Why Didn't We Talk About This Sooner?

The realities of menopause and perimenopause and what it's costing us

If you’re in the same algorithms as me lately, you’ll know this week is World Menopause Week, and yesterday was World Menopause Day.

I’m not sure if it’s the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon—you know, the red car effect—where, once you start paying attention to something, you suddenly see it everywhere. That’s how I feel about menopause right now. It’s on my radar, and the conversations around it are getting louder.

Something is rumbling.

Even though I’ve reached out to my Crone friends and family over the past few years, hoping to get some insight, I now realise how helpful proper education and preparation would’ve been for this time in my life.

Since my last post, my inbox has been buzzing with women sharing their own stories—talking about not being listened to and the challenges of managing symptoms. It’s been eye-opening and has reminded me how important it is to keep these conversations going. There’s real power in knowing we’re not going through this alone.

Here’s something surprising: hot flushes—what most people think of as the menopause symptom—actually came in 8th on the list of common symptoms, according to anonymous data from over a million downloads of the Balance app. The top symptoms in order are:

1. Memory problems

2. Brain fog

3. Fatigue

4. Low mood

5. Anxiety

6. Poor sleep

7. Reduced libido

8. Hot flushes

I’ve come across some great resources this week that might help you understand more about what’s going on—and they’re helpful for partners, too:

1. Catherine Mack’s 500 Sundays – In her upcoming documentary 500 Sundays, Catherine Mack dives into the impact of menopause. She shares some pretty shocking stats:

   • Doctors may only get an hour of training on menopause.

   • One in five women quit their jobs because of menopause symptoms.

   • Suicide rates are highest for women between 45 and 55.

   • Antidepressant use doubles during perimenopause.

   • And get this—only 10% of women who go to their GP with symptoms actually get the proper treatment.
     Learn more about her project here.

2. Mamamia Article: 'When menopause pulls women out of the workforce, we all suffer' – Australian Senator Katy Gallagher talks about the hidden struggles women face during menopause and the broader economic impact—like how $15.2 billion is lost each year from women retiring early due to menopause symptoms. She’s pushing for more support in workplaces and healthcare so women don’t feel invisible.
   Read the full article here.

3. Podcast: Menopause Explained – This is a balanced and insightful chat with UK menopause specialist Louise Newson. It’s full of medical insights and personal stories, offering a deeper look into what women go through during menopause.
   Listen on Spotify here.

That’s a lot to digest, but if my inbox is any indication, these conversations need to happen. Even if you think it doesn’t impact you—it does.

Let’s keep this conversation going. Drop a comment or hit reply if you want to chat privately.

Robyn x