Your Monthly Menopause Round Up- June
- glenkate
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Welcome to June's Menopause Unmasked newsletter!
This month at Menopause Unmasked in Bournemouth, we share government updates on osteoporosis care, reflect on delivering local menopause awareness talks, launch a free symptom tracker, and explore how to make menopause support more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community.
Menopause News
Following last month’s focus on bone health, it’s encouraging to see new plans set out by the government to increase access to bone density scanners across the UK. This step aims to improve early detection and care for osteoporosis, a condition that disproportionately affects people going through menopause, and reinforces the importance of prioritising bone health during this stage of life. You can read the full article here.
What We’re Up To
Last month, I had the opportunity to deliver a menopause awareness session at a local gym, offering members an accessible introduction to the key stages and symptoms. Despite a few technical hiccups, the feedback was fantastic. It opened up some really honest discussions about the support people are (and aren’t) receiving.
More recently, I ran my first corporate wellbeing event, where I expanded the focus beyond menopause to include health and hormone changes across different life stages. It was energising to see how engaged the team were, and how ready workplaces are to open up these vital conversations.
If you know of a workplace, community group, or organisation that would benefit from a talk or workshop on menopause, hormones, or holistic wellbeing, I’d love to hear from you.
Free Symptom Tracker Now Available
Managing menopause symptoms can be overwhelming, but you're not alone.
This month, I launched a free downloadable symptom tracker on my website. You can print it out and take it to appointments, use it to spot patterns, or just get some clarity day-to-day.
It’s simple, practical, and designed to help you feel more in control.
Click the link below and take that first step toward more confident conversations with your GP or specialist.
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 25th
I am one of 4 speakers as Syds Slaps in Southbourne.
Join us for 1hour 45 minutes EXPLORE WELLNESS THROUGH THE MENOPAUSE JOURNEY.
This is ✨free✨ but you need to register to attend as we are expecting a big audience.
I will be talking hormones and changes that happen, Caroline Coombs will be discussing the importance of movement & nutrition, Samantha Tarr will be explaining all about collagen and Kyla Rogers will be talking weight loss and body image.
September 10th
I’ll be speaking at The Arts Centre in New Milton with a talk titled “Introduction to Menopause.” I’ll be sharing practical advice and empowering insights to help you navigate perimenopause with clarity and confidence.
Tickets available with the links below.
Quick Tip!
Let’s Talk Menopause Beyond the Binary
We can be better allies to the LGBTQ+ community by creating inclusive spaces that centre listening, learning, and standing beside those whose experiences differ from our own. Small actions, like using correct pronouns and challenging outdated assumptions, help make menopause support truly inclusive for everyone.
June is Pride Awareness Month, a time to celebrate, honour, and uplift the LGBTQ+ community. At Menopause Unmasked, inclusivity is at the heart of everything I do, and that includes recognising that menopause doesn’t look the same for everyone.
It’s vital that support reflects the diverse experiences of all people, including those who are trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse. Whether you’re experiencing hormone changes yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply wanting to learn more, this month I’m sharing insights and tools to help everyone feel seen, respected, and empowered.
Most menopause advertising, research, and marketing are still centred on white, cisgender women, yet even within that group, the frustration around lack of support is significant. For minority communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, the visibility, understanding, and access to care is even more limited. This needs to change and fast.
Anyone with a female reproductive system who hasn’t had surgical intervention will experience menopause eventually. Around 75% will have symptoms significant enough to notice. But how those symptoms present and how they’re managed, varies greatly depending on each person’s biology, hormone history, and identity.
Transmasculine people can experience menopause, and like anyone else, their journey is unique. For those with ovaries, menopause may occur naturally with age, be triggered by testosterone therapy, or happen after surgical removal of the ovaries. While testosterone often stops menstruation, ovulation can still happen, even without a cycle, so contraception is still important if pregnancy is not desired.
Trans women don’t go through menopause in the traditional sense, as they don’t have ovaries or a uterus. However, they can still experience menopause-like symptoms, often related to fluctuating oestrogen levels from gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) especially when doses change or are stopped for any reason. Importantly, it’s no longer considered risky for most trans women to take oestrogen long-term, so menopause doesn’t need to be medically induced.
Testosterone therapy can also cause menopause-like symptoms in transmasculine people, such as hot flushes, hair thinning, vaginal or front-hole dryness, and mood shifts, due to a drop in oestrogen.
As with all things menopause, an individualised, multidisciplinary approach is best, one that centres your health and respects your identity.
Tips for Navigating Menopause as a Trans or Non-Binary Person
Your body deserves to be heard. If you’re experiencing new symptoms or discomfort, it’s a sign to pay attention, there’s often something that can be done.
Talking about menopause can feel overwhelming or dysphoric, especially in medical settings. Here are a few ways to feel more in control during appointments:
Decide ahead of time what language feels right for you (e.g., “front hole” instead of “vagina”) and let your healthcare provider know.
Write down your symptoms or questions in advance or even hand them over to be read if speaking feels too hard.
Bring a trusted friend or partner to advocate with you and offer support.
You’re not alone, and you deserve care that acknowledges your whole self.
