Meg, 50, started experiencing perimenopause symptoms when she was 47 years old. She remembers sitting in meetings feeling so self-conscious about her hot flushes she had to leave the room.
“Now I know it’s ok to say, ‘I’m having a hot flush’. Workplace culture has changed so much recently, and my current employer is very supportive, including offering menopause leave,” she says.
“Mum was the person I used to talk to, but she has passed away, and most of my friends are younger so have not experienced perimenopause yet. So, I did some research and went to see my usual doctor. He recommended Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT). I was on this for about a year and it really helped. I was very happy to have this support."
Meg’s symptoms have now gone, and she is no longer taking medication. Her advice to other women is to talk about it with friends or family while keeping in mind that everybody is different, with different views and different bodies.
Mostly, she encourages people to talk to a health professional. “You might not get the right solution straight away, but you can try different options. Don’t wait around and suffer, you can get help and support.”
