Menopause myth busting with Right at Home Sefton

Introduction 

• Menopause can be a taboo/difficult to approach/misunderstood subject
• There are many misconceptions people hold about what menopause is like and how it can affect people’s lives
• Throughout Menopause Awareness Month, we want to break down the stigma surrounding menopause and shine a light on/highlight/discuss how to live and work well during menopause/this change/this period 
• In this blog, we’ve investigated 5 common myths surrounding menopause and the facts/reality/truth behind them

Myth #1 : Menopause only affects people of a certain age/Menopause automatically starts at 50

● Although menopause often affects people between the ages of 45-55, it can happen earlier or later for some
● Premature menopause occurs before the age of 40. Early menopause is when menopause occurs/happens/begins before the age of 45. Around 8% of people experiencing menopause have early menopause
● Both can happen naturally if a person’s ovaries stop making normal levels of some hormones before the age of 45
● It can also be brought on by medical treatments such as hysterectomies and some cancer treatments
● Similarly, late-onset menopause is the term for someone who starts menopause after the age of 55

Myth #2: Menopause is a women’s issue/It’s something only women need to worry about/It only affects women

● Menopause is not just a “women’s issue”
● Over 51% of the population will experience menopause - the fastest growing demographic of workers in the UK
● At some point, everyone will know a parent, child, partner, friend or colleague going through menopause, who might need support and understanding
● It is also important to acknowledge that although most people experiencing menopause are likely to be women, there are transmen and non-binary people who will experience it too
● Therefore it is important to be respectful towards anyone going through/discussing/experiencing menopause and be mindful to not make assumptions

Myth #3: Hot flushes/Night sweats/mood changes are the only symptom of menopause

● Everyone’s experience of menopause is different
● There are lots of symptoms someone in menopause may encounter including:
○ Headaches, heart palpitations, tiredness, sleep issues, night sweats, difficulty concentrating, weakened bladder control, loss of confidence and brain fog
● For more information on menopause symptoms read our Understanding Menopause blog
● It’s important to open a dialogue with the person to allow them space to discuss the types of symptoms they are having and how this is affecting/impacting/influencing their day-to-day lives

Myth #4: Everyone’s menopause is the same / Menopause is the same for everyone / Menopause experiences don’t differ from person to person

● Each person’s menopause symptoms and experience will be different
● Some people may have severe/extreme/unbearable/intolerable symptoms, others mild/acute/gentle
● At the same time, some may be very open about/want to talk openly about/willing to discuss what they are going through while others may prefer to deal with it privately, in their own way
● It is important to respect their wishes and never make assumptions without listening to their experience first

Myth #5: Menopause only lasts a year or so / Menopause lasts for a year / Menopause is only a year of your life

● Symptoms of menopause can start months or even years before a person’s menstrual cycle comes to an end
● Most people will experience varying degrees of/differing/a variety of symptoms for around four to seven years, however, some people may experience it for ten years or more
● Throughout this time, people will not always have the same symptoms or the same levels of symptom severity, it will fluctuate over time

Want to work for an inclusive and flexible employer? Looking to work for an employer that will support you through your menopause? / Want a flexible employer who will empower you during menopause?

● Each person’s experience of menopause is different, but the most important/key/essential thing you can do is listen and learn from others
● At Right at Home Sefton we ensure our employees are supported, heard and confident in their roles, no matter what stage of life they are in
● As a CareGiver for Right at Home you will have great flexibility allowing you to choose hours that work around you - if one week you want fewer hours, we can make that work so you can take time to look after yourself and your wellbeing
● We have a family-feel culture, from our offices to our CareGivers carrying out Client calls, so you are never alone
● We also offer our office employees menopause training so they can support you through this period and ensure you feel looked after
● If you want to work for an employer that will support and empower you during your menopause, browse our available opportunities from the below link

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