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Health and wellbeing / Women's Health

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Women's Health

 

Useful Guides

World Menopause Day 2022

World Menopause Day is held every year on the 18th October with the purpose of raising awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing.

The theme for World Menopause Day 2022 is Cognition and Mood.

  • 63% of women say their menopause symptoms have negatively impacted their lives and their work, whilst
  • 1 in 4 women going through the menopause will consider leaving their job due to menopause symptoms.
  • 30% of women have said that they have taken days off work because of their symptoms and only a very small portion spoke to their managers as to the real reason for being off work.

Menopausal brain fog is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that begin to happen around the time of the menopause for women. These include: 

  • Difficulty remembering words and numbers
  • Misplacing items
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Absent mindedness
  • losing your train of thought
  • Being more easily distracted
  • Finding it difficult to switch between tasks
  • Forgetting appointments and events

What causes menopausal brain fog?

Brain fog may be caused by the rising and falling hormone levels, in particular oestrogen, however symptoms should improve post menopause.

What can you do?

While menopausal brain fog can often be mild an improve with time, there are several things you can do to help ease the symptoms:

  • Eat a balanced diet
    – Omega 3 and 6, which are found in eggs, fish, nuts and seeds are considered to be part of a brain friendly diet. Vitamins A, C & E also have lots of antioxidant properties and can help with brain fog.
  • Get enough sleep
    – While sleep can be affected during perimenopause and menopause, deep sleep is key to brain functionality. Try and take steps to help improve your sleep habits, such as limiting screen time, exercise, and keeping your room dark and cool.
  • Regular exercise
    – it is recommended to do at least 150 active minutes of exercise per week, this keeps both your heart and brain healthy.
  • Exercise your brain
    – puzzles, crosswords and other brain stimulating activities can have a positive effect on brain fog.

Useful resources

Maternal Mental health and Perinatal mental health (PMH)

If you, or anyone you know is experiencing Perinatal mental health (PMH) problems we have access to support and further information for you. PMH occurs during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child.

  • Perinatal mental illness affects up to 20% of new and expectant mums
  • Perinatal mental health refers to a woman's mental health during pregnancy and the first year after birth
  • This includes mental illness existing before pregnancy, as well as illnesses that develop for the first time, or are greatly exacerbated in the perinatal period.

Having a baby is a big life event and it is natural to experience a range of emotions during pregnancy, after giving birth or as a partner of someone who is about to or has recently given birth.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing any difficult feelings that start to have a big effect on day-to-day life, you can find access to support available below or reach out to our dedicated HR team on FWHR@NHSProfessionals.nhs.uk.

Resources

Articles

Mind Charity
MumsAid

Podcasts

Voluntary Organisations & Charities

Family Lives (confidential support, information and advice)

Home Start (offers a service which pairs you with a volunteer who visits you to offer practical and emotional support)

NCT (runs courses for new parents and has a membership that runs activities and social groups)

National support online and over the phone

  • Association of Postnatal Illness 
    • Tel: 020 7386 0868
    • Open: 10am to 2pm
    • Email: info@apni.org
    • Live chat available
  • Petals. Offers free-of-charge specialist counselling to anyone who has experiences pregnancy or baby loss

Forums

Support guides

Additional Websites

Netmums offers information on both a national and local level. Gives details of local resources such as child friendly cafes and childminders.

Post Natal Illness - real help from real women

Support Groups

PANDAs – find a support group near you

Young Mums Together

  • Citizens Advice Service – Large network of charities which offer confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. Check what help you can get if you can’t afford to pay bills like council tax and energy because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Also find out when you can get a payment holiday for bills like mortgages and tax debt.

  • Money Advice Service – Free, impartial money advice set up by the Government, including advice on your rights to sick pay, what benefits you can claim if you’re self-employed or not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) during this coronavirus outbreak.