East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson yesterday led a debate in the Scottish Parliament calling on the stigma around the menopause to be ended.
She also called for greater support to be provided for around 400,000 women across Scotland who are affected by it.
Ms Stevenson told Holyrood that the menopause continues to be stigmatised and employers should provide flexibility for employees suffering from the effects of the condition, such as memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, palpitations, hot flushes and pain.
The SNP MSP highlighted that South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) became the first local authority in Scotland to implement such flexibility.
The Scottish Government recently launched its Women’s Health Plan which looks to ensure women can access specialist menopause services. A campaign is also to be launched to remove the stigma and raise awareness of the symptoms.
Ms Stevenson told Lanarkshire Live : “Ending stigma around menopause is something I am very passionate about.
"In my time on SLC, I was instrumental in implementing the Menopause in The Workplace policy and I hope other workplaces and local authorities can follow suit.
“The Women’s Health Plan is a welcome development in ensuring that women can access the treatment and support they need, and there is lots of updated advice on the NHS Inform website.
“The plan also commits to developing a menopause and menstrual health workplace policy, and promoting it across the public, private and third sector.
“Support available continues to improve, but the stigma must end. Women’s health should be a subject we can broach without fear or flux. I hope this debate will help raise awareness and keep the conversation going.”
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