Menopause was previously seen as a source of ageist shame, an unexploded bomb, or a suspicious parcel. But it is a natural phase which marks the end of childbearing years and, at last, we have the science and the knowledge to resolve a lot of the surrounding mental and physical health issues. Now is the time to embrace menopause, rather than fear it, and tackle the changes holistically.
As the actor Gillian Anderson – who wrestled with an early menopause herself – once said: “Perimenopause and menopause should be treated as the rites of passage they are and, if not celebrated, then at least accepted and acknowledged and honoured.” And the aftermath can be amazing; when hormones are steady, your moods stabilise and periods have gone for ever.
