The NETWORK Shines Light on Menstrual Health, (Peri)Menopause in Workplace

On Wednesday 15 January 2025, Luxembourg-based international professional women's association The NETWORK kicked off the new year with an event dedicated to menstrual health, perimenopause and menopause.

About 30 women attended this informative evening event (although it was also open to men), which focused on "Breaking the Silence at the Workplace" around these topics. The venue was Silversquare Liberté in Luxembourg-Gare.

The speakers took attendees on a journey through women's menstrual health and (peri)menopause, helping to break the stigma and equip them with knowledge and practical tools.

The speakers were: Carrie Cannon, health coach, nurse and co-founder and President of Think Pink Luxembourg; Iryna Sagaidak, pain therapist, practitioner and entrepreneur; Victoria Honey, perimenopause empowerment specialist; Diane Elsen, certified menopause coaching specialist.

They each shared their own personal experiences and tips, with Carrie Cannon and Iryna Sagaidak first shining a light on the menstrual cycle and menstrual health. Carrie highlighted that certain things may be common (e.g. painful periods) but not necessarily normal, and should be checked by a medical professional. Iryna also touched on period pain and what this (or any other pain) might tell one about one's body; she looked at this from a holistic perspective. She recalled that pain is not bad in itself, but rather a signal to pay attention to something. Carrie noted there are different ways of managing one's symptoms (depending on the cause), from pain management and nutrition to hormonal birth control. Above all, women should be advocating for themselves and willing to ask for help.

Victoria Honey then delved into the rollercoaster ride that can be perimenopause and how it impacts women in their personal and professional lives. She noted the impact of hormones dropping and the various symptoms associated with this life stage. She emphasised the need to prioritise one's health even before perimenopause and the need for sleep, as well as the importance of dialogue and advocating for one's own health. One of the suggestions was to have a (peri)menopause "champion" or advocate in the workplace. Some techniques Victoria found helpful were "brain dumping" first thing in the morning (e.g. in case of brain fog) and colour coding tasks according to priority level. She stressed that life is not over when perimenopause hits.

Diane Elsen moved onto life after perimenopause, i.e. menopause "and beyond". She noted that every woman's experience is different. She highlighted the "groundbreaking" work of neuroscientist Dr Lisa Mosconi who has explored the impact of menopause on the brain (not just the ovaries). She optimistically noted that there is also "room for new beginnings" after hitting menopause, while also stressing the importance of nutrition (protein and fibre), physical activity, quality sleep, having a strong community and a trusted medical team during this life stage. She and her fellow speakers emphasised the importance of informing and advocating for oneself.

There were a lot of nods from the audience with whom these experiences appeared to resonate. Attendees could also share their own experiences by answering questions on the Slido Q&A polling platform to create a word cloud (words to describe their first period, etc.).

The lively discussions continued during the networking reception over finger food and drinks.