The Conversation More Women Should Be Having
Menopause and Wellbeing: The Conversation More Women Should Be Having
Hot flushes, disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating and unexpected changes in mood. For many women, these experiences are part of menopause, yet they're often misunderstood, overlooked or discussed only in private.
Menopause is a natural stage of life, not an illness. However, the physical and emotional changes that accompany it can affect everyday routines, relationships and professional life.
With World Menopause Day on 18 October, it's an opportunity to make the conversation more open, practical and informed. Understanding what happens during menopause, recognising the support available and challenging common misconceptions can make this transition easier to navigate.
Table of Contents
- Understanding Menopause and Perimenopause
- The Symptoms We Don't Talk About Enough
- Menopause in the Workplace
- What Can Help During Menopause?
- Why Better Conversations Matter
- References and Further Reading
Understanding Menopause and Perimenopause
Menopause marks the end of menstrual periods and is generally confirmed after 12 consecutive months without menstruation, when there is no other medical explanation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), natural menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
However, the transition doesn't happen overnight. Perimenopause, the period leading up to menopause, can begin several years earlier as hormone levels fluctuate and menstrual cycles change.
Experiences vary considerably. Some women notice relatively few changes, while others experience symptoms that interfere with their sleep, energy, concentration or quality of life.
Understanding these differences is important because there is no single menopause experience, and support should reflect individual needs.
The Symptoms We Don't Talk About Enough
Hot flushes and night sweats are among the most widely recognised symptoms of menopause, but they're only part of the picture.
Women may also experience sleep disturbances, mood changes, vaginal dryness, joint discomfort and difficulties with memory or concentration. Some describe feeling less mentally sharp or struggling to maintain their usual energy levels.
These experiences can be confusing, particularly when symptoms develop gradually or appear before someone expects menopause to begin.
The NHS highlights that menopause symptoms can affect relationships, social life and work, with their severity and duration varying from person to person.
Not every symptom during midlife is necessarily caused by menopause. Persistent changes in mood, sleep or physical health may have other explanations, making medical assessment important when symptoms become concerning.
Recognising menopause as a whole-person experience, rather than focusing only on reproductive changes, can help women identify the support they need.
Menopause in the Workplace
Menopause is also a workplace wellbeing issue, particularly for women managing symptoms alongside professional responsibilities.
A 2023 study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings examined the impact of menopause symptoms on women in the workplace. Among the surveyed women aged 45–60, approximately 11% reported missing work because of menopause symptoms, highlighting the potential effects on attendance and professional life.
Sleep disruption, fatigue and concentration difficulties may make certain tasks more challenging, while workplace environments can sometimes intensify physical discomfort.
Yet many women hesitate to discuss menopause at work because of embarrassment, concerns about being judged or uncertainty about whether their experiences will be taken seriously.
Organisations can respond through practical measures such as flexible working arrangements where appropriate, access to drinking water, comfortable workplace temperatures and supportive conversations with managers.
These adjustments don't require employees to disclose personal medical details publicly. They simply recognise that people may have different health needs at different stages of life.
Creating a menopause-aware workplace is part of building an inclusive environment where employees can continue contributing confidently.
What Can Help During Menopause?
There is no universal approach to managing menopause because symptoms, medical histories and personal preferences differ.
However, several practical steps may help women navigate the transition more comfortably.
Regular movement: Physical activity supports cardiovascular health, muscle strength and bone health, which become increasingly important with age. Activities such as walking, swimming and resistance training can contribute to overall wellbeing.
Nutrition and bone health: A balanced diet that provides adequate calcium, vitamin D and protein supports bone and muscle health. Nutritional requirements may vary, particularly for women with specific medical conditions.
Sleep and recovery: Night sweats and other symptoms can disrupt sleep. Adjusting the sleeping environment and discussing persistent sleep problems with a healthcare professional may help identify suitable management options.
Medical guidance: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), non-hormonal treatments and other approaches may be appropriate depending on symptoms and individual health circumstances. The NHS provides an overview of available treatments and their considerations.
Lifestyle habits can support general health, but they may not be sufficient to manage significant menopause symptoms. Women experiencing difficulties should have access to reliable medical advice and evidence-based treatment options.
Why Better Conversations Matter
Menopause is a natural life transition, yet many women still navigate it without enough information or support.
More open conversations can help challenge misconceptions, encourage earlier recognition of symptoms and make it easier for women to seek appropriate care. They can also help partners, families and employers better understand experiences they may not have encountered personally.
At VIWELL, wellbeing is viewed through six interconnected areas: Physical, Mental, Nutritional, Social, Financial and Professional. Menopause illustrates why these connections matter. Changes in sleep and physical comfort can influence emotional wellbeing, relationships and the working day, making a broader perspective particularly relevant.
Supporting women through menopause isn't about treating a natural transition as a problem. It's about recognising that individual experiences differ and ensuring reliable information, understanding and appropriate care are available.
This World Menopause Day, the opportunity is to replace uncertainty and silence with knowledge and meaningful support.
Menopause is a normal part of life. Feeling informed and supported through it should be normal, too.
References and Further Reading
- World Health Organization. Menopause. Overview of menopause, perimenopause, symptoms and health considerations.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause
- NHS. Menopause Symptoms. Common physical and emotional symptoms and their effects on everyday life.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/
- NHS. Menopause Treatment. Evidence-based information on hormone replacement therapy, non-hormonal options and lifestyle support.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/treatment/
- Faubion SS, et al. (2023). Impact of Menopause Symptoms on Women in the Workplace. Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.02.025
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Menopause: Identification and Management (NG23). Clinical recommendations for menopause assessment and management.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23
