Menopause Support

Here are some links to information about menopause which you may find helpful. Disclaimer: The West London Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centre is not responsible for the nature, content, or availability of these sites. The inclusion of any website links is not an endorsement of the views expressed within, please consult your GP or a healthcare professional before taking any new medication or treatments.

Highlights

Sickle Cell & Menopause - https://themenopausecharity.org/information-and-support/living-with-other-conditions/sickle-cell-and-menopause/

Founded by Nina Kuypers, Black Women in Menopause explores menopause in an inclusive way. It features a regular newsletter, support forum, resources and opportunity to take part in research - https://www.blackhealthandbeyond.co.uk/gallery/blackwomeninmenopause

Dr. Sho's Guide to Menopause for Black Women is free to download - www.healthwatchwarwickshire.co.uk/sites/healthwatchwarwickshire.co.uk/files/2024-08/0_menopause_and_black_women_june2024.pdf

 

Menopause

General overview of menopause, symptoms, and treatments - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/

The Menopause Charity provides a range of evidence-based advice and toolkits including the 'Symptom Checker' - https://themenopausecharity.org/information-and-support/symptoms/menopause-symptom-checker/

‘The Greene Scale’ is a resource which provides a brief measure of menopause symptoms. It can be used to assess changes in your varying symptoms, before and after menopause treatment - https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/greenescore.php

Women's Health Concern provides confidential advice, reassurance and education and have developed the Menopause Wellness Hub - https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/menopause-wellness-hub/

 

Perimenopause

‘Am I perimenopausal or menopausal?’ is a PDF tool - https://themenopausecharity.org/2021/10/21/am-i-perimenopausal-or-menopausal/

Learn how to live well through your perimenopause and menopause - https://themenopausecharity.org/2022/04/19/living-well-through-your-perimenopause-and-menopause/

 

Early or premature menopause

The Daisy Network was created to provide support to people, along with their families and partners, who have been diagnosed with early menopause due to Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), well before the average age of normal menopause — when you’re still in your teens, 20s, 30s, or early 40s.

https://www.daisynetwork.org/

 

Treatments & Medications

Treatments offered on the NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/treatment/

 

Advice, support, and guidance about surgical menopause

 

Homeopathic & Holistic

NHS advice on Herbal remedies and complementary medicines for menopause symptoms - https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/alternatives-to-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/herbal-remedies-and-complementary-medicines-for-menopause-symptoms/

Herbal Support for Menopause - https://nimh.org.uk/herbal-resources/herbal-support-for-menopause/

Homeopathy for Menopause - https://www.healthyhomeopathy.co.uk/homeopathy-treatments-for-menopause/

Alternatives to Conventional Therapies - https://www.menopausecliniclondon.co.uk/non-hrt-alternatives

 

Find a specialist

The British Menopause Society site where you can find your nearest BMS-recognised menopause specialist (NHS or Private). You only need to enter your postcode - https://thebms.org.uk/find-a-menopause-specialist/

Rated 'Outstanding' by the CQC, My Menopause Centre supports women through their menopause transition - https://www.mymenopausecentre.com/

 

Guidance

NICE guidelines standard of care you should expect from healthcare professionals when experiencing Menopause - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/resources/menopause-pdf-718895758021

Menopause in the Workplace is a hub for employers and their workers on menopause-related guidance for the workplace - https://helptogrow.campaign.gov.uk/hr/menopause-and-the-workplace/

The Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) is pleased to launch guidance on menopause in the workplace - https://www.fom.ac.uk/health-at-work-2/information-for-employers/dealing-with-health-problems-in-the-workplace/advice-on-the-menopause

 

Organisations

 

Online communities

 

Tools for Clinicians

The BMS has developed a range of resources for healthcare professionals to summarise national and international best practice recommendations

https://thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians/

 

Research

The SWAN study has noted that Black women were more likely to report financial instability, instances of discrimination and experiences of violence. Dr. Burnett-Bowie explains that these experiences can affect a person’s overall health known as a process of “weathering” that is described in a paper she co-authored on:

Disparities in Reproductive Aging and Midlife Health between Black and White women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)


This US paper that has found women of color reported using hormone therapy to manage menopausal symptoms less frequently than white women. A co-author on this paper, Dr. Monica Christmas, states that this issue could stem from “unconscious racial biases” that lead to physicians thinking the patient does not need treatment:

Menopause hormone therapy and complementary alternative medicine, quality of life, and racial/ethnic differences: the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)



Menopause in Sickle Cell Disease - Menopause in Sickle Cell Disease: Unchartered Territory | Blood | American Society of Hematology and Poster: -SUN_2509_ASH2023

Menopause in Brazilian with Sickle Cell Anemia With and Without Hydroxyurea Therapy - Queiroz AM, Lobo CLC, Ballas SK. Menopause in Brazilian women with sickle cell anemia with and without hydroxyurea therapy. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther. 2021 Jul-Sep;43(3):386-388. doi: 10.1016/j.htct.2020.06.009. Epub 2020 Aug 5. PMID: 32807720; PMCID: PMC8446238

Reproductive Healthcare for People with SCD - Pecker LH, Kuo KHM. Go the Distance: Reproductive healthcare for people with sickle cell disease. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2022 Dec; 36 (6):1255-1270. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.07.010. PMID: 36400542; PMCID: PMC10242540.

 

Other Media

Books, Podcasts & Videos

Podcast:

  • Black Menopause and Beyond is a podcast through the eyes of Anita Powell a 47-year-old black woman born in the UK and experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause
  • The Menopause Whilst Black podcast about Black British women’s experiences of menopause, hosted by Karen Arthur.
  • Black Girls’ Guide to Surviving Menopause is a US podcast presented by Omisade Burney-Scott sharing stories and realities of Black women and femmes over 50.

Books:

  • Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy by Dr. Sharon Malone
  • Black and Menopausal: a collection of stories edited by Yansie and Yvonne Christie

 

Youtube Channels:

 

 

About this page

  • Last updated
  • Author Eniola Kuseju