Menopause: Do we need to rethink women's health? - The Global Story podcast, BBC World Service

If it affected us men (negatively in any way) then, as they say, there'd be a cure for it by now.

From my point of view as a man I need to say that living with a woman going through the change of life can be pure torture. My partner slowly turned from being loving to bitter and resentful and all our life goals and ambitions were cast aside. She avoided going to the doctor for nearly 10 years for her gyno health and it severely affected her. I pleaded with her to go get scans because I could tell she was suffering mentally and physically. She went through a bi lateral Laparoscopic oophorectomy the other day to remove a very large cyst on one ovary. She will probably be put on HRT now and hopefully her mood improves. I just want her to be happy.

No one tells you that the symptoms can last forever even if you’re over with the perimenopause!! An aunt is 86 and she still has horrible hot flashes and I’ve had them for 6 years nonstop. To me, it feels like an illness.

Started perimeno at 47 ...horrible... the full blown at 52...I'm 54 now and thats7 years of hell. Afraid of HRT because of breast cancer history in my family ...so I will continue to suffer ...while the young moms at work go home whenever their sick kid gets sent home from school and not a blink of an eye

Yes we need to rethink women’s health. Women are constantly not believed and not listened to by doctors at any age. Problems that are not understood are being dismissed or ridiculed, women are being told to get boyfriends or have a baby to help them stop ‘overthinking’. Anxiety and hormonal fluctuations are being shut down and women are told they are hypochondriacs and whiny. How is it possible that a young male doctor tells a 30 something year old woman that the abnormal stuff she is now experiencing but has never before in her entire life, is absolutely normal? Nothing is wrong with her. It’s infuriating to think or believe that a woman doesn’t know her body already at that age and she is talking bs. I don’t personally know a woman that has been treated kindly and professionally by a male doctor when it comes to women’s health problems. And not to bash all men, there are plenty dismissive female doctors as well but not that many and not the same degree.

Why so keen to avoid HRT? I didn’t even know what was happening to me. My body aches were so bad I couldn’t climb a flight if stairs, I thought I had dementia because my brain fog was so bad. It was the first thing to help in my case. And then I was able to do the exercise, lifestyle & dietary improvements. The thinking & research has thankfully moved on from the study 20 odd years ago. I was totally unprepared for it. Glad to see people talking about it but surprised by the attitude of some women about it.

I'm 45 years old but I've been menopause. Around 2 or 3 years ago, I had a hysterectomy due to miom. In my country, there're some women who have done it. However, it's a bit hard for us to share it to each other. Several of us, including me have honestly been forbidden by our family to talk bout' it, publicly. For, it's still considered a kind of sensitive topic. Furthermore, there're still some who believe that woman must be a mother and the main purposes of married are having children and making a family. I'm so glad I could find the video bout' it and share my menopause experience here. So far, I'm honestly joyful. I never regretted of deciding to do hysterectomy coz' well honestly, being a mom is never been one of my goals. I'm still single but completely happy. Nice greeting from Indonesia.

I appreciate the discussion of different cultures, but I'm from China, where there is still severe gender discrimination, and 'old woman' is a bad name and is never associated with wisdom.

As a midwife in Thailand, this topic is so important to talk to all women and prepare them about healthcare. Especially in my country people didn’t prepare for the menopausal period that much. Thank you for excellent topic.

Between 1989 and 1993, inclusion of women in clinical research was NIH policy, but it was not law. In 1993 it was made mandatory. so I’m pretty certain the masses know very little about that right now.

I'm good with the menopause but did suffer insomnia with perimenopause and felt very vulnerable. When I was younger I used to joke with older women about the hot flushes that I had them to look forward too because i was always cold. I don't mind the flushes and agree that exercise and moderating alcohol is key. Great talk WS.

Old age and menopause being seen as positive in Asia? How out of touch from reality is this person?

My period stop back in December, 2023 and the only change I experienced during the 1st and 2nd month when my period stop was I feel hot/warm (I think that’s what they call hot flashes) in my office even though the AC is on the right setting so I bought a desk fan and that resolved the issue. I feel humble until now I could say I am really fine living the menopausal life.

Psst I'm 44 perimenopausal since my late thirties & I never stop banging on about it.

We should be more open about it and don't be afraid to talk to your doctor and your family.

I had early menopause due to celiac disease and a few other autoimmune diseases that messed with everything. I was 44 when I was 1 full year without a period, but up to then since my 20s I would sometimes not have a period for 6 months, and then have 6 in a row, every 2 weeks! I was SO HAPPY to be done with that s#*! 😂 that was 13 years ago. I love it! I have a friend who is 47 and is having a very difficult time with peri-menopause. She was very used to "normal" periods, now theyre all over the place. As are her moods! It sucks. And she's got twin boys who will be starting puberty soon, if they haven't already 🤪 I can't even imagine that part of it.

For most women it’s a natural uncomplicated stage in life that provides much more freedom and joy than ever!!

That’s our household with twin 13 year old girls going through puberty and me going through perimenopause. My girls and and I have an open conversations and they I go off the rails as they call it, they say oh yes that’s mommy’s menopause though I am not there yet.

An inevitable thing for me but i wish to overcome it without any suffering.

Sigh, this seemed to barely touch on the subject. I wish I had known this 20 years ago.