Menopause comes out of closet into workplace at special town meeting
PHILADELPHIA – A diverse group of working women gathered last week for the first-ever town hall meeting to lift the veil of silence surrounding menopause and discuss its impact on the nearly 17 million female baby boomers in the U.S. workforce. Women listened, learned and spoke out as a renowned panel of women’s health experts described how companies, human resources departments, health plans and individuals could provide support for women who are experiencing physical and emotional symptoms of menopause.
The “Not Our Mother’s Menopause: Challenges & Choices for Women Working Through the Change,” town hall meeting was spearheaded by LLuminari, Inc., a consortium of women’s health experts dedicated to advancing the dialogue around women’s health issues, including menopause. The event kicked off National Women’s Health Week and highlighted the growing impact of menopause on women in business.
“Women represent 45 percent of the American workforce, and the number of baby boomers going through menopause is increasing at a rate of two million a year,” said Elizabeth Browning, founder and chief executive officer of LLuminari. “This town hall meeting is the first step in creating an open dialogue for the many women who are experiencing this critical life change while at the peak of their working lives.”
More than 42 million American women are now perimenopausal, the time approaching menopause, and as many as 80 percent will experience menopause symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats and occasional sleeplessness.
While companies have made great strides in addressing their female employees’ health issues, much of the emphasis has been placed on women of childbearing years, with few workplace health programs designed for women experiencing the physical and emotional symptoms of menopause.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSK), which sponsored “Not Our Mother’s Menopause,” and a related conference the following day, is demonstrating its support for women’s health workplace issues, and is providing innovative leadership in this arena.
“It makes perfect business sense for employers to provide support for women during this critical life stage,” said Michele Klingensmith, senior brand manager for RemiFemin Menopause. “Women have more options than ever before to manage menopause. Employers can be part of the support network to help women learn about these options and manage their symptoms as they work through menopause.”
Options for Working Through the Change
In addition to exploring the impact of menopause in the workplace, the panel clarified growing confusion about menopause treatment options and provided tips to help women make informed health decisions.
Several panelists addressed the recent NIH report casting doubt on the benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which has raised considerable confusion about the best approach to menopause symptom relief.
In an on-site audience survey, about 48 percent of the women at the meeting indicated they were “uncomfortable” or “confused” with their knowledge about HRT.
Susan Love, M.D., breast surgeon, best-selling author and co-founder of LLuminari, led the panel and offered the following advice.
“The key is to recognize that menopause is a natural part of life and doesn’t have to be managed,” Love said. “There are a range of options for women to use to help them relieve transient symptoms, from lifestyle changes to herbals and even non-hormonal drugs.”
The panel emphasized that despite recent press surrounding the safety, efficacy and side effects of some popular herbal treatments, there is impressive clinical data supporting others.
A New Attitude
Byllye Avery, a long-time advocate for women’s health and well being, eloquently described her unique approach to mid-life and beyond.
“I like to think of well being as a ‘braid of life’ that includes a combination of accepting your age, living intentionally and developing spirituality,” Avery said.
Women can find more information about menopause symptom management at http://www.womenswellnessmatters.com.
The site offers a variety of materials, including free samples, an interactive journal, a menopause symptom tracker, information on the most common herbs used for menopause symptoms and tip sheets on how to talk to your doctor about menopause. These materials can help women get the most from their treatment regimen and face menopause with confidence.