My name is Samten Chodon. I am 46 years old, Tibetan by origin and I am perimenopausal. 

I am here today to share my lived experience especially within the diverse nursing communities by raising awareness on menopause and how it can affect women’s health and wellbeing. I learnt how very little we knew about menopause, a subject that is so important and close to women’s health, yet it is so pushed away. With the huge lack of information among our diverse communities, I challenged myself and continue to speak openly about menopause despite the barriers I have faced to making some changes.

I have never come across anyone talking about menopause or perimenopause, whether its among my community or among others. I thought that menopause was something that women go through after the age of 50.

I was struck badly by perimenopause symptoms, a term I had not come across before. I was not aware that women go through such hormonal chaos before the menopause. I grew up away from my family after my education so never witnessed my mum having symptoms.

My symptoms seemed to start between the ages of 40-41 years, just couple of years before the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, and I know this because now I am empowered with the knowledge and information which I did not have before. I was mostly putting it aside, thinking it was stress due to the pandemic. But now I am certainly that stress plays a major role during the hormonal chaos of this journey.

Perimenopause affected me so badly, and I struggled to find the answer to my symptoms for a good few months until I visited A&E for the third time. I met a patient doctor who kindly shed a light to my diagnosis, and I could finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. However, it didn’t resolve there. It has not been a smooth journey; there have been many times where I struggled so badly yet I continued to thrive.

I went to my GP the next day, armed with information including resources from a colleague. I stood up for myself so I can be fit and healthy for my family. I asked for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and thankfully my GP agreed to this; I know many women struggle to access it. I did my research and listened to my body to get the HRT I needed. In the meantime, I continued to reach out for help, contacting my Trust Wellbeing Team and seeking a referral to the Trust Menopause Specialist.

I continued to journal my symptoms and learnt that tracking symptoms aids understanding and management. I learnt the things that trigger or ease my symptoms. I learnt how yoga, breathwork, meditation, and selfcare help to ease symptoms. Having a strong reliable friendship circle on whom you can rely on is also vital during this journey.

I have never championed myself, but now I do. I began to say ‘No’ and express myself more profoundly. I think besides the hormonal shift/chaos, this is also the beginning of a new me and becoming the person I always wanted to be. I am more productive; I speak up and have become more socially aware. For me it is a new beginning of me thriving positively and strongly.

I am thankful to my family, my friends, and my colleagues and others who have supported me hugely; without them it would have been a very hard road to cross.

I am sharing my story, so that others do not feel they have to suffer in silence or struggle.

I would like to say this to women of my colour and community, where menopause is not hugely spoken about:

• Empower yourself with knowledge and information.
• Speak up for yourself.
• Ask for help; don’t worry about what others will think.
• Reach out to those who are willing to share your experience; find your tribe.
• Be for some women it is not an easy journey; it has lots of bumps, up and down, but never give up!
• Join a Menopause Support Group, or go to Menopause - Help and support.

I have learnt that women remain post-menopausal for the rest of their life. I have learnt that for some women, menopause impacts on other health conditions. I hope that sharing my journey will help, as someone else’s survival guide.

Remember the changes we make today will bring positive impact on the future generations.