The event was an amazing way to empower and educate women about the menopause… there was just one problem (Picture: Suzanne Baum/Metro.co.uk)
With my brain fog at an all-time high, the thought of driving to an event in London brought me out in a hot sweat, even before I’d left home.
Would I get there on time, remember the directions… and who I was due to meet?
Then I realised none of this mattered, for I was on my way to Pause Live! – the first menopause consumer roadshow – aimed at women, like myself, going through this stage of life.
An event described as one “to hit the pause button on those menopause blues”, it had certainly come at a good time.
The tide has fortunately turned in recent years as menopause is no longer taboo, and the more events that touch upon this stage of life, the better.
I know – as a 50-year-old woman who recently went on HRT- menopause is something I talk a lot about with my friends. Yet, there is still so much confusion over what works, what doesn’t, what helps, what doesn’t, what product is worth spending money on and what is just a waste of cash.
It can all prove very overwhelming. And with the whole menopause movement gaining momentum, a roadshow – with so much medical, holistic, wellbeing and educational support under one roof – is an excellent idea.
The first thing that caught my eye when I entered the show was a woman standing in her underwear in front of a large crowd of visitors (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
The roadshow had so much medical, holistic, wellbeing and educational support under one roof (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
Yet, here comes my only negative point about the event: the venue.
I’ve been to the Business Design Centre in Islington many a time for work. It is a large soulless and imposing building where I have attended numerous exhibitions and conferences over the years, and in my opinion is not the most comforting space to discuss something very personal to so many of us.
Perhaps something more cosy and warm could be a better option. Particularly as, in a bid to embrace body confidence, not everyone there was fully clothed.
For starters, the first thing that caught my eye when I entered the show was a beautiful woman standing in her underwear in front of a large crowd of visitors. I could only imagine that she must have been freezing. This was taking place on the main stage area under the unforgiving lights of the building and all I could think of was wow this woman is incredible.
Model Rachel Peru left me in awe (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
The warmth of the crowd though and the obvious confidence that model Rachel Peru had as she spoke to her audience about being a big busted woman and the challenges she had faced in her life, left me in awe. To be that brave and stand up in nothing but her undies was pretty motivating. Particularly in today’s world of online filters.
Her passion to empower and inspire women in midlife, was truly fabulous. I wanted to jump up and hug her, not only to keep her warm but to say “thank you” for speaking so bravely. As someone who doesn’t like being seen in a bikini due to my “meno belly”, I found her advice about to how reclaim our bodies by embracing our flaws and standing tall and confident was compelling.
Coming face to face with an enormous vulva display stopped me in my tracks. Forget the Instagram flower wall; this was the mother of all photo backdrop displays.
I mean, getting snapped in front of a female anatomy of this nature definitely got my knickers in a twist! It also provided the perfect ice-breaker for attendees of “the girls just want to have fun” breakout area, which it fronted, where “menopause influencers” were available for chats.
Talking about Menopause in recent years is no longer taboo ( Picture: Suzanne Baum)
I was quick to shake off my shock with a hula hoop lesson, followed by guided meditation; two of many classes on offer. With the vulva display still firmly etched on my mind, I chose to skip the womb sound healing workshop, although it was extremely popular.
For me, anxiety is my worst menopausal symptom, so I was delighted instead to pick up some tips about how to help manage it from one of the workshops I popped into.
Menopause weight gain, low libido, insomnia and hair loss, whatever your symptom, every issue was covered with talks from many wellbeing providers, including slimming clinics and medical professionals.
Of all the events on offer, one particularly caught my eye; the “sex talk with Sinitta” – the former 80s pop star. In a bid to support women over 50, Sinitta touched upon her new Sin’s Angel venture that aims to bring women over 50 together in a members community.
I applauded her words about why women are not dead from the waist down at 50. As did everyone who had managed to grab a seat at the talk.
Sinitta’s new venture wanted to bring women together (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
Comedian Jenny Éclair also offered up words of wisdom (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
Another celebrity offering words of wisdom was the comedian Jenny Éclair, who talked about life after 60. I was unable to attend it as I had been booked in for a WOW facial (one of many stands promoting their anti-ageing devices), but could hear the chuckles of laughter from the audience.
And that’s the thing; despite this event being tagged as one to help beat the menopause blues, there was so much joy and laughter here, just being together in a room full of women was uplifting in itself.
My personal highlights of the day were the ladies I met in the toilet. With this being a menopause event, I have never seen so many women in one toilet area and as we queued it was interesting to hear other people’s stories.
One 52-year-old lady with breast cancer told me how she had been struggling to get time with her GP and the menopause in cancer workshop at the event was the help she had needed for so long.
Another had lost all her confidence having had a negative experience at work where a male boss had reprimanded her for forgetting things – something she now understands was brain fog.
Having booked in for the menopause in the workplace class she told me she learnt so much and most importantly, that she wasn’t alone.
The menopause in the workplace class showed we’re not alone (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
And another lady who had travelled from Manchester to the event had been struggling with hair loss due to the menopause.
This event had given her an opportunity to meet with doctors, hair specialists and discover products aimed at hair loss. And on that note, I take my hat off to the organisers of Pause Live! who provided such an excellent menopause roadshow.
On my way out I came across the founder of the Perimenopause Hub – a community helping women get support and advice to navigate the menopause. She was stood there with a sign saying free hugs.
And you know what, I took one and felt the warm embrace summed up the day.
To find out how to attend the next event visit PauseLive!
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From menopause influencers to a giant vulva – could this help a 50-year old woman on HRT like me?