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NEWS & VIEWS FROM THE MM TEAM

Hello, and welcome to our monthly newsletter to update you on everything Menopause Mandate. A warm welcome to anyone that has just joined us; we’re a group campaigning for better menopause support all around.  

As always there has been a lot going on. 

We are taking the Menopause Mandate Adviceline in partnership with Holland & Barrett to the next level. In addition, Holland & Barrett has launched their Every Menopause Matters campaign to ensure that everybody gets the advice and support they need, regardless of race and background. 

Alice’s column this month features the vital topic of how to down in hot (flush) weather.  

Our Q&A is with MM Adviceline nurse Victoria Howell and she joins us to explain why she finds her job so rewarding. 

 Emma Bunton was recently in the news about her menopause and how it has affected her libido. An issue to which many menopausal women can relate.  

We have a very important save the date for October!  

And finally, women's health expert, documentary maker, and author of books, Kate Muir, has given us some very wise words about last week’s HRT and dementia headlines. Don’t panic.... 

Plus, don’t forget we have an update from our friends at Let's all Talk Menopause discussing this week's featured topic in their webinar series. Let’s All Talk Menopause is our sister site, which runs invaluable weekly interviews with specialists and experts surrounding all things peri and menopause. Their catalogue of interviews is there to be viewed again, and we are delighted to tell you that all MM followers get 20% off a full access pass. This means vital information and education is right at your fingertips from the comfort of your home.  

The Menopause Mandate Adviceline in partnership with Holland & Barrett is excited to announce that we are expanding and now offering 90 FREE APPOINTMENTS EVERY WEEK. If you’d like to speak with one of our amazing nurses, now is the time to make an appointment. Click here for more info.

Victoria Howell – Menopause Nurse for The MM Advice Line

Nurse Victoria has the important role of advising callers on their menopause symptoms, listening to their questions, and guiding them on how to find help. Here, she tells us why she’s passionate about supporting women during this transition.  

1. Being a Menopause Advice Nurse, you handle many calls. What made you decide that being a nurse was the career choice for you? 

From a very young age, I had the desire to improve women’s health with exercise and nutrition, and landed my first job from college as a fitness instructon. I loved this role,  but at the time back, in the early 1990s there was no scope for career progression, and I have always been driven to achieve. My journey into being a menopause nurse was because I recognised that so many women were struggling to find the right support and education. I funded my own menopause training with the British Menopause Society, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Primary Care Women’s Health Forum.  

1. Which menopause symptoms or issues are you most faced with, and any that have truly baffled you? 

If you were to ask the general public on the street about menopause, the answers would highly likely be hot flushes and the cessation of periods, something that happens to “older” women. Anxiety is one menopause symptom that I see every time I am in clinic. Other common symptoms include extreme fatigue, sleeping difficulties, joint pain and brain fog. There are lesser-known symptoms such as a very dry or burning tongue, dry eyes (where in fact eyes actually water) and restless legs. 

1. How do you advise a caller that is desperate and feels they have nowhere else to turn? 

It is essential that the caller feels listened to and understood, so it’s very important for them to be able to share how they are feeling and voice their main concerns. I share evidence-based information, tools and resources that can help them, and talk them through how to use these, giving examples. People report they feel like a weight is lifted when they realise it is not just them feeling a particular way. I also remind the caller that they can book further 15-minute sessions if they would like to talk further. 

1. What is your one piece of advice that you would give to anyone who is suffering with their symptoms.  

You will get through this; menopause is a transitional time in an individual’s life and you will emerge on the other side. There is so much information out there about menopause, and there are many people out there calling themselves menopause experts. As a registered professional myself I do find this alarming. I always advise people to check the source of the information is evidence-based research such as the Women’s Health Concern. 

To make an appointment with one of our nurses, please visit www.menopausemandate.com and click on support. We offer a free nurse video consultation service for those seeking information and advice about the menopause. There is strength in sharing, and help is just a few clicks away.  

EVERY MENOPAUSE MATTERS 

Holland & Barrett have had a busy month as they launch their Every Menopause Matters campaign. They’re offering every woman personalised support via a free 1-2-1 consultation with a trained menopause advisor. These can be booked in store or by clicking here. Consultations are also available in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and Gujarati. 

MM WALK AND TALK ON WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY 2023 

October is Menopause Awareness Month. With that in mind, the team at Menopause Mandate has organised an MM Walk and Talk on World Menopause Day – 18th October.  So get your trainers on and get down to Hyde Park, London, to join our patrons, experts and advocates. We will update you with further details shortly. 

ALICE SMELLIE SAYS:  

I am very grateful that I've never experienced the hot flushes that affect around 75% of peri and menopausal women. I am certainly warmer than I used to be, but that's nothing compared to the sensation of being dipped in a volcano. What’s more, the discomfort of hot flushes is exacerbated by warm weather. With one heatwave behind us and a predicted four more sweeping in, I think we're all wondering how to stay cool in July and August. 

'Firstly, if you are struggling generally, please see your doctor as there are hormonal and non-hormonal medications available to treat hot flushes and sweats,' says GP and author of The M Word, Dr Phillipa Kaye. 

'When you are already hot and the temperature is rising, a hot flush may feel even worse,' she says. Don't forget general lifestyle tips such as doing exercise, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and smoking. 'My favourite tip for a hot summer night is to use a cooling gel insert in your pillowcase so you lay your hot cheek on a cool surface.' 

Thank you to the members of MM and also the MHDG Facebook group, to whom I turned for further advice...some of which was highly amusing. 

One MM member suggested Dock and Bay Ice Cold Cooling Towels, £18, dockandbay,com; drench in icy water, and the evaporating cooling effect from the specially designed fabric lasts for up to six hours.  

Or - and I think we could all guess this - there's the free (though less funky) option - of a cotton pillowcase soaked in cold water, wrung out and laid flat on the body when on your bed. 'Ideally you're also lying by a floor-standing fan,' says Insta friend Sarah. She also recommends a portable neck fan, £14.99 from Amazon. Again, icy water on wet fabric will have the same sort of effect, but how cool (pun intended!) is that?!  

One of the excellent MHDG members suggests a water mist spray fan. The words 'life-saving' were used about the cooling powers - and they are very inexpensive – often under £3. Cooling mists are ten a penny (not literally, more's the pity) but one that's always highly rated is the Avène Thermal Spring Water, Spray for Sensitive Skin, £4.31, lookfantastic.com which is cooling, soothing and also suitable for sunburn. 

A cool shower's another obvious thing to do, but I'm also a big fan of  Whoosh Shower Jelly, from £6.50, lush.com - a blue jelly that can be chilled or frozen and then applied to hot skin for an instantly icy effect. Or try peppermint soap - menthol activates the cold sensitive receptors in the skin, and Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Liquid Castile Soap, £2.69, will help you feel the freeze. 

My absolute favourite comes from the member of MHDG who says that she has a pet cooling mat under her desk at work. When the dogs have moved off it, she pops her hot feet on. Thank you all so much! We’d love to hear any further suggestions.  

BEAUTIFUL BLUSHES: Congratulations to the lovely Dr Ateh Jewel, MM advocate, broadcaster, journalist and diversity expert. Her Ateh Jewel Beauty Blush of Dreams launches on July 5 at Harrods. 'I created Ateh Jewel Beauty as a love letter to my broken heart and the feeling of being invisible for so many years within the beauty industry,' says Ateh. 'The pigment-packed blushes show up on my deeper skin tone and pop on all skin tones. As we get older, switching to dewy, glossy and glow-enhancing products help you feel confident and vibrant.' £25, atehjewelbeauty.com  

Women's health expert, documentary maker and author KATE MUIR SAYS: 

'What a singularly unhelpful headline we saw in one of our most respected newspapers. 'Women on HRT more likely to have dementia, study suggests,' was the thundering topic of discussion amongst - I'd suggest - not just the two million women currently taking HRT, but those considering it, and those who are against it.  

 Danish scientists surveyed the records of 61,000 women with an average age of 70, including 5,589 who had been diagnosed with dementia. They found women who had taken HRT (after the age of 45) were 24 per cent more likely to get dementia or Alzheimer’s disease than women of the same age and background who did not use the treatment. 

Scary stuff. But not exactly true. Are we seeking a repeat of the WHI report of 2002 when headlines led millions of women to stop taking HRT? 

 First, 90 % of the women in this study were on synthetic and not transdermal HRT. In a far larger study, transdermal HRT has been shown to reduce dementia risk by 74%.  

 We need to get women off the old HRT with synthetic progestins (which also have the small breast cancer risk) and onto the new stuff. 

 The problem is that there's still a shortage of Utrogestan – body identical progesterone - so it's not being made easy. 

 Secondly - and there was another piece in the same newspaper suggesting that we don't panic - it was an observational study, so there are a lot of other variables that can't be taken into account.  

 I very much hope that women read this story with the cynicism it deserves. Don't forget that HRT has proven benefits for the heart and bones, and I'd wager that in the next few years, the lessening of dementia risk will be incontrovertibly proven.  

 What the study actually proves beyond reasonable doubt is that more research is needed into HRT, and it's appalling that this hasn't already been done. 

Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton recently gave an interview to The Times about how she and her partner of 24 years, Jade Jones navigated her menopause journey. She says: “My desire, my libido, whatever you want to call it, it went and that really worried me.” In addition to a lack of sexual desire, Bunton struggled with other menopause symptoms such as brain fog, and anxiety. In order to manage her symptoms, Bunton decided on HRT and found herself feeling like her again. To read the full article click here.

We’d like to thank Emma. Keeping the conversation going is essential in educating and raising awareness, so women know what to expect and where to find support. 

LET'S ALL TALK MENOPAUSE:

LatMeno has explored a variety of topics related to menopause this month….here is a brief summary of what has featured for the month of June.  

Aly Dilks from Simply Menopausal joined us for a webinar session on Vulval and Vaginal Issues. Aly spoke to us about changes in vaginal health during menopause and how we can ease symptoms.  

• Thyroid and menopause-related symptoms are both common and over-lapping. Dr Paul Jenkins from The London Endocrine Centre discussed the Thyroid and its Impact on Menopausal Women. 

• This month’s Ask Anything Q&A was held by menopause specialist Dr Juliet Balfour. The full session was dedicated to answering your questions about Menopause & HRT. 

We highly recommend the "Let’s All Talk Menopause" webinar series - and it’s never too late to sign up! For vital awareness on topics relevant to your journey, head here now - it's all just a click away! Plus remember, MM followers get 20% off LATMeno Access Passes, so well worth pressing that button!