Black and Menopausal: Intimate Stories of Navigating the Change
"This is our voice, these are our truths, and our stories deserve to be told."
This deeply empowering and personal collection of stories brings together a wide range of Black experiences on the menopause journey. Drawing on the historical and cultural importance of storytelling traditions in African and Caribbean ancestry, this anthology breaks through a taboo topic that has too often been mired in shame and silence with courage and vulnerability.
Contributions span across various heritages, sexual orientations, ages, and gender identities, curating an intimate treasury of journeys full of honesty, pain, healing, and liberation. Topics on emotional, mental, and sexual health as well as complementary therapies are all discussed with empathy and sincerity, allowing readers to broaden their depth of understanding on the experiences of Black people impacted by the menopause.
View a message from Dr. Yansie Rolston sharing her personal experiences with Menopause on
BBC RADIO 4's WOMEN'S HOUR.
BS 30416, Menstruation, Menstrual Health and Menopause in the Workplace
Over the last few years in the United Kingdom, menstrual and menopausal health has been increasingly discussed in parliament, in the mainstream media, and on social media. This visibility of menopause and menstruation has already led to changes on a political level. These changes have included the provision of free menstrual products in schools, the appointment of England’s first-ever Menopause Employment Champion, and the launch of the Women’s Health Strategy. Recent discussions have highlighted the need for workplaces to improve how they support employees experiencing menstruation and menopause transition.
Nevertheless, only a minority of UK workplaces have implemented specific policies that address menstrual and menopausal health and wellbeing. Although menstruation and peri/menopause are natural bodily processes, some women, and other gender minorities (such as transgender men and nonbinary people) may need support and adjustments to ensure that they are able to attend work, effectively carry out their role, and benefit fully from workplace initiatives. The creation of this British Standard on menstrual and menopausal health is therefore a timely, vital, and ground-breaking step towards gender equality in the workplace.
Menopause Support has launched a new guidance booklet "Understanding Menopause" to support women to better understand and navigate menopause.
The new guide booklet reviewed by expert clinicians includes a much needed symptoms checker to support women to understand the breath of menopause symptoms and when to reach out for support.
Scan the QR (Quick Response) code with your smartphone camera to download a PDF version of the booklet.
MY MENOPAUSE APPOINTMENT GUIDE
OK ladies, this is a cheat sheet for a really good menopause chat with your GP surgery.
Use this before your appointment. It covers everything you and your GP need to know to help you get across what it is that you need in order to feel better.
THE ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP ON MENOPAUSE
Promoting and Supporting Women going through the Menopause and Challenging current policy in Parliament
The APPG on Menopause was created by Parliamentarians to provide a platform to tackle the lack of understanding around Menopause amongst policymakers, the public and employers. The Group also provides a platform in the heart of Parliament that highlights the issues and challenges around Menopause that deserve attention, as well as acting as a forum for discussion.
Current Inquiry – Assessing the impacts of Menopause and the case for policy reform
The APPG is currently undertaking an inquiry into the impacts of Menopause on women and families and the case for policy reform. The APPG will be producing a report setting out policy recommendations.
Scope of the inquiry
This inquiry will examine a wide-range of issues surrounding Menopause.
The inquiry will explore and assess current policy around Menopause in the workplace, amongst medical professionals and in education. The inquiry will also examine the impact Menopause is having on people’s daily lives and within society and families.
The APPG is seeking written submissions that address the following issues.
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Evidence on current workplace attitudes, policy or initiatives towards Menopause and detail on further workplace action that should be taken
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Information on current Menopause education in schools – how it works in practice and what more could be done to educate people on Menopause awareness
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Information on how medical professionals and the NHS deal with Menopause in terms of treatment and the development of treatment. What specific policy change would better help the NHS treat women going through Menopause?
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Detail on personal experiences of Menopause, the impact this may have had on daily activity and wider family impacts
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Information on current products that are available for women going through Menopause and information on this market
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Any further detail or suggested policy recommendations that the APPG should consider around Menopause.
This information, along with a number of evidence sessions that will be held from July 2021, will contribute to the APPG’s final recommendations for policy change around Menopause which will be presented to the Government.
Please email the Secretariat with any evidence and written responses – menopauseAPPGUK@interelgroup.com
Please note: the call for evidence closed on September 30th 2021.
Upcoming Meetings
Menopause APPG Evidence Session 7 (Alternative Treatments): 31st March at 13:00
The Greene Climateric Scale
This Greene Climacteric Scale tracks a list of 21 menopause related symptoms (including some less well known ones). It is a handy guide to help you keep track of any hormone related symptoms during the menopause and perimenopause. It is what most GPs and doctors use so it's a good idea for you to use it yourself and if you have any concerns you can then show your completed chart to your GP.
