Listen Up: Menopause is Everyone's Business
Listen Up: Menopause is Everyone’s Business
As we head into October, we mark the beginning of Menopause Awareness Month. At Wrexham University, we are committed to creating a menopause-inclusive culture to ensure the wellbeing of students and staff alike. During the month a number of initiatives will be launched to help create a more menopause friendly learning and working environment. A key part of this work is the Menopause Baseline Questionnaire, launched on 01 October to all staff, this will help the university better understand staff experiences, identify areas of good practice and shape future support, resource and awareness.
Why do we mark Menopause Awareness Month?
Menopause and perimenopause are stages of life that affect most women and some transgender and non-binary people. Menopause can occur naturally as part of ageing, or be triggered by medical treatment or surgery, and experiences can affect people in very different ways, often impacting their work, studies, relationships, and day-to-day life.
Despite growing awareness, menopause remains a topic that many still do not feel comfortable talking about, often due to a historical lack of awareness and opportunities for open conversation. As a result, many people approaching or going through menopause may not recognise that they are experiencing it. Students and staff may experience menopause symptoms that can impact concentration, sleep, confidence, attendance, and day-to-day wellbeing.
Menopause Awareness Month helps to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions and encourage more open conversations about menopause, with World Menopause Day taking place annually on 18 October. The International Menopause Society (IMS) is drawing attention this year to “Chronic Pain at Midlife”, which affects a significant proportion of women during and after the menopause transition, by sharing trusted information and practical guidance to support better recognition and care worldwide.
Awareness around menopause is not just for those experiencing it; awareness is crucial for everyone to create a menopause-inclusive culture. Friends, colleagues, lecturers, managers, tutors and fellow students can all play a role in creating an environment where people experiencing menopause feel both understood and supported.
What is the difference between Perimenopause and Menopause?
Perimenopause is the transition period leading up to the menopause and can begin several years before the menstrual cycle stops. Once a person has ceased having a period for 12 months or longer, when not using hormonal contraception, this is medically defined as the menopause.
There is no single menopause experience, as symptoms can differ and can occur at varying ages, sometimes earlier than people expect. Early menopause occurs before the age of 45, with premature menopause presenting before the age of 40.
The effects of menopause can also intersect with both study and work. For example, someone might be managing:
- Difficulty concentrating during lectures or meetings
- Disrupted sleep and resulting fatigue
- Anxiety or changes in mood
- Hot flushes in classrooms, offices, or other busy environments
- Needing easier access to toilets, water, or cooler environments
- Concerns about discussing symptoms with a lecturer, manager, or colleague
- Balancing study, employment, family responsibilities, and health
What is Wrexham University doing to create a menopause-inclusive culture?
Wrexham University is proud to have established a menopause-inclusive culture, spanning students, staff, and compliance. As a trauma-informed university, Wrexham strives to ensure everyone has access to the necessary resources to help make a conscious difference. Their initial priorities include policy implementation with supporting guidelines and a workable toolkit to support managers when discussing the menopause.
As part of our University’s commitment, a number of Menopause Champions are available who have received additional training to support their peers and students. The support network is bolstered via Menopause Buddies, who are trained to provide informal support and are easily identifiable by their menopause buddy mugs showing others that they are ‘happy to chat’.
Wrexham are currently mapping out their Menopause Action plan to submit alongside Gender Pay Gap reporting in the new year. With their ongoing priorities looking at policy implementation, awareness training, a Menopause Champion Network, focussed People and Culture Connect learning sessions, staff communications and monitoring progress through the menopause baseline survey which is being launched today.
University staff at Wrexham are also invited to attend Menopause in the Workplace staff development, which is an interactive session suitable for all staff. This training course explores topics including symptoms, their impact at work, the legal framework, organisational benefits of support, practical case studies, and how creating a menopause-inclusive culture can enhance staff wellbeing, retention and performance.
How can you help create a menopause-inclusive culture?
It’s important to remember that being menopause-inclusive is not about simply having a policy & guidelines; it’s about those within an organisation working together to create an environment where people feel safe and comfortable sharing their experiences. Those experiencing menopause are individuals and will, therefore, have different needs. You can help show your support by becoming aware of the common signs and symptoms, attending menopause awareness training, and encouraging your peers to engage in open and respectful conversations.
Let’s make menopause everyone’s business.
By listening, learning and supporting one another, we can help create a university community where no one feels they must navigate menopause alone. Although menopause may not affect everyone personally, creating a culture of understanding, inclusion and support benefits us all. If you would like to learn more about how you can help support Wrexham University in raising awareness about menopause, please get in touch with Rose Norton at Rose.Norton@wrexham.ac.uk.