Most of us don’t even realize when our own mums, aunties or mother figures go through it. Our many, varied experiences are brushed under the carpet by shame and indifference. Let’s change that for good, by asking questions and listening properly to the answers.
‘What did you least expect about the menopause?’
‘What do you wish you’d known about the menopause?’
‘What’s the menopause actually like?’
‘What are the good bits, your menopause highlights?’
‘Is there anything I can do to make it easier for you?’
Or, if you’re talking to someone who’s been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, you could ask:
‘Is there anything that made the menopause easier for you?’
We hope their answers speak to how valuable it is to ask these questions and have these conversations. Check out our infrequently Asked Questions for a snapshot of what the menopause is really like as told by the experts (those who’ve actually been through it).
There are 48 symptoms (but most of us can’t name three!) and each perimenopausal experience offers up its own surprising symptom cocktail. Some of us breeze through it like it’s nothing, and some of us battle with a smorgasbord of symptoms for 12 years. Yep, that’s right, it can last up to 12 years.
So let’s take matter into our own hands and ask the menopausal people in our lives what it’s like for them. That way we can better support those going through it and understand the menopause better – making us all better equipped to navigate this life-stage, rogue beard hairs and all.
Watch Aby, Ingi, and Sandie share their true menopause stories.
See all our articles on menopause and how to manage it.
