National Menopause Summit, advocating for change

These are the notes I took from the impactful National Menopause Summit on March 23rd 2023 organised by Best in Fest - Built on Partnership . Let's reframe the narrative on menopause and shatter the taboo!

I was a paying attendee at this year's event but will hopefully be a panellist next year!

Grainne Seoige, who presented the fabulous?menopause documentary?on TG4 was the MC.?She did an amazing job, keeping it all on time and asking all the right questions.

Dr Sumi Dunne, GP spoke about the Greene Score chart (The Greene Climateric Scale GCS)that can be used to see if a person is in menopause.?Having worked in the menopause education space for the past 3 years I hadn't heard?of the Greene score so I found this interesting.?The main areas measured are

1. Psychological
2. Physical
3. Vasomotor

Studies have shown that women who score over 12 on the GCS are more likely to be perimenopausal.?There is a wide range and you can find the chart?online.

Sumi spoke about how it is about how YOU feel, a blood test won't tell you if you are in menopause.?

Listen to your own body, people often talk about losing the 'old me'.?

She then spoke about the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.?

The more common symptoms?like; Vasomotor, disturbed sleep, musculoskeletal, mood changes, cognitive symptoms and urogenital symptoms.?

The less know symptoms like burning mouth syndrome, fatigue, palpitations, loss of libido, headaches, dry skin, dry eyes and weight gain.

Katie Ridge?of Adare HRM next spoke about diversity in the workplace, about why we need legislation for women's health in the workplace.?It challenges stigma and discrimination, addresses taboos and helps to redress an unlevel playing pitch.?She spoke about the need to consider the specific needs of menopausal women, e.g. access to toilet facilities, cold drinking water and ventilation.

Interesting fact, in 1922 the soviet Union legislated for menstrual leave?and now in no country in Europe provides for menopause leave!

Next up was?Loretta Dignam,?founder of?The Menopause Hub, Ireland's first dedicated menopause clinic.?Loretta was a guest on my Cook Eat Nourish podcast, recently,?episode 36, please check it out.

Loretta has done research on menopause and the workplace and talked about the overwhelm, anxiety, brain fog and hot flushes that many people have experienced.?She spoke of a public campaign around 3 A's awareness, accessibility and affordability and also announced the menopause-friendly workplace awards.

Next up there was a panel made up of the following and I have shared?a point from each.

Karen McGowan, president of INMO spoke of #ovariesofsteel

Kay McCarthy?founder of MCCP, spoke of knowing about perimenopause, loss of identity and losing the sparkle

Paula Maher,?a researcher at IADT is currently researching women in higher education

Fania Stoney?of Great Places to Work spoke of communication, training and incremental changes and even mentioned a person who would use a certain emoji on a day when they needed a bit more support in the workplace.

Joanne Healy, of Bank of Ireland, spoke about the menopause programme they have developed.?She spoke of?listening to the diverse needs of employees, overcoming obstacles and breaking taboos.?One of her senior leaders wore the menopause vest for a day which stimulates hot flushes to help understand some of the challenges of menopause.?Joanne said that the hybrid working framework?at BOI helps to accommodate those experiencing menopause.

Menopause and mental health was a topic touched on a few times during the day.??Dr Maire Finn?has a dedicated clinic in Ennis and spoke of poor working memory and cognitive function that changes as a result of hormone?patterns, not age. She spoke of the 'window of vulnerability' in perimenopause.

'Lifestyle changes are key - but people just don't want to hear it', this is exactly what the image above reflects.?Women need honest female friends, friends they can have a laugh with and talk honestly.

There were a few questions for the panel, I loved what Katie Ridge said, "you can't go to work without your body", we need a good news story about inclusivity.? Loretta recommended a book called Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, exposing the gender bias women face every day

Next up was the keynote speaker Davina McCall who said our daughters and sons will be better off for all our work, scrabbling in the dark to find information.? We need to reframe the way society views menopause, it should be a second spring reborn.

Davina was willing to share her own experiences of hiding perimenopause symptoms at work, divorce, finding love and her new TV programme, like a love island for middle-aged people.? 'It's important to show that getting older is fun'.

I loved Grainne's analogy of the dishwasher.? Her mother always washes dishes by hand but now things have moved on and dishwashers are available so she will use the dishwasher, things are moving on in menopause. Lesson being, if things are there to help in menopause, use them.

Dr Caoimhe Hartley entertained us all with history and humour and shared lots of facts and science behind symptoms, cognitive, psychological, sleep, joints and genitourinary.? She also delved into the changes in the vagina.

Caoimhe shared a quote from Robert Wilson in his book 'Feminine forever'? in 1966 about when women lose their estrogen: "Breasts and genital organs will not shrivel, she will be much more pleasant to live with and will not become dull and unattractive"

She spoke about HRT, the different types, the risks and the benefits.? Currently, we follow guidelines from the British Menopause Society but she did tell us that she is working with some colleagues to set up the Menopause Society of Ireland which I think would be great.

Next up was?Deirdre Lundy?and I personally thanked her for raising awareness of the 'car crash menopause' that happens with surgical and medically induced menopause.?It is such a challenge to face when you have already had a recent medical trauma and the symptoms can be like falling off a cliff.?

Deirdre was instrumental in setting up the specialist free clinic to help such patients and more are to be opened around the country.?Lifestyle options like diet, movement, weight, alcohol and smoking are key as well as psychological & physical therapies like CBT, mindful meditation, yoga, reflexology, massage etc.?ARC cancer support is a fantastic resource for many.?She also spoke about heart disease and menopause.?

Deirdre is a breath of fresh air and aims to make menopause healthcare available to all, she received a much-deserved standing ovation as she finished on stage.

Aveen Bannon,?Dietician and owner of Dublin Nutrition Centre was up next, here are some points from her talk:

• Phytoestrogens - mixed results on the decrease of symptoms but either way foods containing phytoestrogens are high in fibre and have lots of good nutrients
• Protein - spread it out throughout the day and have it with snacks and meals
• Fibre- diets high in fibre tend to imply lower sugar which is good.
• Muscle - we lose 1-2% lean muscle mass per year.
• We are not meant to be the same weight we were when we were 20!
• 80/20 rule, 80% of what you eat should be healthy and this allows for 20% of other things you might enjoy
• Don't have a treat when you are hungry or alcohol when you are thirsty!
• 36% decrease in risk for heart disease if you eat two portions of oily fish per week so eat up sardines, mackerel & herring!
• Poor sleep can lead to increased energy intake
• Gut health - consider probiotics, prebiotics, fibre, hydrations, movement/yoga, and perhaps FODMAPS & check your supplement list
• Mind your bones- Calcium, Vit D, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc and omega 3 are all great and should be included in your diet. prevent obesity, avoid smoking, limit alcohol consumption and consider resistance, balance & weight-bearing exercises.
• Heart health - weight management & movement, fibre, Mediterranean diet, cholesterol-lowering and triglyceride lowering
• Supplements- possibly Vit D and Magnesium (magnesium glycinate) some may need calcium, omega 3 and probiotics.?There are some more herbal supplements women may consider (be aware of contraindications) these include red clover, isoflavones, black cohosh, sage and chaste tree berries.

The? second panel consisted of

Janis Morrissey - Irish Heart Foundation - her heart matters campaign, check out the campaign here - we know what we need to do but its the 'how' we are missing.? This is the gap I aim to fix with planning, preparing & cooking food!

Maeve Whelan, pelvic floor physio spoke of the importance get looking after your pelvic floor, it really is something your future self will thank you for!

Siobhan O'Donovan spoke about the importance of posture and how breasts tend to pull our posture into a more stooped position

Sarah Alcock, founder of PrimeFit by Sarah spoke about the importance of weight-bearing exercise

Dr Brian Kennedy, the only male speaker on the day has set up a huge GP community (over 1000) to support each other in prescribing HRT, such well-needed support around the country.

Sallyanne Brady is a remarkable woman who set up The Irish Menopause group and was responsible for the initial email that kicked off the Joe Duffy discussion on menopause last year.? She spoke openly about losing her mum when she went through menopause and the tough mental health challenges Sallyanne faced herself in early menopause.? Sallyanne spoke of the amazing community but how they still had lost some people to suicide and one lady stood up and thanked Sallyanne for saving her life two years ago!? She campaigned for menopause to be taught in schools, which I think would be fantastic.

The second moderated panel had 9 experts on the stage and Grainne opened up the floor to questions.? There was a great supportive open vibe in the room.?

This was followed by a session from comedian Deirdre O'Kane who had us all in stitches laughing.?

It was a long day but well-organised day.? I think most attendees were there to take evidence-based information back to their workplaces to support employees.? I attended to ensure I was up to date with all information and resources I share on my 6-week menopause cooking course.

If you didn't get to attend, or even if you did but didn't take notes, I hope this helps you!