Menopause After the Workplace

Perhaps I'm being a little sensitive but it seems there's so much magazine and newspaper print lately that's been devoted to menopause in the workplace.  The final bastion in the battle for gender equality or so some articles would have us believe.

With women apparently averaging 51 years when they complete their menopause transition, it is perhaps surprising that there isn't more coverage of the impact on retirement. Early menopause gets an avid press, late menopause less so.

In my own case, it must be 20 years since I was told that I was perimenopausal. When, suffering dreadfully with menorrhagia (an abundance) and dysmenorrhea (it hurt), I finally sought medical assistance and various prescriptions followed. "Progesterone is good for this," followed several months later by "But maybe not in this form," and then "Maybe not for you, at all."

Prodded, poked and scanned. "You have fibroids, let's monitor them." "They are not large but they also aren't shrinking."

"Let's try specifically targeted painkillers," and after 6 years or more, "It shouldn't be long now, perimenopause is normally only 2-5 years."

At 7 years, "Would you consider a hysterectomy?" Leaving me to fathom out how I could possibly spare the time from my business and whether, if the end was in sight which seemed a reasonable assumption to make, it would even be worth it.

Finally after 8 years, " Er actually, you are suffering from hypothyroidism as well as being perimenopausal, of course." Thank goodness for thyroxin and in tandem with the assurance that sooner rather than later my menopause would be complete, most of the issues began to recede.

I retired 4 years later and shortly afterwards there was a hiccup, courtesy of a polyp. More scans and biopsies. "Ooh, you're not there yet," was the specialist's comment.

Now call me dumb if you wish, but subsequently I have no idea when or if I finally went through this significant change in a woman's life. All that exercise, Yoga, Pilates, relaxation, the lack of stress; the things the perimenopausal woman doesn't get in the workplace; retirement has to make a difference.

Until, that is, almost 2 years ago when the menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea decided to make a come back. I feel as though some of my most exciting days in lockdown have been in the local hospital being scanned, tested and filmed from the inside out (autographs later). The consultant hasn't fathomed out what's going on. Hormone levels suggest I'm menopausal; ovarian activity disagrees. 

So now here I am, twiddling my thumbs and waiting for surgery scheduled for Thursday; thinking the worst and hoping for the best.