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Menopause is certainly a journey. Mine started with crippling anxiety, I went from being a confident , well respected senior nurse in my speciality to a person who could visibly feel herself shaking if she had to do a presentation or discuss a case. My sleep deprivation certainly didn't help with this. I would lay awake for hours, then I would have hot sweats. My poor husband was so good, he was supportive never moaned, I really saw a lovely side of him through that time. My brain was useless, the brain fog, forgetting words - so annoying. I ached from head to toe and my feet hurt so much in the mornings for the first 5 minutes of walking.

What did I do? I asked for help (probably helped being a nurse) I got free telephone counselling with work for 6 weeks. I made a GP appointment, got a fab male doctor (there are some good ones who understand) and commenced on HRT. I LOVE HRT . I have my life back. Its not perfect, I still get some hot sweats at night but I can cope, my sleep isn't perfect but its a lot better. My anxiety is gone I am back, talking openly about the menopause and how it affected me. My body does not ache and I can now attend the gym and not ache for 3 days after.

My advice - ask for help , talk about it as that really helps and makes you realise you are not alone. I'm now a Nanny, have a new job and I am happy.

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I took necessary medication for an autoimmune condition for a couple of years which stopped my periods in my early 40s- they came back but in fits and starts and had stopped completely by my late 40s.

I never had hot flushes, mental health issues , brain fog or anything else. I did get some vaginal dryness which I managed really easily with oestrogen cream which I still use safely and regularly in my 60s.

I didn’t want to take HRT tablets / use HRT patches as my mum had breast cancer in her 70s and then died of a gynaecology cancer in her early 80s when she was otherwise very very fit and healthy - whilst it may not have been in anyway related, it made me nervous about HRT. HRT is not for everyone and I’ve breezed through the menopause with no problems.

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We need to look at menopause with a new lens...

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It's been a long and difficult journey (with way too much of all of the above), but at last, I think I might be coming out of the other side. As a natural optimist, I am hopeful that after some major disruption to my life, I can now start to look forward to finding out who I am again, and where the rest of my life will take me. One thing I know for sure is that the 'rat race' is not for me any longer, and I am fortunate enough to be able to spend more time with people and on things/experiences that I truly value.

And finally, due to the persistence, campaigning and lobbying of some fantastic women, menopause and women's health in general is now starting to be taken seriously.

#makemenopausematter

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I created this in a direct response to how night sweats made me feel. The heat in my body overwhelmed me and ruined my sleep pattern for many years. Sleep deprivation was a large part of my menopause. I use my art to convey my feelings and emotions of the menopause.

Katie Lewis

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Noticing brain process is slower, searching for names, recalling details.  Conversely I feel clearer in my intent, values, focus and understanding of what feels right - for me.

Braver, being clear with my boundaries and saying no more often.

My prickly chin and dark but soft, emerging moustache, draws me to find a magnifying mirror and tweezers.

Anonymous

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Scary at first... thankfully Google exists and many wonderful midlife/menopause  bloggers for advice and information in the UK... then the support from NHS professionals... looking forward to the next 1/3 of my life. I'm sooo excited.

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Scary at first... thankfully Google exists and many wonderful midlife/menopause  bloggers for advice and information in the UK... then the support from NHS professionals... looking forward to the next 1/3 of my life. I'm sooo excited.

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When I reached the menopause I decided to have a complete change of clothing. Out with the old and in with the new. I started to wear more colorful clothes than previously, and wow did that help to make me feel good!

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For me menopause was a true liberation. Yes I had the worse headaches ever, like I’d drunk copious amounts of booze type of headache, without the booze. I could no longer drink alcohol to any real extent as I wouldn’t sleep & have night sweats. I had brain fog & forgetfulness and a frightening regularity of peeing but, I changed my habits, practiced yoga, breathed my way through and stepped into my power. My mission now is to walk this path with other women who don’t see the magic like I do, to support their journey to power & visibility in midlife
https://www.louisepitmanyoga.com/

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Working on this exhibition with Dr Sharron to create celebratory artwork has been a highlight moment for me. From being quite young, menopause has been openly discussed in my family as my own grandma began with symptoms very young and has struggled with sweats and hot flashes ever since. Plugging in Grandmas fan or holding her little pink battery powered one for her was almost a fought over activity between me and my cousins.

The project has given me perspective, has allowed me to have incredible conversations with my mum, my grandma and the women I worked alongside to make this happen. In holding this space, I am confident about my own journey into menopause, that work is being done to support me through it and that it ain’t all bad!

This has been an absolute joy to be a part of and I am very grateful that I get to share in this experience. I hope my illustrations resonate or connect on some level and women see themselves reflected in this novel way.

You can see more of my work or ask me any questions about this project just by clicking through and dropping me a message.

Daisy M x

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Black lines and bold colours. Art with a message. Female artist based in the North West. Commissions open.

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Meet the team: Hatice Bulut - PhD Researcher

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Meet the team: Hatice Bulut - PhD Researcher

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I am a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield in the Division of Nursing and Midwifery. My research focuses on women's experiences of the menopause and its impact on their relationship and intimacy.  I worked as a nurse and midwife between 2007 and 2017 at the hospital.

We believe that the exhibition is very valuable for highlighting and sharing the positive aspects of menopause, which has an important place in women's life. I hope these stories will help you to see the positive aspects of the menopause.

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I am able to care about my self care, wellbeing and mental health more.

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Only got better since I have gone on HRT Patches. Before there was no positive for me.

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The biggest positive aspect of my menopause was discovering Dr Louise Newson. A women who has battled and overcome to get our menopausal voices heard, to help us educate ourselves and point us to the correct treatments, and who has saved many, many lives. Who has helped, wives, mothers, daughters through this journey. Realising that for generations we have labelled hysterical, unbalanced, sectioned, made redundant, forced to become invisible. We had given up, given in, stayed home, cried, divorced, died.

There is nothing ‘positive’ about the menopause- we cannot grin and bear it, stiff- upper lip it, only despair it. Mother nature may no longer needs our ovaries to reproduce but this is the new feminist revolution- we know how to replace our depleting hormones now and we support each other through our revival.

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My favourite description of the positive aspect of menopause has resonated with me for years now. It is from Bonnie J. Horrigan's (1996) book "The Power and Wisdom of Menopause" (p. 148-9):

"You mentioned that when your body was in menopause, you felt like you were dying. You also said your body felt like a lush forest that was turning into a desert. What wonderful imagery, and how much that tells me about your inner life. Why don't we use that as an example of how to engage the imagination in a positive and very large way?

Deserts are really quite beautiful, aren't they? But they do have to grow on you. Eventually you notice you have an unfettered view of the sky, something you never had in the forest or the jungle. The cloud formations, the changing light, the living rocks. And I don't know about you, but I see spirits out of the corner of my eye in the desert - more than any place else in the world. The beauty there is less organic, more lasting, more skyward. And much more magic. So embracing the image is really about embracing a new form of beauty, and if you respond to it in that manner it will be healing."

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I thought for a long time and there aren’t many positive ideas.
Just I do not need to worry about menstruation every month and do not need to worry about accidental pregnancy.

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I was expecting early menopause because my family members, my mother, my sister had early menopause. My menopausal age is 41 years.

I had no choice but to accept it and take better care of myself than before. It's a difficult time, but it's temporary.

I got rid of the torment of menstruation every month because I did not think of having a child again.

I started to live a healthy life with more movement, proper nutrition and supplementary foods and I started to take better care of myself.

The sexual dissatisfaction in my partner has started to become less and the calmness that this brings is one of the positive aspects for me.
Because my husband has reached a certain age, we have more intermittent and short-term sexual intercourse, which is to my advantage.

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No more monthly periods.

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Menopause has brought real focus on importance of self-care. Found tremendous amount of peer support in the workplace menopause forum I participate in. Prioritise my time better to not sweat the small stuff!

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My myasthenia gravis disease was negatively affected while menstruating, I guess I became more comfortable when I entered menopause hormonally.

1 week before menstruation and during menstruation in a week, I was adversely affected for 15 days of a month, my speech was distorted, and there was a lot of fatigue.

When I was pregnant, for example, I had a very good pregnancy because there was no menstruation. After giving birth, menstruation started again and it was a vicious cycle

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It is comfortable in terms of hygiene. I feel more comfortable as there is no risk of getting pregnant

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I have felt so empowered since beginning to experience symptoms. I was spurred on to share my experience with friends and colleagues as so many seemed to be lost and scared about what was happening to them. Many of my friends had been prescribed anti-depressants and I believed what they were experiencing was peri-menopause.

I was so inspired to help other women that I set up an online support group at my workplace, and NHS Trust that employs 85% women and almost 2000 of them over 40.  We have had so much positive engagement with the group and the feedback has been overwhelming. So many women have commented that they group has helped them realise that they are normal and they can get help. I am so proud to have created this space for these ladies and we are continuing to campaign to ask for a menopause policy and training for managers.

I consider going through menopause to be a badge of honour. It connects us together in a shared experience and we can support each other to thrive during this time. To advocate for ourselves and to push the agenda forward for women. We deserve much better support and information and my daughters' generation (they are 6) will benefit from what we are doing in this moment.

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I feel so lucky that I have access to a work group for the menopause where woman share and offer guidance and solutions and have guest speakers - I have gone from feeling quite alone with my symptoms and no GP guidance -  to speaking to the group who as it happens have the same symptoms and thoughts  as me - so I am not alone and the group gave me the confidence to approach the GP a second time to insist on blood tests #bekind to yourself you deserve it Ladies  !

Thank you Menopause Matters

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For me the experience wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, I almost felt empowered by it, this new phase in my life, no burden of monthly periods, no more sweats. Another chapter begins.

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Going through he menopause has made me take stock of my own well-being.

My husband has seen and understood the struggles of symptoms - the night sweats, the dryness down below, the tiredness and muscle aches.  It took a while for me to realise what what going on and a little longer for him to realise too. We both realise the need to take of ourselves physically and mentally as although it is me going through this change, this feels like a new chapter in both of our lives. Time for us. Making sure we are strong for this new future.

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Since HRT was not an option for me I had to educate myself in the lifestyle habits that help manage symptoms naturally. It worked so well, I became a health coach specializing in menopause and have been helping other women for the past 5 years.

I started a new business and discovered an amazing career connecting with and helping women at the age of 47yrs in perimenopause.

I feel more empowered and connected aged 54, than I have at any other time in my life. Being in Menopause literally changed my life and my long term health.

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Not having to pay for sanitary products!

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I didn’t really have any symptoms of menopause – once had a hot flush and once lost my sense of direction (brain fog) but apart from that no other symptoms.

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Only good thing, and a major thing, was that my periods stopped. It was getting to the stage where they were so random, and flooding that I was getting paranoid about going out and being in the office in case I had an embarrassing accident. I took precautions but even that didn’t help sometimes – had some close shaves.

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I was diagnosed with diabetes about a year before I began going through menopause. While I experience some mild symptoms occasionally, emotionally I am just so relieved to stop menstruating! It’s one less interruption in my life. I also came down with a case of breakthrough COVID earlier this year, and at the time, I was emotionally very down. But now I look back at the past year and all of the challenges I’ve faced, and I feel so much stronger for having gone through that journey. It’s like a mindset shift pointing me forward toward the next phase of my life.

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I went through the menopause in my early 50's and by the age of 54 my periods had stopped. After years of heavy periods which frequently resulted in embarrassing flooding incidents while at work and horrible mood swings due to PMT this was good news. I did experience low mood and weepiness during the menopause and my sleep pattern has changed for good in that I sleep less than I used to, but I do have more energy.

Many women report a complete disinterest in sex but my desire has not waned in the least and I also feel liberated now to embrace the fact that I am bisexual and sexually attracted to certain types of women in the same way as I am to some men. I do use a vaginal pessary for hormone replacement as vaginal dryness is a very real consequence of the menopause but one you can address.

Women now openly discuss their menopause with each other and this creates a sisterhood and deepens our emotional bonds. In my Mother's day it was very different and I see now why she was so unhappy at that stage of her life. Of course the menopause is just one aspect of ageing as a woman and how we experience that also depends on our continued good health and mental wellbeing but I do feel liberated from the tyranny of my menstrual cycle which dominated my life for more than 40 years. Is there life after menopause? Yes, absolutely.

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Once the menopausal phase was mostly over, I realised lots of the symptoms were temporary rather than something I was stuck with for ever as a result of aging. In particular, joint pain and lower abdominal dragging pain made me reluctant to exercise during menopause, and then I felt weaker (and fatter). Those symptoms have receded since my periods stopped completely, and I've joined online exercise classes and I'm much fitter and stronger than I was in my forties. I feel great now, and realise that I can really build up my fitness again rather than thinking it was gone forever.

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Just delighted to no longer have periods!

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I'm a Research Associate at the University of Sheffield in the Division of Nursing and Midwifery. My research focuses on health inequalities. I am passionate about translating inequalities research into action that benefits individuals and communities.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work on the Portraits of Menopause project and share women's experiences with the world in a visually appealing way. I hope that you enjoy the women's stories and fabulous portraits.

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Hi everyone, welcome to our exhibition. I'm a lecturer and Reader in Psychology and Health at the University of Sheffield in the Division of Nursing and Midwifery.

The exhibition is influenced by our own research in the area of women's health and wellbeing at midlife and menopause.  We have spoken with lots of women over the years and know that not all experience menopause in the same way. Some have life-changing symptoms, while others experience it, or parts of it, positively.

This diversity is what I focus on in all of my research (more details at https://sharronhinchliff.com/). I hope you enjoy reading the stories in this exhibition as much as I do.

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Sharron Hinchliff headshot3 TimmCleasby (2)

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How to add your experience to the Portraits of Menopause board...

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How to add your experience to the Portraits of Menopause board...

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1. Click on the + button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

2. Type your experience into the section of the box that says 'Write something beautiful/incredible...'

3. Submissions are anonymous but if you want to include your name, write it in the top of the box where it says 'Subject' (all submissions will be publicly visible).

4. If you would like to add an image, video or hyper-link to your post, click on the corresponding hexagonal icon.

5. Click the pink 'Submit' button on the top right of the box.

Please note: your post won't show straight away as there is a delayed release. Check back soon to see it.
Contact Sharron on s.hinchliff@sheffield.ac.uk if you have any questions.