An Oldham-based charity that campaigns for better research into women's health issues is calling to end the 'stigma' around menopause.

Endometriosis Awareness North, led by Oldham GP,  Dr Anita Sharma, has united with Nina Kuypers, founder of Black Women in Menopause, to call for an end to the stigma, ignorance and negligence women face when going through the transition for World Menopause Awareness Day today (October 18).

Ms Kuypers said this "perfectly natural biological transition" should be viewed with compassion rather than reduced to ridicule about "hot flushes" and "the change".

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The pair said such 'jokes' are particularly unfunny for Greater Manchester's Black, Asian and minority ethnic women who tend to suffer symptoms such as brittle bones more acutely.

Dr Sharma added: "BAME women can face a painful concoction of ingrained embarrassment around menopause plus health services that do not treat them equally.

"The science shows that black women experience menopause earlier.

"They can also endure symptoms such as weight gain, poorer sleep patterns due to more severe vasomotor symptoms and increased mental health issues more than other groups.

"And yet even when they are in severe pain, there are a lot more reticent about coming forwards.”

The GP is now calling for more educational programmes to target such communities and even wants to see a national campaign which uses greater diversity when advertising around menopause.

Ms Kuypers, whose charity provides free advice sessions, also said: "I recognise the need for support, advocacy and resources specially tailored to the experiences of black people growing through menopause.

"The aim of Black Women in Menopause is to provide a safe and supportive space for black people to share their experience, exchange information, seek advice and advocate for better healthcare and workplace support related to menopause and beyond."

The founder said more research is "needed" to understand variations in the menopause experience among different racial and ethnic groups.

She continued: "I can see that it’s no coincidence that menopausal black people have such a high prevalence of menopause-related illnesses such as osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and depression.

"We collectively need to dismantle the unhelpful stigma that surrounds menopause, so that it’s no longer taboo.

"Then we can let all people know that it’s okay to talk about it. Healthcare providers need to take into consideration the potential differences when providing care for women going through menopause, ensuring that the care is culturally sensitive and tailored to individual needs."

However, she also said there is a need for campaigners to be aware of "excessively focussing on the negative aspects of menopause" as this could dangerously contribute to fear and anxiety about the future in younger women.

Ms Kuypers explained: "When menopause is constantly portrayed as a period of suffering and decline, it can create a sense of apprehension and dread.

"Promoting a broader dialogue that includes positive menopause stories may help them develop a more nuanced understanding of this life stage.

"It can demonstrate that menopause is a normal and natural part of your life design and that it can also be a time of regrowth, self-discovery and renewed vitality."

Dr Sharma has also launched a new webpage as part of the campaign to explain the signs and symptoms of the condition and explain key terms such as "perimenopause" - the time when female bodies naturally transition into menopause.

The GP said: "I am heartened by news that employers are beginning to acknowledge how menopause can impact on working lives.

"There are also more conversations around the condition, but the inequalities in our healthcare that affect women and BAME groups are just as rife with menopause as anything else.

"From husbands opening health letters addresses to their daughters to GPs of all genders dismissing symptoms too easily - we have to do better." 

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