Kairali UK Sayahnam Menopause Health

Sayahnam Chapter 3 (Malayalam/English) Nov 6, 2022
The "M" Word: A conversation about Menopause
A girl child when she is born, she has in her body all the eggs that she will ever have. This is estimated to be around two million, but by the time a girl reaches puberty, this number has decreased to about 400,000. From puberty to the menopause, only about 300 - 400 eggs will be released through ovulation.
So, just like everything else, menopause is a natural part of women’s life and this usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman’s oestrogen levels decline. Around one in 100 women experience the menopause before 40 years of age. This is known as premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency. Some trans men and non-binary people may also experience menopausal symptoms.
This is not an issue that women need to deal with by themselves. This affects their partners, family, friends and colleagues. We as a community will come a long way if we try to understand the changes that may happen to a woman, normalise it and offer support and care, where needed.
Perceptions of menopause are often influenced by misunderstandings and myths related to menopause that often lacks scientific temper and it is overall hugely silenced by the patriarchal culture of our Indian society. Awareness on this topic is fundamental, especially around mental health, and reducing the stigma attached to it is vital so that more people will talk openly about it so it can begin to be normalised and people can get the support they need.
Kairali UK is starting this initiative which we hope will continue to foster more such conversations by breaking stereotypes and overcoming social taboos and offer support for all genders in the future.