Menopolyxinaemia - The Thing That Turned Tail

Okay, peeps - and particularly those of you who have either not yet reached this point in life - or who have wives and daughters that you love - YES, YOU MEN TOO!!! - today's post is part of raising awareness around that thing which I have never been able to name, so I made up my own lexicon around it - but today, it will be faced head-on... 

"If men had to undergo menopause, 

it would have been 'fixed' by now!" 

(Baroness Sayeeda Warsi)

Kate Muir in The Guardian.

DO NOT RUN AWAY!!! Those of you who have been around long enough know the origin of this blog as a release valve for the pressure from menopolyxinaemia (I know, I know, but the menoctionary is my baby now...) I was deep in menosoup and having menoloopals and menodropsicals and aarrrrggggggggggghhhhh.

GENTLEMEN, I IMPLORE YOU, STICK AROUND... IF YOU WORK WHERE WOMEN WORK, ESPECIALLY IN MANAGEMENT, THIS IS ULTRA IMPORTANT!!!

The start of this blog was almost precisely at the point of menopause. However, that term is used almost exclusively, and the concept of perimenopause is rarely mentioned. Menopause is described as when blood flow ceases, and no further flow appears for at least twelve months. There can, occasionally, be a 'show' on or around the year, just to - you know - keep things fretting, but it is usually just a one-off. The last hurrah, so to speak. I was 52. The time generally accepted as appropriate for menopause. 

However, there had been an excruciating twelve-year lead-up... and an equally befuddling eight or nine years after, which count as perimenopause. That's the place where the majority of the multifarious symptoms reside and it is these symptoms that mainly require treatment - not the actual cessation of flow. A lucky few women truly do not have trouble over this time - or at least very minimal. A whopping <>80% of the world's female population, though, do suffer and some 25%, like myself, undergo every possible variation and manifestation that is written about and even a couple that aren't. 

From "Sex, Myths and The Menopause". If at all you can obtain access
to this excellent documentary, I highly recommend it.

I want to tell you that I was prompted to this post due to an email from blogpal Hilary Melton-Butcher, who kindly forwarded the link to this short TED talk. Go on - it's only eight minutes.

It 

The Guardian

is a matter that is starting to be recognised globally. I do take issue with the bracketing of time that is so often presented, though. A recent article in my newspaper of choice (clip to the right) has a statement that symptoms can last one year to eight years - where the heck did they get that from??? There is also a presumption (and this can be among doctors too, who have no specialist knowledge) that meno can only occur in a woman's fifties. There are plenty much younger women who can hotly debate that one!

What is more, bad enough that the other half of the planet's population is ignorant of what goes on for a woman in her 'change'... many women are equally ignorant. A case in point is the statement by a woman senior manager in that same newspaper excerpt. That article is about the same subject as discussed in the video above. Similarly, last year, concern was raised about the loss of medical expertise due to older female doctors having to step back from their roles as a result of the ravages and misunderstandings around menopause. If such Victorian standards are held even within the profession that ought to be sorting things out, what hope is there?! Even treatments can be a problem and although largely proven otherwise now, the 2001 report about the connection of HRT with breast cancer continues to haunt matters. Nowadays, HRT includes body-identical hormones produced from soy and.... yes, oh yes!... Wild Yam!!! (See the bottom of my bio/contacts page.)

I am no longer in the workforce. I took early retirement due to a turn of events in life that have been largely responsible for keeping me sane. I am sure that I would not be sitting here typing to you about this now if I remained fighting to keep my health practice running. There were some very, very dark days.

I hope that there is a genuine opening up to discussion and changes in workplace management around menopause for all current and upcoming women with ambitions for their careers. Or even if they simply wish - or need to - keep working, albeit at the supermarket. A new charity has been set up (although UK-based, has global intention) to help educate and support anyone and everyone who cares. YES, BLOKES, THAT INCLUDES YOU. As partners, as bosses, as colleagues, as friends and brothers... you too have a role to play in supporting your womenfolk. 

So my dears, I ask that you reference this post in a post on your own blogs, that you spread the word about the charity and share that TED talk widely. 

SECRET WOMEN'S BUSINESS NEEDS TO BE CRACKED OPEN - MUCH AS THE PEGASUS PROJECT IS UNVEILING ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE... thanks for lending me your 'ears.'