Chadderton charity issues menopause plea

An Oldham charity has united with one of the country’s leading women’s health campaigners to call for an end to stigma, ignorance, negligence and even derision around menopause.

Speaking ahead of World Menopause Awareness Day tomorrow (October 18), Endometriosis Awareness North and Nina Kuypers, the founder of Black Women in Menopause, would like this perfectly natural biological transition to be viewed with compassion – rather than reduced to ridicule about “hot flushes” and “the change.”

And they revealed how those jokes are particularly unfunny for Greater Manchester’s BAME population who tend to suffer symptoms such as brittle bones more acutely.  

“BAME women can face a painful concoction of ingrained embarrassment around menopause plus health services that do not treat them equally,” said Chadderton-based Dr Anita Sharma from Endometriosis Awareness North.

“The science shows that black women experience the menopause earlier.

"They can also endure symptoms such as weight gain, poorer sleep patterns due to more severe vasomotor symptoms and increased mental health issues more than other groups.

"And yet even when they are in severe pain, there are a lot more reticent about coming forwards.”

Dr Sharma is calling for more targeted education programmes to be run for BAME communities and even wants national campaigns to use greater diversity in their advertising around menopause.  

Nina Kuypers is the founder of Black Women in Menopause (BWiM).

She said: “I recognised the need for support, advocacy, and resources specifically tailored to the experiences of black people going through menopause.

"The aim of BWiM is to provide a safe and supportive space for black people to share their experiences, exchange information, seek advice, and advocate for better healthcare and workplace support related to menopause and beyond.

"These sessions are free and serve as an opportunity to learn.”

She continued: “I can see that it’s no coincidence that menopausal black people have such a high prevalence of menopause-related illnesses such as osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and depression.

"We collectively need to dismantle the unhelpful stigma that surrounds menopause, so that it’s no longer taboo.

"Then we can let all people know that it’s okay to talk about it.

"Healthcare providers need to take into consideration the potential differences when providing care for women going through menopause, ensuring that the care is culturally sensitive and tailored to individual needs.  

“Additionally, more research is needed to better understand these variations in the menopause experience among different racial and ethnic groups.

"There is also the potential danger that by excessively focusing on the negative aspects of menopause, we may inadvertently contribute to fear and anxiety among the ‘younger’ generation about their own future experiences.

"When menopause is consistently portrayed as a period of suffering and decline, it can create a sense of apprehension and dread.

"Promoting a broader dialogue that includes positive menopause stories may help them develop a more nuanced understanding of this life stage.

"It can demonstrate that menopause is a normal and natural part of your life design, and that it can also be a time of (re)growth, self-discovery, and renewed vitality.”

Dr Sharma has launched a new webpage to explain the signs and symptoms of the condition plus explain terms such as “perimenopause” - the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause.

The page is located here   

Dr Sharma concluded: “I am heartened by news that employers are beginning to acknowledge how menopause can impact on working lives.

"There are also more conversations around the condition. But the inequalities in our healthcare that so affect women and BAME groups are just as rife with menopause as anything else.

From husbands opening health letters addressed to their daughters to GPs of all genders dismissing symptoms too easily, we have to do better.”

Dr Sharma is a GP with special interest in women’s health and chair of Endometriosis Awareness North.

Learn more about them at: https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com

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