THERE should be open conversations in households about menopause so that families understand what women go through during this stage, says Fiji Women’s Rights Movement executive director Nalini Singh.
The NGO has launched a report titled, “The ‘M’ word: Ending the silence – Fijian women’s perceptions and experiences journey to and during menopause”.
Ms Singh said their research revealed women continued to be affected by factors such as unemployment, poverty, unpaid care work, housing insecurity, income and family and social support.
“Why do we don’t talk about it? It’s a matter of fact affecting half the population of the country of the world,” she said.
“We need to make this issue an open topic so that women who need support and help, can get it.
“And it can be from the support that is needed from the medical side, where some women need hormonal therapies, or it could be counselling, some psychosocial support.
“It could be something in relation to families coming together and understanding the situation and stepping in to help without increasing the burden of care work on women who are at that time not able to contribute that much.
“So, it’s not the end of the world for the women who are often at this stage recognised that their contributions are ending.
“But, just a little bit of understanding for a period of time and life goes on, contribution continues.”
She said the research had pointed out that we don’t talk about this issue openly.
“There may be some conversations in close friends or family circles, but it’s not open.
“And women are suffering myriads of symptoms in silence.”
