23. Menopause, Work & the Silence Around Women’s Health

**Menopause is not just hot flushes. And it is not something women should simply learn to endure.** October is Menopause Awareness Month, with World Menopause Day on October 18. In this deep dive, we want to talk about menopause deeply covering: - What actually happens during perimenopause? - Why can symptoms begin years before the final period? - Why is menopause so much more than hot flushes? - What does the evidence say about hormone therapy today? - What other treatment options exist? - And what does all of this have to do with our workplaces? We talk about sleep, mood, brain fog, cognitive changes, anxiety, chronic pain, migraines, sexual and urinary health, bone health and cardiovascular health — and why these symptoms deserve to be taken seriously. We also look at the workplace because women can spend years experiencing symptoms while trying to perform, lead, make decisions and build careers — often without feeling able to say what is happening. This episode is for women who are already going through menopause, women approaching it, and anyone who wants to better understand what the women around them may be experiencing. Because: **Menopause is not a crisis. It is a transition.** And like every important transition, it deserves honesty, preparation, community and care. **Previous episodes about Menopause:**- https://open.spotify.com/⁠episode/2sai1yoesKk00O3k5dz7ul?si=9zsILr3QRrmEatMJmIT02w- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2d9pSbXnbWtg0y8LBqRRsO?si=btwDcmeTQl6eiPfC14rhGw \- https://open.spotify.com/episode/0AzujCYJYWAXKjynqLmZUp?si=jCLRKoMjRSKCmmRmNDxziQ&utm\_source=copy-link **Links to Menopause Month:** \- https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-awareness/menopause-awareness-month \- https://www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day-2026/ **Menopause: Symptoms, treatment, workplace support and why we need to talk about menopause differently.** *Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes and does not replace individual medical advice. Always discuss treatment options with a qualified healthcare professional.*