I can talk forever about how I became a Menopause Doula and created The Menopause School to teach others.
In my quest for the truth about menopause, because it seemed illogical that I knew nothing about the process, I have been on an incredible journey.
My background as a Biologist, Holistic Therapist, Lecturer, and Social Media Marketer provides an eclectic mix of skills, that were the backdrop to creating The Menopause School. In 2017 I took perimenopause by the horns and made peace with it. I don’t think you can say you beat or won against perimenopause. I think it’s far more successful if you find a relationship in which you become one. It turns out my previous life experiences had done little to prepare me for the curious journey from periods to postmenopause. I later discovered this was the case for almost everyone I met who sat still long to have a conversation with me about menopause. Retrospectively, I now know that the beginning had started at least 6 years before. The classic sadness, insomnia, palpitations, crushing fatigue, and brain fog symptoms had been present on and off for many years. Mix in some ‘why can’t I drive in the dark anymore’ scary moments, tinnitus that went on for days, plantar fasciitis so taking one step was agony, and spontaneous vertigo – you had a mysterious disease no one had heard of. As a Holistic therapist for many years with my own business, I had never learned anything about menopause and how it could have affected my clients. As a Biology teacher, I knew only 2 pages in a GCSE textbook about hormones existed.
For me, the worst part about menopausing was the unknown. The anxiety that came with each new weird and wonderful health challenge was exhausting. By the time I got to 2017, the year I was going to be 50, I had used my skills and science-driven mind to devise a Food & Mood Diary, worked out a good movement routine, and identified lots of other triggers. I remember thinking how much easier it would have been if there had been someone to talk to. I simply wanted to reach out, have a conversation, and get some advice. Maybe someone like a Menopause Doula. I couldn’t find one so I decided to become one. I started to explore how I could help others and it soon became apparent that there was no particular place or way of learning about menstrual health and menopause for Holistic Health & Wellness Therapists and other Complementary Alternative Practitioners.
From this point forward The Menopause School started to take shape and officially opened its doors in September 2021. Driven by a passion to change the face of menstrual and menopause health education, I believe that this is possible by creating as many information touch points with menstruators as possible. My aim is to create a global collective of Menopause Doulas. Saving lives, changing the world, one menopause at a time.
If you would like to know more about training to become a Menopause Doula please visit The Menopause School HERE
A Menopause Doula is someone who can guide, nurture, and support you, from periods to perimenopause and beyond.
Guide – I do this by providing general and specific information about menopausing, and how it applies to you. Before you talk with me I will send you some questions to answer so we can have a good insight of which direction our chat needs to go.
Nurture – This is where I listen to your menstrual health experience so far and find out more about what matters to you. It may also include some mindset work, and exploring your values and beliefs so we can start to build a menopause tool kit.
Support – Using my Menopause Mapping principles we gradually explore the glimmers and triggers and start planning your next best step along the menstrual health timeline
What kind of menopause information do we talk about?
Sometimes it’s a bit like a menopause lesson. I provide some helpful resources to give you some background knowledge and then you have plenty of time to ask me questions. My years of experience talking about menopause have given me some practical tools to explain the hormone biology, without being boring. Very early on in helping people navigate this time, I realised that you can’t manage what you don’t understand, so some basic menstrual health know-how helps you see the bigger picture, of where you’ve come from and where you are going.
Who can work with a Menopause Doula?
Anyone. It could be the person going through the experience or the people who love them.
Most often if you can’t see the wood for the trees and want to reach it and speak with someone with lived experience and a lot of helpful tools and resources then this is the conversation for you.
You could be someone who’s done a lot of homework, but hasn’t quite figured out the best way forward and would like some signposting and support.
Maybe you have tried all the lifestyle measures, even added a sprinkle of HRT, but still feel exhausted and want some help.
I’m here for all of the above.
How often can you speak with a Menopause Doula?
As often as you wish. Unlike a therapist with a specific modality, we can give you a broad perspective of the dynamics of menopausing. I see myself as a generalised specialist.
However please do not confuse me with a clinical menopause specialist who prescribes pharmaceuticals.
You may find that one menopause therapy conversation, with your Menopause Mapping guide in hand, is enough for you. You can always pop back again another time.
Perhaps you know that you are the kind of person who will need a little prompt for a few weeks to keep you heading in the right direction. I can do that too.
At any point, I am happy to speak with you and a special someone who is planning on being part of your Team Meno. It’s not always easy to explain to others what you’re feeling, so I can help you with that as well.
I have been in the holistic health and wellbeing arena for nearly 35 years, starting as a Beauty Therapist. I also trained in Applied Biology and became a Biology teacher. As I was going through perimenopause in a very haphazard way I realised that I had never been taught about menstrual health, let alone menopause health.
My vision is to increase access to information about menstrual health for everyone who needs it, across life stages. I didn’t have anyone to reach out to and ask the simplest of questions so I became one, for others. My particular style of Menopause Doula-ing also expands to menstrual health with a wider lens. So you don’t need to be perimenopausal to benefit from a conversation with me.
The speakers certainly delivered on the title and we particularly enjoyed hearing the story of Madhu Kapoor.
“Despite being a key treatment option for perimenopause and menopause, less than 1 in 5 women of menopausal age are on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and this figure drastically reduces for Black and Asian women. In this webinar, we’re joined by menopause expert, Dr Sue Mann and menopause advocate, Madhu Kapoor to take a deep dive into HRT. We’ll discuss some of the common and lesser-known symptoms of menopause, explore how and why HRT is an effective treatment, and consider pros and cons of different types of HRT. We will also looked at the risks associated with HRT and sort out fact from fiction so that you’re empowered with the information to help yourself, or someone you know, to make informed decisions about your treatment options.”
Last night we were thrilled to spend time with an amazing group of people and attend the film screening of Rainbow Menopause, a film that sheds light on the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals navigating menopause.
Rainbow Menopause’ looks at menopause for LGBTQ+ people, identifying need for more inclusive conversations and support. Featuring interviews with clinicians and people who have lived experiences, brought together by the ‘Menopause Inclusion Collective’, they hope sharing these stories will help more people to understand that menopause needs to be inclusive of everyone.
Sara Williams the co-creator of the film, who is driven to spotlight minority menopause experiences and advocate for the inclusion of marginalised voices, said:
This is not just a mini-documentary; the film could be a catalyst for change.
We think Rainbow Menopause could be used to help foster inclusivity and understanding:
Staff Training: Educate employees about the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals
Health & Wellness: Incorporate into wellness programs for comprehensive menopause education
Policy Development: Gain insights to shape inclusive policies for LGBTQ+ employees
HR Resource: Understand and support employees’ needs
D&I Initiatives: Promote inclusivity and representation
Awareness Campaigns: Fight stigma, encourage open discussions
ERGs & Support: Empower resource groups focused on LGBTQ+ issues and menopause
Leadership Development: Encourage inclusivity from the executive level
We were delighted to be present for what we hope will be a turning point for the inclusive menopause conversation in the UK, and maybe the world.
“I thought I knew a lot about menopause, but I’ve learned more in 5 mins than in the last 5 years!”
The Digital Women LIVE in Birmingham Skills Fest event was action-packed this week. We were invited to take part in the very special edition of Lunch & Learn.
We featured our new compact version of Story of Menopause, the common sense menstrual health explainer presentation.
With over 20 people in the room and more wanting to squeeze in it was a great opportunity to give clear facts and guidance on how to take your next best step along the hormone highway, especially when reaching your full potential as a female entrepreneur is the goal.
The Story of Menopause did not disappoint and the Wows, sighs of relief, and “why didn’t anyone tell me this before” phrases, were palpable.
Unlike other Menopause Talks, we start the story in a much better place, with menstruation. We paint a clear picture of the menstrual health timeline from the day you start menstruating, to the day you stop and beyond.
Many people get confused with the term menstrual health and assume it is the menstrual cycle but more specifically the days of bleeding. However menstrual health is every single day of a menstruators life and if viewed in terms of overall health the process of menopausing* finally has a back story, and makes much more sense.
