DAWN BUTLER, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, has backed the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign.

Butler attended the drop-in event in Parliament to show her support for the campaign, which was organised by the Women’s Health All-Party Parliamentary Group and Diane Danzebrink, a menopause counsellor and activist.

The campaign has three aims:

1.            To ensure mandatory menopause training for all GP’s

2.            To ensure menopause guidance in every workplace

3.            To see menopause on the new RSE curriculum – achieved July

World Menopause Day is observed every year on October 18 around the globe to raise awareness of the impact menopause can have on women’s everyday lives.

Dawn Butler, MP for Brent Central, said: “I am pleased to support this vital campaign and its aims – because menopause does matter. I pay tribute to Diane Danzebrink and the Women’s Health APPG for the fantastic work they are doing to ensure that all women who are going through it receive the support they deserve.

“And as Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities I was delighted to announce last month that the next Labour Government will require large employers to have a menopause workplace policy – including training, flexible working policies, sickness absence procedures & risk assessments.

“This important policy will shift the focus on to the employer to implement workplace policies to protect women going through the menopause, and it is part of our campaign to transform the workplace for women.”

Key facts from the #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign:

•             Every woman will experience menopause

•             The average age of menopause is 51

•             Symptoms usually occur between the ages of 45-55

•             On average symptoms last between 4-8 years

•             3 out of 4 women will experience symptoms

•             62% say symptoms have a detrimental effect on their lives

To support the campaign, people can visit: www.menopausesupport.co.uk