Navigating menopause, work and life was a lesson in survival for me.

I coached and developed leaders for 20 years. I was obsessed with growth. I was the “strong one”.

I was SO unprepared for menopause. I barely knew what peri-menopause was.

I hit menopause at the peak of my corporate Human Resources career whilst carrying a big load at work and at home.

It is no wonder 90% of menopausal women find work is negatively impacted by symptoms of menopause. There are over 40 physical and emotional ways menopause affects women at work. Menopause typically occurs when women are stepping into leadership roles.

I quit my corporate job at the peak of my career to improve my health after struggling with burnout and the early onset of menopause at 44.

I realised there was a total lack of awareness on the many impacts of menopause at work and decided to do something to change that. I wish I had known more about menopause back then.

Hair loss was one distressing symptom of menopause for me despite being told by hairdressers and medical practitioners that it was nothing. It was not nothing to me.

Much like acne, I couldn't hide it well and I was self-conscious.

This throwback photo says it all.

How does menopause impact your hair?

Loss of hair volume and thinning is a factor of aging that affects some women during peri-menopause.

Declining levels of estrogen may be why menopausal women find hair thins and falls out more quickly than they are used to.

Changes in hormones may mean increased facial hair too!

What can you do?

Here are some tips if this is bothering you:

• Check your diet. Dietary deficiencies - a lack of certain vitamins and minerals can affect hair growth. I found out I was iron deficient and needed to fix that.
• Improve hormonal balance. Good nutrition and hormone therapy may slow the process, but loss of hair volume is part of aging.
• Minimize heat damage. Reducing heat damage to my hair helped me.
• Buy appropriate hair products. Hair thickening shampoos and topical solutions can help.
• Abnormal hair loss or growth could be a symptom of an underlying condition, or a result of medication taken for other conditions. Check with your doctor.

If you are navigating menopause at work, know you are not alone.

👇🏻👇🏻 Welcome to the Menopause at Work conversation, it is great to have you here. We would love to know what you would like to hear more about?

Be well.

Melissa MacGowan, Meno Collective

The information in this post is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute medical advice.