Menopause & Society
Unfortunately, our society isn’t prepared to deal with menopause. For starters, it’s still called ‘menopause’ which is eponymous for ovarian failure. By using this definition, it becomes easy to forget the significance of the process occuring, any other organ failure is met with rigorous testing and treatments, however many women with ovarian failure are expected to endure the symptoms.
Too often, menopause is stigmatised as a “women’s issue” and dismissed— when in fact it has very real impacts on women physically, mentally and socially.. Recently, the cost of ovarian failure to women has been quantified to $17 billion lost in SUPA contributions. Just as women are reaching a peak in their careers from the age of 45, the deficiencies in oestrogen and progesterone caused by menopause can lead to profound changes in cognitive functioning, to the point that an individual needs to reduce work hours and duties.
Media has shown us a stereotype of an irritable woman, while the reality is far more personal and complex. Oestrogen and progesterone are necessary for the serotonin, dopaminergic and GABAergic pathways in our brain, a medical way of saying: ‘ oestrogen and progesterone are necessary to feel good, manage anxiety and manage motivation.’ This picture of an irritable woman is a depiction of what happens to an individual when they are forced to endure the symptoms of hormonal deficiencies without adequate education or management strategies. The irritable woman is often one who has gone from thriving to just surviving. Doctors are expected to guide women through this but a paucity of information and training means many are unequipped to help women through this transition, leaving many to suffer or to take unnecessary medications. Finding a good clinician whom you trust and is up to date with the current recommendations is crucial for your transition to be well managed and limit the negative impacts on your life. Menopause is a natural process— but also one that can affect your quality of life and needs to be taken seriously.
Until we have rigorous supporting structures in place to educate, treat and maintain women during and after ovarian failure at an individual level, support within the workplace and society will continue to be lacking. For now, encouraging openness of your journey, what has helped you and recommending seeking help from clinicians experienced in managing ovarian failure and menopause is accessible. In the future, I hope to see corporate workshops and free-to-access seminars that focus on ovarian failure, what it means and what your options are if your symptoms impact your quality of life.
And in the workplace, we need to deepen our understanding of how menopause can change our productivity and work experience. A truly inclusive culture must develop ways to support women as they go through this life-changing phase.
