The Midlife Menopause Season – Why We’re More Than Our Boobs

There’s a season in a woman’s life, usually around midlife, that hits you like a freight train you never saw coming. It’s the perimenopause-to-menopause transition, and for many of us, it arrives with a bang and leaves us wondering, “What the heck is happening to me?” One minute you feel like the powerful, capable woman you’ve always been, and the next, you’re a shell of yourself, trying to navigate what feels like a total breakdown.

This season is a wild ride, a perfect storm of physical, emotional, and psychological changes that often collide with the biggest juggle of our lives.

We’re in our prime, busy with careers, raising kids, caring for ageing parents, and managing our relationships. Then, out of nowhere, we’re hit with symptoms we can’t even begin to connect to our hormones.

The Top 5 Symptoms You’ll Expect (and 5 You’ll Never See Coming)

You probably know about the hot flushes, the night sweats, and the changes in your period. Those are the well-known signs. But what about the ones that sneak up and completely blindside you?

The Top 5 Expected Symptoms:

Hot Flushes & Night Sweats. The classic. They can range from a gentle warmth to a full-on inferno.
Changes in your cycle. Periods become unpredictable—heavier, lighter, longer, or shorter.
Mood Swings. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re crying at a TV advert or filled with a rage you can’t explain.
Brain Fog. You forget words, names, and even what you walked into a room for. Your once-sharp mind feels hazy.
Sleep Disturbances. You wake up multiple times a night, drenched in sweat, and can’t get back to sleep.

The 5 Unexpected & Unexplained Symptoms:

A feeling of bugs crawling on your skin. Yes, really. It’s called formication.
Electric shock sensations. A strange zap that can happen before a hot flush.
Sudden anxiety or panic attacks that come out of nowhere.
Tinnitus: A persistent ringing or buzzing in your ears.
Burning mouth syndrome: A hot, scalding sensation on your tongue, lips, or gums.

These symptoms, both the expected and the random, can feel incredibly isolating. We suffer in silence, believing we’re just “losing it” and not understanding that these are all signs of our hormones fluctuating. This is why it’s so critical we talk about it.

The Juggler’s Dilemma – Impact on Career & Personal Life

This midlife season isn’t just a physical transition; it’s a full-body, all-encompassing experience that can impact every part of your life.

In our careers, the brain fog, fatigue, and lack of sleep can make us question our competence. You might struggle to remember key details in a meeting, lose confidence, or feel too exhausted to take on new projects. This can lead to a vicious cycle of self-doubt and feeling like you’re failing, just when you’re supposed to be at the top of your game. It’s no wonder so many talented women consider stepping back or leaving the workforce altogether during this time.

At home, the impact is just as outrageous. The mood swings and irritability can strain relationships with partners and children. The lack of sleep leaves you short-tempered and emotionally depleted. Sex becomes a chore due to vaginal dryness and a lack of libido. You feel distant from the people you love most, and the woman you know yourself to be seems to be slipping away.

A New Chapter for HRT – Healing from the Past

For years, many of us have been terrified of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), believing it was a risky, almost dangerous choice. This fear stems from a poorly reported 2002 study by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) that was stopped early. The media sensationalised the findings, linking HRT to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease, and the message that women should not take it became widespread.

But now, over 20 years on, we have a far clearer picture. The WHI findings were misinterpreted. The study primarily looked at a specific group of older women, many of whom were already decades past menopause and had pre-existing health conditions. We now know that for most women in their perimenopause and early menopause years, the benefits of HRT far outweigh the risks.

The legacy of that bad research is still with us. Many women still believe it’s “healthier” to “raw dog” their way through this season, suffering in silence. But we are more than our boobs. The conversation has been so focused on the potential, and now re-evaluated, risk of breast cancer that we’ve ignored all the other incredible benefits.

HRT isn’t just about managing symptoms; it’s about protecting your long-term health.

It can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease, improve cognitive function, and protect against conditions like Alzheimer’s and diabetes. For many, it’s a lifeline that restores their quality of life.

If HRT isn’t an option for you, or if you prefer a different route, there are still ways to find relief. Lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and stress management are vital. For more targeted, clinical support, a functional medicine approach can be a game-changer.

My Personal Journey & Professional Perspective

I want to be clear, I am not a clinical specialist. I am a certified health coach, qualified since 2012, and my work is rooted in well-being. I’ve spent years working with women, and I’ve physically observed the impact this season has on them. I am also an early adopter of taking HRT, and it has hugely improved my health and well-being. This is a topic I feel so passionately about because I have seen the difference it can make, both in my own life and in the lives of the women I work with and alongside.

A Supportive System – At Work & At Home

We can’t solve this alone. We need to create a village of support.

In the Workplace – We need to get serious about supporting women in the workplace. This isn’t about special treatment; it’s about a common-sense approach to retaining talent. A good workplace menopause policy can include:

Flexible working hours – Allowing for early starts or later finishes to manage sleep issues.
Access to fans or temperature control.
A designated quiet room for women to take a break if they need to.
Menopause champions or support networks where women can talk to a trained colleague confidentially.
Open conversations to break the stigma.

At Home – Talk to your partner and your family. Share this article with them. Help them understand what you are going through. Ask for support with the family juggle and a little more patience. Their understanding can make all the difference.

Resources & Next Steps

If you need professional support, here are some incredible resources:

Functional Nexus. For those who want a holistic, functional medicine approach or need a different level of clinical support. They also work with patients on HRT. You can find them at https://functional-nexus.co.uk.
Manchester Menopause Hive. A dedicated clinic focused on the clinical support of this season. Find them at https://manchestermenopausehive.co.uk.
Dr. Mary Haver’s Clinic. A leading voice in women’s health in the US. Find her clinic’s resources at https://maryclairewellness.com/.

This season doesn’t have to be a battle you fight alone. It’s time to stop the silence, re-educate ourselves, and find the right support so we can not just survive, but truly thrive.

Next Steps:

- Book a conversation to see how we can support you with your current season in career and life HERE.
- Have meaningful conversations. Connect with your people deeper by sharing your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Use our Flip The Thinking Tool kit and share it with people around you. See how it helps you enrich the connection and conversation.
- Follow along on LinkedIn HERE
- Find out more about our women’s leadership programme HERE