Despite around 13 million women in the UK going through the menopause, the condition was - until recently - relatively taboo.
Celebrities like Davina McCall have been open about the difficulties they encountered during menopause, and it's only now that companies have begun recognising how the condition affects their female employees.
One woman who has been raising awareness of menopause is Olympian Sally Gunnell.
Sally, 56, is a former track and field athlete and Olympic gold medallist who was the first female 400-metre hurdler in history to win the Olympic and World titles.
She also broke the world record with her achievement, which remains the current British record.
“I think as a nation we are not very open and there is still very much the ‘stiff upper lip attitude’,” she told the Mirror.
“We must get better at talking about different issues like the perimenopause and menopause.
“I also feel that as a woman there is a little denial, in terms of not wanting to get old.
“Through better understanding, I look at it as just the next stage in my life.”
Menopause is a condition which, if not carefully managed, could have a major negative impact on a woman's life.
Fortunately, finding ways to manage these symptoms can make all the difference as Sally says: “I certainly feel happier, a little wiser and more contented.”
Early symptoms of menopause
Sally first began to notice some changes to her body when she turned 51.
“I used to get a red rash if under pressure and on TV, for example.
“There was a feeling of anxiety about doing pressured work which I never used to get.”
She started to experience unusual changes that she didn’t initially put down to menopause.
“I used to get red, itchy puffy eyes. I thought it was connected to the histamine in wine or maybe something in the make-up I was using," she explained.
“There was no real rhyme or reason to when it happened. It wasn’t until I went to the doctor and started HRT, did it stop.”
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with menopause.
How to manage menopause symptoms
When it came to how Sally coped with her menopausal symptoms, she explained: “I’ve done a lot of reading on perimenopause and menopause in the last couple of years.
“There is a lot more info available on the subject these days.
“I also spoke to a doctor that specialised in the subject too. I think it’s essential as a woman to know we don’t have to put up with it.”
For advice and tips for women in a similar position that she was in, Sally advised: “For me, I have found exercise really helped me especially with the anxiety.
“I do a range of different types, running, walking, Pilates and so on. I especially value the ‘me time’ this gives me.
“Perimenopause and menopause is a very personal experience and I think it’s important to remember that just because I’m experiencing certain symptoms, the next woman I speak to is going to be going through something slightly or completely different."
Another thing that helped Sally was looking at what she ate, cutting down the amount of spicy food in her diet and reducing her booze intake, as both were triggers for her menopausal symptoms.
“I don’t cut them out totally,” she added, "but I am mindful of the type and the quantity of both triggers.
“I think it’s also important not to suffer in silence. Talk to others, and professionals and find what works for you.”
Sally works with QVC UK which has shown new research revealing that only one in 10 women feel both prepared and informed regarding menopause with a further 22% admitting that they can't speak to anyone about their bodily changes.
QVC's Menopause Your Way offers women credible, informative and empowering solutions to help them manage their menopause journeys effectively.
To find out more head to QVC’s Facebook and Instagram for more information.
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