Women urge menopause awareness to ease loneliness

A woman who said she has menopausal symptoms after being diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 21 has described her experience as lonely.

Rachel Vivian, now 29, said she wanted to see more education for everyone, including businesses, as she shared her story as part of Menopause Awareness Month.

Since being diagnosed with endometriosis in 2018 she has had five surgeries and is taking medication commonly used as a contraceptive to help, but she said the side effects mimicked menopausal symptoms.

She said it had given her an insight into what every woman would eventually experience and she called for more awareness in the workplace.

"One in 100 women will have menopause before the age of 40 but no-one my age is talking about menopause, it just doesn't make sense," she said.

"It's very odd... I can understand women 50 plus more than people my own age at this point."

She said she had experienced hot flushes and brain fog among other symptoms and the extended use of the drug she takes to treat her endometriosis also put her at risk of osteoporosis.

A sixth surgery to remove an ovary is due to take place soon, which she said could put her into surgical menopause.

She said she believed not enough support was provided to women in the workplace experiencing menopause.

"We shouldn't be dismissing people because they're going through this stage, we should be making adjustments," she said.

"Every single woman is going to go through menopause and we have to work around it, we have to support it."

Among those offering support is the States of Guernsey which this month launched a training course for managers.

The course includes "practical guidance" on how to recognise symptoms and workplace impact, it said.

Dani Barnett, who has been giving talks to businesses as part of the awareness month, said she understood feelings of loneliness following her own experience.

At higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer due to a gene mutation, Barnett said she was advised to have her ovaries removed six years ago when she was 40.

"Back then menopause wasn't talked about like it is on social media now," she said.

"I went into hospital and was told to not worry about it, I won't have menopause symptoms because I'll be on HRT [hormone replacement therapy]. That was completely wrong and I was hit like a freight train."

She said she was not prepared and it became a lonely time in her life, adding she would like the stages and what to expect explained to women at a young age.

"I genuinely think it comes down to education," she said.

"There wouldn't be so much fear about it and I think there would be a lot more understanding between women, as well as men, about what's going on."

HR expert Lorna Pestana said she dealt with issues caused by the menopause affecting Guernsey businesses on a weekly basis.

Her advice to employers was to look at what reasonable adjustments could be made for staff experiencing it, adding: "I'd like to see the States of Guernsey take a lead on this, they should be showing best practice.

"It shouldn't just be done during Menopause Awareness Month."

She said there had been a "massive change" over the past few years in the approach to mental health at work and she wanted similar conversations about menopause.

"We've got to have the same attitude," she said. "It's not a choice for women, it happens and it is a big education piece and getting the conversation opened up.

"It shouldn't be an embarrassment to discuss what your requirements are."

Anita Gaudion, head of HR and organisational development for the States, said they remained "committed to supporting colleagues affected by the menopause".

"The recent focus on menopause awareness and training is a clear example of that commitment in action," she said.

"We have deliberately put the menopause in the spotlight so that more staff feel able to talk about it and our managers are confident in terms of how to respond."

She said a range of support was already available for all staff and employment policies were "intentionally broad, so that anyone experiencing symptoms that affect their ability to work, whatever the cause, can access the support they need".

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