Every day I speak to women who have been struggling to get the right help and support for their menopause symptoms.

In 2012 I had to have a total hysterectomy including the removal of both of my ovaries, putting me into immediate surgical menopause. I received no information or advice about the possible effects of my surgery. I was simply told to visit my GP after a few weeks if I felt I need to. Due to a lack of the right information and support, I did not receive the treatment I needed at the right time.

A few months later I fell into a very deep, dark place where I came very close to ending my own life. I was lucky; I had a supportive husband and family who got me the help I needed when I was not capable of doing that for myself.

Since then, I have become increasingly aware of just how many women are not receiving the right help and support for their menopause experience, from doctors, employers and sometimes even their own families and friends. This is all due to a chronic lack of menopause education, information, and awareness.

I don't want anyone to have to struggle with their menopause experience in the way that I did. That’s why I started this campaign to Make Menopause Matter, with four clear, common sense aims, which would improve menopause education, information, care, and support for everyone.

This lack of education and awareness is costing too many their health and wellbeing, their careers, their relationships and tragically sometimes their lives. When I investigated suicide rates for women, the highest rate is between 45-55 which can't be a coincidence. This lack of education and awareness is also costing the NHS. Better education would result in quicker diagnosis, fewer GP appointments, and onward referrals, and huge time and money savings for the NHS.

Those experiencing menopause also need to be better supported in the workplace. Studies show that some feel they have no choice but to leave their employment as a result of their symptoms. Supporting those experiencing menopause to remain at work by implementing a few simple adjustments is common sense. Government and employers need to recognise that menopause awareness and support in every workplace is a win-win situation.

It is also time to make menopause information available to everybody with a dedicated public health campaign and for it to be taught in schools as part of the RSE curriculum. Age appropriate education will ensure that those directly affected will feel better informed and those around them will have greater understanding and hopefully more compassion.

Update - I am delighted to say that menopause was added to the PSHE curriculum in England from Sept 2020 and that all medical students should now be taught about menopause due to the introduction of a mandatory women’s health module into the curriculum. (September 2024)

Huge thanks to everyone who has signed, shared, and supported this campaign to date. We are moving in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done to ensure better care and support for all. 

Please join us in calling on the Ministers responsible for Health, Work and Education to #MakeMenopauseMatter by ensuring  

1. Mandatory menopause training for all GPs, practice nurses, and medical students. 

2. Menopause awareness, guidance, and support in every workplace.

3. Menopause to be taught as part of the PSHE curriculum in schools. 

4. A national, government funded, public health campaign for menopause.