{"id":1304,"date":"2021-08-24T12:01:54","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T12:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/?p=1304"},"modified":"2021-08-24T15:06:36","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T15:06:36","slug":"covid-and-the-climacteric-pandemic-responses-of-menopause-campaign-and-support-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/2021\/08\/24\/covid-and-the-climacteric-pandemic-responses-of-menopause-campaign-and-support-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid and the Climacteric \u2013 Pandemic Responses of Menopause Campaign and Support Groups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The term climacteric is a medical term to describe the spectrum of perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Issues faced by those in the climacteric have been accentuated by the pandemic. This includes misdiagnosis and misinformation that can make things difficult for all entering this transition, but particularly problematic for those entering this transition early, or from a trans or non-binary perspective.[i]<\/a> In 2019 a BJFM survey found 48% of GPs had no training in menopause.[ii]<\/a> 33 of 41% of UK universities do not have mandatory menopause education on the curriculum.[iii]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

British Menopause Society notes challenges during the pandemic have resulted in difficulties in obtaining HRT.[iv]<\/a> There have been concerns over mental health as women in the climacteric are three times more likely to develop depression than pre-climacteric women.[v]<\/a> A survey by CBII 71% of women over 40 say lockdown has increased symptoms of anxiety in climacteric women (although stats are not available for nonbinary it is anticipated that this would also be echoed, alongside other intersectional pressures including those of race, class and disability).[vi]<\/a> Medical journals have noted an increase in suicide rates as become a significant public health issue during covid.[vii]<\/a> There have been reports of increased cases of early menopause and suspected links between oestrogen levels and covid-19 where falling oestrogen levels increase the risk from the disease.[viii]<\/a> Overlapping symptoms of long COVID and perimenopause have also been reported, alongside a lack of medical support on issues such as irregular periods.[ix]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in these dark times we have seen positive changes happen informed by the difficult and conflicted times we are in.[x]<\/a> Despite the challenges of Covid we have seen significant political progress on climacteric conversations and law. A Private Member\u2019s which makes provision about menopause support and services and to exempts HRT from NHS prescription charges in the UK is currently in its second reading in the House of Commons, following the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaigning in 2021.[xi]<\/a> Organisations such as Menopause Caf\u00e9 have seen their reach significantly increase during the pandemic.[xii]<\/a> Existing menopause support services have tailored information to speak about the climacteric in lockdown.[xiii]<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magnetic Ideals are looking for groups to participate in some preliminary research. We are interested in looking into the support and campaigning that has been happening over the pandemic by organisations and groups that provide support, information and services for those who are perimenopausal and postmenopausal. We are hoping that this research will shed light and raise the profile of this work and help identify gaps moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This research initially takes the form of a short survey, and if anyone in your organisation or group is interested, we will also be conducting some further interviews. You can find the link to the survey here: https:\/\/forms.gle\/TacYK4gET6vgm6LMA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any personal data collected through the survey will only be seen by the Research Team.  We will never personally identify you in any reports or outputs produced as part of the research and your data will never be shared without your consent. If you have any queries about this project, please email: climacteric@magneticideals.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please share this post widely, thank you for your time, and for all the work you are doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warmest wishes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Heather McKnight, PhD Legal Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covid and the Climacteric Research Group<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

[i]<\/a> \u2018Transgender Health\u2019, Rock My Menopause<\/em> (blog), accessed 16 August 2021, https:\/\/rockmymenopause.com\/get-informed\/transgender-health\/; Deborah Garlick, \u2018How Do Hormonal Changes Affect the Trans and Non-Binary Community?\u2019, Menopause in the Workplace | Henpicked<\/em> (blog), 21 July 2020, https:\/\/menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk\/articles\/how-do-hormonal-changes-affect-the-trans-and-non-binary-community\/; Kate Johnston-Ataata, Jacinthe Flore, and Renata Kokanovi\u0107, \u2018Women\u2019s Experiences of Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Menopause and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: A Qualitative Study\u2019, Seminars in Reproductive Medicine<\/em> 38, no. 4\/5 (September 2020): 247\u201355, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1055\/s-0040-1721463.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[ii]<\/a> Jessica Bateman, \u2018Menopause Health Has \u201cfew Specialists and a Lot of Myths\u201d \u2013 Can Tech Change That?\u2019, the Guardian, 2 May 2019, http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/careers\/2019\/may\/02\/menopause-health-has-few-specialists-and-a-lot-of-myths-can-tech-change-that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[iii]<\/a> \u2018Menopause Support Survey Reveals Shocking Disparity in Menopause Training in Medical Schools. \u2013 Menopausesupport.Co.Uk\u2019, accessed 16 August 2021, https:\/\/menopausesupport.co.uk\/?p=14434.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[iv]<\/a> Bms Administrator, \u2018British Menopause Society Further Update on HRT Supply Shortages (20 July 2021)\u2019, British Menopause Society<\/em> (blog), 20 July 2021, https:\/\/thebms.org.uk\/2021\/07\/british-menopause-society-further-update-on-hrt-supply-shortages-20-july-2021\/.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[v]<\/a> \u2018Suicide in Middle Aged Women: Could COVID Make a Bad Problem Worse?\u2019, NextTribe, 15 September 2020, https:\/\/nexttribe.com\/suicide-in-middle-aged-women\/.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[vi]<\/a> \u2018Second Lockdown Causes Anxiety for Menopausal Women\u2019, The Independent, 23 November 2020, https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/health\/lockdown-menopause-women-anxiety-mental-health-b1760332.html.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[vii]<\/a> Leo Sher, \u2018The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Rates\u2019, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine<\/em> 113, no. 10 (1 October 2020): 707\u201312, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/qjmed\/hcaa202; Jayashri Kulkarni, \u2018Perimenopausal Depression \u2013 an under-Recognised Entity\u2019, Australian Prescriber<\/em> 41, no. 6 (December 2018): 183\u201385, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.18773\/austprescr.2018.060.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[viii]<\/a> Ricardo Costeira et al., \u2018Estrogen and COVID-19 Symptoms: Associations in Women from the COVID Symptom Study\u2019, MedRxiv<\/em>, 19 August 2020, 2020.07.30.20164921, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1101\/2020.07.30.20164921.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[ix]<\/a> \u2018How Does Long COVID Affect Periods?\u2019, 17 February 2021, https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/long-covid-and-periods-the-unspoken-impact-on-female-well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[x]<\/a> McKnight, \u2018Chaos and Hope\u2019; Tom Moylan, Becoming Utopian: The Culture and Politics of Radical Transformation<\/em> (London, UK\u202f; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Academic, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[xi]<\/a> \u2018Menopause (Support and Services) Bill – Parliamentary Bills – UK Parliament\u2019, accessed 16 August 2021, https:\/\/bills.parliament.uk\/bills\/2897.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[xii]<\/a> \u2018Gather to Eat Cake, Drink and Discuss Menopause\u2019, accessed 16 August 2021, https:\/\/www.menopausecafe.net\/.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[xiii]<\/a> \u2018What to Do When You\u2019re Not Feeling OK: Dr Louise Newson, Newson Health\u2019, My Menopause Doctor, accessed 9 August 2021, https:\/\/www.menopausedoctor.co.uk\/menopause\/when-youre-not-ok.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The term climacteric is a medical term to describe the spectrum of perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Issues faced by those in the climacteric have been accentuated by the pandemic. This includes misdiagnosis and misinformation that can make things difficult for all entering this transition, but particularly problematic for those entering this transition early, or from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[26,31,33,30,35,29,25,32,27,28,14,34,19],"class_list":["post-1304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-climacteric","tag-covid","tag-feminist","tag-hrt","tag-magnetic-ideals","tag-menopausal","tag-menopause","tag-pandemic","tag-perimenopause","tag-postmenopause","tag-research","tag-trans","tag-utopia"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/trees-sun.jpg?fit=1200%2C633&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5Bqx4-l2","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1304"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1313,"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1304\/revisions\/1313"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.magneticideals.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}