How Grace reclaimed her career and became a menopause advocate

A study published by the Menopause Foundation of Canada, estimates that one in 10 women will leave the workplace due to unmanaged symptoms of menopause – just as they’re reaching the peak of their careers. 67 per cent of working women say they would not feel comfortable speaking to their supervisor about their menopause symptoms. And 48 per cent felt too embarrassed to ask for support that could make a meaningful difference in how they manage their symptoms while at work.

Even finding support for symptoms of perimenopause and menopause in the medical system can be challenging. A gap in menopause research and education opportunities available to health practitioners means many are not familiar with safe and recommended treatments that can significantly improve women’s quality of life as they navigate this change.

This was also true for Grace. After visiting her general practitioner and describing her symptoms, she was first prescribed antidepressants. But the medication didn’t give her the relief she needed.

Grace’s husband Scott started to do his own research into symptoms of perimenopause, eager to better understand what she was going through and how he could support her. In this research, he came across articles describing the benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – a medication containing hormones that can be used to manage symptoms of menopause.

“It’s a feeling of helplessness – to know that something is desperately wrong and that you can’t do anything about it. So, I wanted to do as much research as I could,” says Scott. “When Grace was starting to have perimenopause symptoms, I suggested that she may want to think about hormone therapy. But then I didn’t mention it again for a while because she wasn’t in the right place to hear it. It was challenging managing that balance of being super supportive but at the same time not making her feel infantilized in any way. You can’t mansplain menopause.”

When it was clear the antidepressants weren’t helping with the root cause of her symptoms, Scott again encouraged Grace to consider HRT. So, Grace returned to her doctor, asking if she could try the treatment.

Her doctor did prescribe HRT, but then referred Grace to the Menopause Clinic at Sinai Health for continued management of her symptoms and care.

“It wasn't just a medical concern for me, it was also quality of life.”

When Grace arrived at her first appointment at the clinic, she felt instantly at ease. Sinai Health’s internationally recognized Mature Women’s Health Program supports more than 2,500 women annually – equipping women like Grace to stay in the workforce and bring their best selves to every aspect of their lives. Physicians who specialize in menopause care helped Grace find the dosage of HRT that worked best for her symptoms and medical history. The relief was immediate.

“It wasn't just a medical concern for me, it was also quality of life. I had confidence in Mount Sinai’s knowledge around the science, but it was the fact that they were ready and willing to help support me and my quality of life that made the biggest difference,” says Grace.

Dr. Wendy Wolfman, Director of Sinai Health’s Centre for Mature Women’s Health, believes that menopause education is critical to help end the stigma and improve women’s quality of life as they navigate this change.

“I think that women's symptoms tend to be trivialized.” says Dr. Wolfman. “I’m hoping that through some of the education that we do that more physicians understand the benefits and the risks of hormone therapy and all the various options that we have to treat women. My goal is really to make sure that everyone is able to function at her highest level for as long as she can.”

Sinai Health Foundation is currently running a campaign to expand menopause research and services by establishing the Centre for Mature Women’s Health. You can read more about the campaign here.

Now, Grace has returned to work and advanced to a senior level position. She’s committed to using her knowledge and experience to raise awareness about symptoms of menopause and empower other women to seek the support they need.

“If I had not gone on HRT, if I had not gone to the menopause clinic and gotten the advice and support I needed, I think I would not have been able to continue my career,” says Grace. “Every time I think about the work that Dr. Wolfman does, I want to cry. To have the empowerment, to be able to continue my career is deeply meaningful to me.”

“If I had not gone on HRT.... I think I would not have been able to continue my career.”

When Grace is in the room with other senior leaders, she makes a point of speaking about her involvement with menopause awareness raising initiatives or events. By doing so, she hopes to normalize the conversation and give other women courage to do the same. She also offers support to younger female colleagues when they express experiencing symptoms of perimenopause.

What’s her advice?

“Make sure you go to your doctor. If your doctor doesn't understand, or doesn't have the information, go to another. If you are feeling differently now with your moods, it may be perimenopause and you may want to look into it.”

Scott also has advice for partners who want to provide much needed support to women as they navigate perimenopause, in the workplace and at home.

“Make sure that your partner feels heard. It’s very much about humility – embracing the helplessness but at the same time, being the thing that she leans on. Being able to say, ‘No, you’re not imagining things. This is real and there are ways to manage it.”