It’s nearing the end of 2022 and it feels like friends, families, and workplaces are only just embracing conversation about the menopause and perimenopause. It can often be met with embarrassment and a huge lack of knowledge and information!  

At a time when veterinary professionals are in such huge demand and are so stretched in practice, employers are having to fast-track their policies and procedures to ensure they can attract, engage, and retain talent. 

The 18th of October is World Menopause Awareness Day. The menopause is an issue of importance not only for women of all ages but for men as well. It is an unavoidable physiological process for women, with symptoms negatively affecting their physical and mental health. The average age at which the menopause begins is 51, but this is not set in stone as some women start to experience peri-menopausal symptoms whilst still in their 40s. 

The most common symptoms of the menopause are fatigue, irritability, insomnia, hot flashes, depression and anxiety. It is important to emphasise that although there are common symptoms, each woman will experience the menopause differently, including its symptoms and duration, from 1 to 20 years. 

The impact of the menopause on physical, mental and work health is not to be taken lightly. With the retention crisis our profession is going through, we must open spaces on how we can help women to stay in practice, as many leave their jobs due to lack of understanding and flexibility while going through the menopause. 

We bring you a panel on the menopause; with Dr Claire Gillvray, Liz Barton, Belinda Steffan, Alison Daubney, Rob Williams and facilitator Kathryn Bell for an hour of open and honest conversations about menopause, and why now is the time to talk about it. 

The learning objectives of the webinar are: 

  • Increase awareness and understanding of the menopause 
  • Discover the impact of the menopause in the veterinary profession 
  • It’s time to change the narrative – find out how 
  • Tips and advice on how to support conversations about menopause in veterinary practice 
  • Actions to highlight and celebrate best practice workplace policies 
What is your key takeaway from this evening's session?
"That every women experiences menopause differently "
What is your key takeaway from this evening's session?
"Be kind to yourself and ask for help, reduce hours, more breaks etc - don’t try to do everything and keep going regardless."
What is your key takeaway from this evening's session?
"I feel my staff can come to me and talk but I need to be more aware that I cant fix it but I can make things easier within work to help"
What is your key takeaway from this evening's session?
"Menapause is not an illness and should be treated more as a normality /stage in life just as childbirth is considered"
What is your key takeaway from this evening's session?
"though an older vet and been through menopause but still affected by some issues didnt realize how many of my problems were menopausal related and how common anxiety and loss of confidence is"
What is your key takeaway from this evening's session?
"Open communication with staff"
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What is your key takeaway from this evening's session?
"Tolerance"
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If this is a topic that interests you, you can also listen to our podcast with Clare Knox. Clare is going through the perimonopause at just 36 and thriving! The podcast discusses the difference between perimenopause and menopause, its symptoms and the importance of talking about it in the workplace and ensuring team leaders have the knowledge, awareness and confidence to support those going through it. 

Listen to the Episode Here

Menopause Resources:

To access Belinda’s articles mentioned in the webinar, search for ‘Belinda Steffan’ at www.googlescholar.com (free access) 

To purchase a toolkit of different resources on the menopause have a look here

Menopause and the effect on Veterinary Professionals and Teams

Supporting Healthy Ageing at Work (SHAW)

Menopause 2021 – Are Things Changing?  

Thinking outside Pandora’s box: Revealing differential effects of coping with physical and psychological menopause symptoms at work

Managing menopause at work: The contradictory nature of identity talk

VetPartners Menopause Policy