Five top tips from our menopause event

Our recent ‘Working Through the Menopause’ event continued vital conversations around this life transition. 

A collaboration between BBC Scotland’s Women in News project and Women in Journalism Scotland, the discussion offered advice and ideas on how to make the workplace more menopause-friendly. 

Kirsty Wark, whose taboo-busting documentary ‘The Menopause and Me’ aired in 2017, was interviewed by BBC Scotland’s Editor of Longform Journalism Shelley Jofre. 

Here are five top tips gleaned from their chat. 

  1. Persevere with your GP if you don’t feel satisfied. You know your body best: it is worth asking your doctor’s receptionist which GP in the practice is interested in the menopause and making another appointment

  2. Question the products punted by the menopause wellness industry. Menopause shampoo won’t stop the menopause!

  3. That said, fans and cooling mats are great for hot flushes. Our experts recommend an ice cooling mat and an EasyAcc fan

  4. Don’t have a menopause room at work? Kirsty Wark recommends comandeering a space 

  5. Normalise chatting about the menopause at any age and find allies in your workplace. Talking openly about periods and PMT will lead to frank menopause discussions once the time comes 

Women in Journalism