman will struggle. They’re just saying this is what can happen, these are the most common symptoms, these are also possible symptoms, help is available at work, your GP etc.

That also isn't what they are saying, are you ok you seem disturbed by responses 😳

My mum is in her 80s and was perfectly aware of these issues at the relevant time without the benefit of a "women suck" campaign.

Is this like the waspi women? (I had no WAY of knowing what everyone knew!)

People say that sort of thing frequently to people who don't have children.

I can't deal with this level of immaturity.

Same way that I deal with everything that gets sensationalised and spun into fear mongering.. Finding information for myself and keep a balanced view. I am not someone to panic, there's lots of women like me too.

You’ll have to explain, I’m not sure what you mean.

I am struggling to interact with you i don't think I will reply to you anymore, your reasoning is all over the place, we all age how you choose to deal with it is up to you.

Nah, they didn't. Some said they struggle, massive difference. Are you normally this highly strung?

I agree and I'm a menopausal 52-year-old!

Don't get me wrong - I'm glad that menopause isn't the taboo it once was, I'm absolutely delighted that many women can now access HRT if they want it and there are many and varied treatments to help with menopause symptoms (which I have availed myself of for the past six years), and I'm glad there are policies at work to help women who are struggling and who, perhaps, are unable to take HRT. But I do think all the wanging on about menopause has gone too far. Enough already! Make the information available, but stop ramming it down everyone's throats all the damn time.

But I do think all the wanging on about menopause has gone too far. Enough already! Make the information available, but stop ramming it down everyone's throats all the damn time

Who is wanging on ?

I do partly agree. Of course some additional information for everyone is good. It shouldn't be a whispered women's secret, just as periods shouldn't be.

However, it is not OK for every woman's complaint about anything in her 40s/50s to be dismissed as "oh you're menopausal/peri". It's not OK for companies to push "remedies" down our throats. It's not OK to be all doom and gloom and pessimism about life at this age. It's not OK for an expectation to be built up that we are all useless.

I am 54, haven't really noticed any obvious (peri)menopausal symptoms. I'm taking low dose HRT mainly on long term preventative grounds (bone density etc). Feel generally happier, more confident, more influential, more fun, stronger, calmer, more free than at pretty much any point in my life. But feel I almost can't say that in public because the expectation seems to be that I am supposed to feel terrible!

Well, the Women's Network at my workplace, for one.

Do you believe everything you read from random people on other subjects? As with everything, use reputable sources for information. Women’s own accounts can be useful, they may have had a very bad menopause and I’ll listen, but if I feel anyone is trying to cause panic in others, I ignore them. This isn’t limited to menopause.

As you know that women are capable, this should be easy to do, so it wont be an issue. For women who it does panic, they need to make changes. Use reputable information and realise that not every woman gets symptoms, most women don’t get every symptom etc.

She is right.
There are a lot of “you wait” and “come back in nnn years” - transposing their own experiences onto others.
No thanks.

Well said.
I feel that it is now being used an an excuse, just as ASD or poor mental health are. It does no favours to those who are genuinely suffering.

I know women who are genuinely struggling and they aren't being taken seriously any more.

The network for actual women is talking about Women's health in the workplace? I'm shocked 😲

Increased awareness is great.

But I'm sick to shitting god of hearing about it. Whenever there's any focus on women's health issues it always seems to centre around menopause now, like there are no other issues.

And it being a main topic of conversation is getting on my nerves too. Its miserable and boring.

There are many things that come under the umbrella of women's health, yet we have no sessions on maternity, returning to work, mentoring other women, the glass ceiling, or any of the other issues I thought might be part of the network. So you can be sarky if you like, but it's not much of a women's network when it only addresses one of the many issues that women in the workplace face.

But many more women work now so workplaces need to be aware. Years ago, if women were aware, their husbands were not. It was taboo, something not to be mentioned except a whispered ‘it’s the change’, like this mysterious thing that couldn’t be properly talked about.

It’s better that it is discussed, not hidden. Like periods. It’s better women don’t feel shame and dirty and a need to hide, it’s better that men understand them and no longer think ick etc. Childbirth was something that wasn’t for men to know about, now most fathers are in the room to provide support during birth. Seeing what women go through in birth helps understanding afterwards.

Apparently they sell menopause vibrators in Sainsburys so that’s something to look forward to.