Let's talk: menopause

In February 2022, Healthwatch Milton Keynes facilitated a conversation aimed at women who are going through perimenopause, who have had menopause or post menopause.  The purpose was to explore participant’s experiences of menopause related services in Milton Keynes with a view to understanding how the menopause service provision and pathway could be improved.

Whilst the group focused primarily on participants’ experiences of menopause related services, there was some crossover in the themes that emerged from discussion touching upon women’s life course (fertility, menopause, mental health, menstrual health and gynae conditions). Where appropriate, this report therefore draws on the experiences of participants’ whole life journeys.

The group met in February 2022, with eight people attending. A certified hormone coach helped facilitate the conversation. Although the experiences related were varied, generally there was a consensus among the group that women’s health issues, including menopause,  are not understood by health and social care professionals and it was felt that support is offered on a trial-and-error basis throughout the system.

Whilst the sample group was small, the issues raised were in line with similar themes identified through Healthwatch Milton Keynes’ research into the topic of women’s health. These issues include poor communication between patients and professionals, a feeling that professionals didn’t always understand the complexities of a patient’s condition nor the sensitivity around what the patient was experiencing.  The group noted there was little to no personalisation during the consultation or in the treatment option plan, and no conversation informing the patients what to expect during this stage of their life, or about what comes after menopause.