Workplace discussion on reproductive and sexual health is rare: and yet surveys report that women want and need more knowledge to make informed decisions on lifestyle strategies and interventions to help them to thrive.
GP intervention. Statistics from the
poorer outcomes with menopause
British Labour Force surveys report that
transition as their own attitudes and
women between the ages of 45-54 years
beliefs are influenced by the cultural
report a high incidence of work-related
attitude and media representation of
stress. The timing of midlife stressors of
menopause, alongside socio- economic,
juggling a job with child and elder care
ethnicity, sexual and gender identity
combined with domestic and financial
and lifestyle factors.
responsibilities means that women and
The perimenopause phase is little
health care professionals are likely to
understood by women and health
attribute some physical, psychological,
professionals. Symptoms can begin up
and emotional symptoms to stress,
to 10 years before menstruation ceases
rather than perimenopause oestrogen
and is caused when the sex hormones
decline. Due to this, women did not
begin to fluctuate due to declining egg
access or were not offered correct evidenced based information, treatment, and support. In western society, menopause is viewed as a mid-life phase of a woman’s reproductive health and for a large part of the population this is the case, as the average age for a woman to reach menopause in the UK is 51. However, premature onset can occur • in 1 in 100 women before 40 years of age • can be surgical induced after a hysterectomy, • caused by ongoing treatment for poly cystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and breast cancer
Diagram 1
The experience of lowering hormone
Follicle production during women’s fertility cycle
levels within days or weeks instead of
– courtesy E.R. Trevelde et al 1998
years can be particularly intense. Women suffer in silence and have ioh.org.uk
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