Terri Regent is a midlife and perimenopause coach and also a licenced menopause champion with the Menopause Experts Group. She shares her views and experiences of the menopause.

My personal experience was a solitary one, as I am a sole trader and also single. In retrospect I was potentially in perimenopause for a number of years without really being aware that was what it was because nobody tells you! I began to experience frequent migraines, which I also had as a teen, and irregular bleeding which was very heavy and often with only a few days break before it began again. 

I had no idea what was happening. I visited my doctor five times and was offered medication to stop the bleed and pain medication for the migraines. No mention of perimenopause. I did not want to take medication; I wanted to understand why I was experiencing these issues. 

It got to the point where my symptoms began to affect my mental wellbeing, causing anxiety because of their erratic nature and the subsequent embarrassment if I had a heavy bleed in a public place. It affected my sleep patterns and I felt constantly exhausted. I was basically suffering in silence and made the decision to educate myself and do anything that I could to improve my quality of life. I have been post-menopausal for approximately five years now and when my periods actually stopped, I felt so much relief.  

I was excited to attend the focus group for Suffolk Libraries about lived experience of menopause because I believe that it is so important to open up the conversation and get our voices heard. The group I attended contained women who, although on the same journey, had very different perspectives and personal challenges, but also had one thing in common – they wanted to speak up! 

Nobody should suffer in silence, and every person on their menopause journey should have access to resources and education. This is why the Menopause & Me project is so very important. Menopause affects everybody, directly and indirectly, so increasing awareness and the impact it can have at all levels (individual, relationship, work and community) is key.

A safe space where you can go to talk with people who will listen and understand can make such a difference, and this is being offered at various libraries through an ‘M-Powered’ group session.  

I am excited to continue my involvement with this project and am talking about it to anybody who will listen.