06/10/2026
It’s Menopause Awareness Month, so let’s talk about it. 🧡
Mine wasn’t a slow burn. After my hysterectomy last year, and following complications I went into surgical menopause, which basically means your hormones fall off a cliff instead of slowly dwindling… Very different ride from natural menopause, and not one many people know about.
I’ve had the broken sleep, the brain fog, the mood swings from euphoria to rage in 5 minutes (ask my wife!) and the confidence wobbles. But honestly, the symptoms aren’t what’s surprised me most. It’s the comments.
“You’re not going to blame the menopause again, are you?” 🙃
And my personal favourite, from a customer just last week……. you need “young, bubbly people on reception, not grumpy menopausal women.”
No hun!!!!
Maybe they’re meant as jokes, but they make people feel dismissed, embarrassed and quiet about something that deserves a proper conversation. Menopause isn’t a punchline. It doesn’t make us less capable, less motivated or less valuable. Plenty of us are smashing it with decades of experience and know-how.
I recently read a couple of excellent articles on menopause in the dental profession, and the message was simple: listen, don’t assume, and ask what support someone needs. That’s it.
So, this month, let’s swap the stereotypes for a bit of understanding. Nobody should have to choose between looking after their mental and physical health and being respected at work. Plus is you have a mum, sister, friend or female colleague they aren’t crazy……well maybe a little!! 💪
Dr_Mac
