Analysis: The introduction of free HRT shows that the menopause is not just a medical issue, but one affecting health, work and quality of life
By Lee-Ann Burke and Tanya Mulcahy, UCC, and Clare Cromwell, Menopause Society of Ireland
In May 2021, something remarkable happened on Irish radio. Joe Duffy's Liveline radio show devoted programme after programme to the menopause. Women from across the country rang in to share experiences that many had never previously discussed publicly. They spoke about hot flushes, anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, exhaustion, suicidal thoughts, workplace challenges and difficulties accessing treatment.
The floodgates opened and the response was extraordinary. What began as a single programme became several days of discussion as phone lines filled with women eager to tell their stories. For many listeners, it was the first time menopause had been discussed openly on a national platform. Women were being heard.
The programmes revealed something important. Menopause was not a niche issue affecting a small minority of women. It was a common experience that had remained largely invisible in public discourse.