Today, UCL have announced plans for the UK’s first menopause education programme. This innovative education and support programme was developed with the support of prominent women’s health charities and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and aims to provide comprehensive support to women and people nationwide who are navigating menopause.
The National Menopause Education and Support Programme will be led by Professor Joyce Harper (UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health), Dr Shema Tariq (UCL Institute for Global Health) and Dr Nicky Keay (UCL Medicine). It is in partnership with Wellbeing of Women and Sophia Forum. The programme also has the support of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and British Menopause Society (BMS).
Recent research by Professor Harper has shown that more than 90% of women were never educated about the menopause at school. Furthermore, over 60% only started looking for information about menopause once they began to experience menopausal symptoms. The new programme is anticipated to empower women reaching menopausal age to gain greater understanding of the changes that are happening in their bodies.
The programme will consist of a course spread over several weeks where women will receive independent, up-to-date and evidence-based menopause education, covering areas such as symptoms and treatments. This will be delivered by trained healthcare professionals. An important element of this new programme will be building connections with other women going through similar experiences, to develop local networks of support.
Mrs Geeta Kumar, Vice President for Clinical Quality at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
“Ensuring women’s access to reliable and accurate education and information is of paramount importance. By equipping them with knowledge about the spectrum of symptoms and treatments for managing menopause, we will help empower women to make informed decisions about their health. We welcome the programme and look forward to observing the outcomes and transformative influence it can bring to women’s lives.”
- To find out more about menopause, visit our patient information here.