Understanding Menopause

Diane Danzebrink, founder and leader of the national #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign, has recently moved to Norfolk. Ahead of hosting a free Understanding Menopause event in Hickling, she explains why it made sense to start talking to local women about their experiences

One of the UK’s leading campaigners for change in menopause education and awareness is hosting a unique event at Hickling Barn Community Centre in Norfolk on Saturday, October 21. Diane Danzebrink, founder of Menopause Support and the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign, is hosting a free Understanding Menopause event where people can ask questions about perimenopause, menopause and the wide variety of physical and mental challenges this stage in life brings.

It is designed for people who want to find out more about menopause for themselves or somebody they know and will cover topics such as: what menopause is; when menopause happens; managing symptoms, preparing for a GP appointment; NICE guidelines; health and lifestyle; menopause and work; menopause and relationships; long term health considerations; menopause and beyond.

Diane founded Menopause Support, a purpose over profit organisation, in 2015. She wanted to create a resource for women after her own terrifying experience of going into instant menopause following surgery, which brought her close to suicide.  She is a qualified personal therapist and wellbeing consultant with professional nurse training in menopause.

‘I’ve recently moved to Norfolk and thought it made sense to start talking to women who live close by,’ explains Diane. ‘I’ve been astounded by the response to the event so far and am really looking forward to talking to my new neighbours.

‘There are more than 30 recognised symptoms of menopause which can be debilitating and life-changing,” says Diane. ‘More than 70% of women will experience some or all of these symptoms which can start at any age. Whilst there is growing awareness of the impact that menopause can have on women, information, education and support is still patchy and hard to access. More than 60% don’t feel there is a GP at their practice knowledgeable enough to help them manage menopause symptoms.

‘Approximately 1 in 10 women leave established careers due to menopause symptoms and, on our Facebook support group, we hear daily, firsthand accounts from women whose lives, relationships and families are imploding due to the hormonal changes that occur during this stage in life,’ continues Diane. ‘Despite this, GPs and practice nurses still do not receive mandatory menopause training and there is still no government funded public health campaign for menopause.’

Diane believes that every woman should have access to factual, evidence based, non-biased information, education, advice and emotional support to empower them to take control of their health and wellbeing during perimenopause, menopause and beyond. 

To this end the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign has four clear aims:

• make menopause education mandatory for GPs and trainee doctors
• ensure that menopause guidance and support is freely available and promoted in every workplace
• add menopause education to the Relationships & Sex Education (RSE) curriculum in schools in the UK
• the delivery of a government funded public health campaign for menopause

As a result of the campaign, menopause has been added to the RSE curriculum in England and Menopause Support is currently working on a free lesson resource that will be available to all schools. The campaign has also been influential in ensuring that menopause will form part of a women’s health module to be taught to all medical students from 2024. 

Diane and her team at Menopause Support have always believed that a quality information booklet should be freely available to every person in the UK to help them navigate the menopause. Having waited for the government to produce this essential guide for more than five years, they could no longer wait. So earlier this year, Menopause Support published the booklet ‘Understanding Menopause’, an essential guide to navigating menopause successfully. They were supported by four menopause specialists who helped ensure that all the information in the booklet is factual, current and evidence based. The booklet has been endorsed by the British Menopause Society and is available for any individual or organisation to access and share.

Understanding Menopause, Your Questions Answered, with Diane Danzebrink, Founder of Menopause Support, will take place at Hickling Barn Community Centre, Hickling on Saturday October 21. The event is from 10.30am until 1pm and tickets can be booked here. To download your free copy of the Understanding Menopause Booklet or for more information on the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign, visit www.menopausesupport.co.uk.

Featured image of Diane Danzebrink, supplied by Plain Speaking PR