What extraordinary coverage of menopause in Ireland- 8 days on the national airwaves. Huge thanks has to go Joe Duffy for enabling the conversation to occur. I have been advocating for the spotlight to be focused on this time in women’s lives for almost two years. The Women’s Health Task Force which met in February 2020 pre covid had chosen menopause as one of the key priorities for 2020/2021.However Covid changed everything. I was delighted to have been asked to contribute to the Live line conversation on the Wednesday. From working in the menopause space in both the UK and Ireland over this past year, a seismic shift is occurring, there is an uncovering of decades and decades of silence around this phase of women’s lives. In the UK Midlife Women are finding their voice, one could argue for the first time in history. Years of shame, fear, denial, whisperings, the repercussions of which are all emerging on to the national airwaves. For change to occur this unfortunately has to happen. When we uncover we will be able to recover and move towards the truth, not continue feeding the myths or generational fiction.
The TRUTH is there is no shame in being a menopausal women today. We as women need to embody this. Many celebs in the U.K. are joining in the menopause conversation, becoming advocates for change Meg Mathews, Liz Earle, Lorraine Kelly, Carole Vorderman. We cannot be it unless we see it.
I argue and have witnessed that with the right support, education and understanding this can be one of the best times in women’s life.
Keep talking and reach out for help if you need it.