In the UK, since about 2018, a wave of community-led campaigners, journalists and celebrities, as well as grassroots organisations have been campaigning for increased awareness of menopause and of an inclusive approach to the various experiences of menopause. This section includes a breadth of information, from regulatory guidelines to community-led support groups, with a view to represent different voices.

 

To increase accessibility and personal preferences of medium, references are also made to online forums, online social media accounts, podcasts, and TV programmes as well as in person event organisers.

 

The list is not exhaustive due to the nature of the topic and the individuality of experiences and personal, at times complex, health situations. It is hoped that this will help provide a wide spectrum of relatable resources for organisations and their employees to explore. Menstrual health and menopause do not fit in neat boxes, so it is recommended to explore the whole of this section to find those voices that speak to their individual interest.

This section was last reviewed on 19 November 2024. It is important to note that medical information, and sources of information, can change rapidly. It is therefore advisable to remember that the information below is a general signposting. Anyone seeking medical advice or other support should do so with an appropriate healthcare professional. 

The information in this section covers the main regulatory and recommended guidelines around menopause. Medical professionals and clinicians are expected to have up-to-date knowledge of these to advise patients on treatments, lifestyle and other options that may help them during their peri and post menopause journey. There is also an expectation that these professionals will review periodically changes to such guidelines.

Also included are resources acknowledged as providing information for individuals to navigate positively their menopause and menstrual health journeys.

 

Organisation and link to online information	Topic
NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) Menopause Guidelines https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/	This guideline outlines how a GP should determine what types and options of treatments/interventions can be offered.   It covers identifying and managing menopause, including in people with premature ovarian insufficiency. It aims to improve the consistency of support and information provided to people experiencing menopause.
NHS England Menopause Overview https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/   Periods Overview www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods	NHS England provides an overview of menopause, together with information about symptoms and treatment options.   The NHS England periods overview includes information about different products and conditions. It can prove useful to understand the ramifications of menstrual health and its impacts in the workplace
British Menopause Society Main website www.thebms.org.uk   Tools for clinicians https://thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians/	The British Menopause Society (BMS) provides information and guidance to healthcare professionals specialising in all aspects of menopause health and of post reproductive health.   Although the information is primarily for clinicians, it can be helpful to understand menopause generally.   There are also resources for a range of reproductive health conditions, including endometriosis, PMDD, PMS, POI and more.
British Standards Institution BS 30416 - Menstruation, Menstrual Health and Menopause in the Workplace www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/standards/understanding-menopause-and-menstrual-health/	BS 30416:2023 offers practical guidance to support employees experiencing menstruation, menstrual health, or menopause in the workplace.

 

These organisations and publications cover a breadth of information about menopause and menstrual health. 

The Menopause Charity - www.themenopausecharity.org/
A charity founder by Dr Louise Newson. Leading the #OwnYourMenopause campaign, with an increasing aray of free resources to educate everybody so that perimenopause and menopause are properly understood.

Menopause Support – www.menopausesupport.co.uk/
Menopause Support is a not for profit community interest company and the home of the national #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign, both founded by Diane Danzebrink. Menopause Support offers a range of educational resources for individuals, partners, and GP surgeries, including the Understanding Menopause booklet, a symptoms checker ant the Cycle of Change video. See further information in sections below.

Balance - www.balance-menopause.com

Balance was founded by Dr Louise Newson.  It aims to offer everything people need during their perimenopausal or menopausal journey. Whether simply looking for evidence based information, resources in a range of languages, information about how specific medical conditions are affected by menopause, or need a way of tracking symptoms, there is a mine of information available.

The best way to use the website is to scroll through the main page, and also to search with key words.

The Balance app enables people to document their symptoms and share this information with their GP. It is free to use and can be downloaded on any phone.

Women’s Health Concern - www.womens-health-concern.org

A charity that provides a confidential, independent service to advise, inform and reassure women about their gynaecological, sexual and post reproductive health.

 
Understanding Menopause from Menopause Support

Often referred to as ‘the one resource I wish I had read before my menopause journey’, this booklet offers information about all stages of menopause, lifestyle, and treatment options, including a comprehensive symptoms checker.

The booklet is a collaborative work between Menopause Support, a not-for-personal-profit organisation led by Diane Danzebrink, a campaigner for menopause awareness and better primary and secondary care support, and British Menopause Society (BMS) accredited specialists. The booklet has been endorsed by the BMS and is included in its resources for clinicians.

Free downloads in several languages, including English, Welsh and Polish, are available here. https://menopausesupport.co.uk/?page_id=17128

The M Word by Dr Philippa Kay

Dr Philippa Kaye is a strong supporter of simplifying access to information about menopause, bringing national guidelines and understanding of the impacts of menopause, treatment options, benefits, and risks of a range of approaches together into an easy to read, complete one-stop guide to peri and post menopause.

Pictured: January 2023 edition

 

The Knowledge - Your guide to female health, from menstruation to the menopause by Dr Nighat Arif

Dr Nighat Arif provides an extensive guidebook designed to help everyone better understand each of the three key stages of a woman's life: the puberty years, the fertility years, and the peri/post menopausal years.

This book tackles many important topics, including endometriosis. polycystic ovary syndrome, what heart disease symptoms to look for, how gender affirmation treatments can impact an individual. It encompasses a multitude of experiences, including the perspectives of women of colour, people of all abilities and cultures, and the transgender community to ensure that all groups affected by female health concerns are a part of vital conversations.