Hansard

I thank the minister for bringing this topic to the chamber today.

Although around 50 per cent of the population will experience the menopause at some point in their lives, unfortunately the subject remains incredibly taboo. For far too long, women have felt unable to talk about the menopause openly, with the wider impact being a society that has little understanding of its symptoms. I am pleased that we are having the debate today to raise awareness of the menopause and help end the stigma that surrounds it.

What exactly is the menopause? The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. It is a natural part of ageing that usually occurs between the ages of 48 and 55, as we have heard. Most women will experience menopausal symptoms, some of which can be quite severe and impact significantly on their everyday activities. Symptoms, which can begin months or even years before a woman’s periods stop and can last for up to four years after, include hot flushes, night sweats, low mood and anxiety, reduced libido and problems with memory or concentration.

The impact on women’s lives is significant. A British Menopause Society survey found that over half the women who had gone through the menopause said that it had had a negative impact on their life and over a quarter said that they felt less outgoing in social situations and more isolated. A third said that they no longer felt like good company. To hear those statistics makes me feel sad and, having spoken to many women who have experienced the menopause, I know that they feel as though no one is listening to them.

If I am completely honest, over the past few months, I have felt the start of the symptoms of the menopause and I have been a little anxious about what is to come. For me, the time is ripe for this debate as I have been able to learn more about the menopause, which I am sure will make the process easier.

It is clear from the statistics that there are significant implications for women’s mental as well as physical health, and those need to be addressed. For me, much of the taboo stems from the menopause being a part of our lives that we do not necessarily want to think about, let alone talk about. However, the danger of that is that we do not normalise talking about it and we are not mentally or physically prepared for it when it comes, or not able to support or understand the experiences of someone who is going through it. Normalising talking about it is key to the debate. It is important that that is done from an early age, particularly given that one in 100 women will experience the menopause before the age of 40.

Men, too, are incredibly important to the debate, as has been raised. The BMS found that 38 per cent of men said that they felt helpless when it came to supporting their partners through the menopause and a third said that they often ended up having arguments because they did not understand what their partners were going through. Those statistics are again significant in highlighting that the menopause is not just a women’s issue—it affects everyone in society.

How do we start the discussion? We do that through education, talking to one another or simply saying the word “menopause” in our everyday conversations. I was really pleased to see the BBC’s coverage of the issue last week as part of its wake up to the menopause campaign. Many people—friends and family—have come to me to talk about it, and there seems to have been a very wide reach. There were segments on a variety of issues. There was the story of a young woman who began early menopause at just 15; a short film by a BBC presenter, opening up about her own menopause story; and—my favourite—a clip following a group of women in Wales who found that wild-water swimming alleviated their anxiety and menopause symptoms.

We need to keep the momentum going. There are great initiatives out there already, as we have heard. World menopause day, which is held in October every year, presents an opportunity for us to mark the progress that has been made each year and to continue to raise awareness. As we have heard, the creation of menopause cafes across the United Kingdom has allowed women to discuss the menopause with no set agenda. Those cafes give women the opportunity to talk about their symptoms and share information on what has worked for them.

At the University of Leicester, a menopause-specific policy has been introduced. As well as male and female university staff being encouraged to say the word “menopause” three times a day to help normalise it, women are encouraged to announce confidently in a meeting when they are having a hot flush. I am having one the now, so that is okay.

On that last point, it is in the workplace that we need to improve vastly the support for women who are experiencing the menopause. In the same BMS survey, 47 per cent of women in employment who needed to take the day off because of the menopause said that they would feel uncomfortable with disclosing the real reason, and 45 per cent of women who experienced strong symptoms felt that that had had a negative impact on their work.

Yesterday, in Glasgow, I met a couple of ladies who had contacted me during mental health awareness week, which was last week. Over coffee and cake, we chatted about the menopause, which they felt was having a detrimental impact on their mental health. Although one of them had been signed off work by her general practitioner because of her severe menopausal symptoms, she was facing disciplinary action despite having been with her company for more than 25 years. At the same time, she was struggling to cope at home, which left her feeling isolated and not knowing where to turn. Hearing about that at first hand highlighted to me just how stressful the menopause can be for some women.

As we must do with any health problem—whether it be physical or mental—we need to embed an understanding of the menopause into workplace culture, so that women do not suffer alone. Again, this is where a better understanding of the symptoms would be helpful. Many women struggle with poor concentration. If employers do not understand that, it is easy to see how difficult situations might arise. The Equality Act 2010 establishes the importance of reasonable workplace adjustments, which might include anything from considerations of temperature control to the use of flexible or home working.

I welcome the work of the Scottish Women’s Convention. This week, I want to ask a number of employers—in both the public and private sectors—what measures they have in place to educate their managers on the menopause and to support women who are experiencing it. I will be happy to share those responses with members once I receive them. I am keen that, in years to come, we continue to build on the progress that has been achieved in the area.