Top picks: 10 key resources to support menopause

Summary

World Menopause Awareness Day is celebrated every year on 18 October and is dedicated to raising global awareness about menopause and the health-related issues women face during this phase of life.

At Patient Safety Learning we believe that sharing insights and learning is vital to improving outcomes and reducing harm. That's why we created the hub; providing a space for people to come together and share their experiences, resources and good practice examples. 

In this Top picks, we’ve pulled together (1) resources and blogs shared on the hub for people who are going through menopause, and (2) resources and guidance for healthcare staff to support their patients and improve services.

Content

Resources for people going through menopause

1 Professor Joyce Harper - What everyone should know about menopause symptoms

This video by Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women's Health at University College London, highlights short-term and long-term menopause symptoms, outlines their causes and suggests ways that women can deal with them. Her key message is that everyone should understand these symptoms and anyone suffering should go to see their health professional—no one should have to put up with symptoms that affect their life.

2 “It’s not menopause, you’re too young and don’t have the right symptoms"—the difficulties accessing menopause support and treatment

Exactly 2 years ago, Clare hit rock bottom and took an extended break from work—not for a serious disease or major surgery, but because of something that all women experience but are often unable to access proper care or support for. In this blog for the hub, Clare shares her experience of trying to access menopause support and treatment in the NHS.

3 Raising awareness of surgical menopause

Surgical menopause is the removal of both ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy) before a woman goes through biological menopause. This blog from a patient raises awareness of surgical menopause, which affects over 4000 young women a year, specifically around the lack of information and support received before and after surgery.  

4 Menopause Support - Getting the most out of your doctor’s appointment

This guide by the charity Menopause Support offers advice for women who may be experiencing menopause symptoms about how to approach an appointment with their GP. It covers preparing for the appointment with research, making a note of your symptoms, how to ask questions, taking a friend or family member to support you, and further support you can request during the consultation.

Resources for healthcare staff to support their patients and improve services

1 British Menopause Society: Tools for clinicians

The British Menopause Society has developed a range of resources to summarise the NICE Guideline, provide guidance on HRT prescribing and other treatment options, and to clarify some of the most common myths and misconceptions of menopause.

2 The impact of menopause on mental health (HSSIB)

Amber Sargent and Helen Jones, Senior Safety Investigators at the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), blog about the patient safety issues that arise when the impact of menopause on mental health is not considered during clinical assessments. In this blog, they explore: why serious mental health disorders develop around menopause, the impact of limited research into this important area and the role of raising awareness.

3 Menopause: RCN guidance for nurses, midwives and health visitors

To provide support and advice to women it is important that healthcare professionals understand the changes that women face at the time of their menopause and the issues related to improving health after menopause. This updated publication from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) aims to help health care professionals gain awareness of the menopause and the safety and efficacy of modern therapy options available.

4 Making the case for better menopause services in Wales

This report, produced by Fair Treatment for Women of Wales, provides NHS Wales with invaluable insight on how to improve menopause services across the country, including the provision of factual, evidence-based information and skilled professionals, enabling every woman to make informed choices about how she manages her menopause symptoms.

5 Medical Protection Society: Supporting doctors through the menopause

The aim of this paper is to raise awareness of the impact menopause is having on the workforce, as well as to issue recommendations and help healthcare organisations, managers, and employers to better support healthcare workers so that they do not leave the workforce or suffer in silence if they struggle with managing menopause symptoms.

6 Surgical menopause: a toolkit for healthcare professionals (British Menopause Society)

Symptoms of surgical menopause are generally similar to that of a natural or chemically induced menopause, with a few established differences. Due to the sudden loss of ovarian function in surgical menopause, pre-menopausal women might experience more severe consequences, including increased rates of overall mortality, coronary heart disease, stroke, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis and sexual dysfunction. Clear information and advice should be provided both before and after surgery to both the patient and their primary care team.

Do you have a resource or a personal experience of menopause to share? We’d love to hear about it - leave a comment below or join the hub to share your own post.