23/01/2026
I’m so glad to see important articles like this appearing on BBC News. The stigma around menopause is starting to shift, but there is still a huge amount of work to be done — particularly in understanding the real impact menopause can have in the workplace.
For many women, it’s far more than a few hot flushes. Masking symptoms — pushing through brain fog, exhaustion, anxiety or overwhelm — takes an enormous toll. A fan on the desk, while welcome, is simply not enough.
Before meaningful adjustments can even begin, women need to feel safe to speak out — to have the conversation in the first place — and to know they will be heard. This feels especially important as new workplace guidance and rights around menopause are being introduced voluntarily this year, ahead of becoming mandatory in 2027. Legislation is a vital step forward, but real change will only happen if workplace cultures also evolve to truly listen to women’s lived experiences.
I left my 20-year career in nursing a couple of years ago, in part due to the negative impact menopause symptoms were having on both my physical and mental wellbeing. Masking was no longer an option for me. That experience is one of the reasons I now work in menopause support.
During my coaching sessions, this sense of masking but not knowing where to turn comes up again and again. Women talk about feeling lost, unsure how to ask for help, or worried they won’t be taken seriously. Many are actively looking for tools they can use to support themselves — beyond, or sometimes without, HRT.
While HRT is brilliant and life-changing for many women, it isn’t an option or a choice for everyone. That’s where menopause lifestyle coaching can make a real difference — helping women understand their bodies, build supportive habits, manage symptoms, and feel empowered to advocate for themselves both medically and professionally.
We deserve to be supported so we can thrive. And as the Japanese beautifully describe it, to embrace our “second spring” — feeling renewed, not burdened by doubt or struggle. I love the idea of “postmenopausal zest”, but let’s not wait for post-menopause. If we can find ways to bring zest into our lives during the transition of perimenopause too, we shouldn’t have to wait.
✨ If any of this resonates with you, and you’re curious whether lifestyle-based menopause coaching might support you, you’re very welcome to reach out. I’m always happy to have a chat and talk through what that kind of support can look like — no pressure, just a conversation. ✨
Concealing symptoms of menopause can have knock-on effects for some women, such as increasing the risk of burnout