For years, Victoria’s Bryn Meadows and Dr. Tracy Wayne (Rodgers) were routinely sharing the same conversations about mental health, hormones and menopause.
Meadows, a registered counsellor, and Wayne (Rodgers), an OBGYN, noticed that women who were experiencing perimenopause and menopause also began to struggle more in their professional and personal lives. At the same time, they also noticed an uptick in women DIYing their healthcare online and through social media.
“They’re going on Facebook groups and trying to figure out what their symptoms are,” Meadows says, noting that for generations, menopause had been a taboo topic, which created a disconnect between women and the healthcare industry. “They’re also talking about feeling dismissed when they want to review their symptoms with their doctor.”
This gap in finding valid, compassionate information was a driving force behind a brand new event for Victoria: Menopalooza, coming to the Union Club Sept. 27 and 28.
“The idea for the conference hit like a bolt of lightning – we want to have a Gen X menopause movement here because we’re doing it differently in this generation,” Meadows says. “We want it to be different for the women before us who didn’t have the information or the opportunity to ask their questions, and for the women coming up after us – we want them to be informed about what’s coming.”
At the same time, learning can be fun – lots of fun!
As the organizers note at menopolooza.com, “We were the feral, Latch Key Kids of the '80s, raised on TV, microwave burritos and pure unsupervised chaos…Now here we are- middle-aged, magnificent and careening through perimenopause with the same level of adult supervision we had in junior high: absolutely none.
“Menopolooza is the rallying cry for Gen X women who’ve always had to figure it out alone, our message is: we are not alone and we’re not going to take it anymore.”
What to expect (Hint: Science, sex, swag and more)
Bringing all those previously taboo topics out in the open, Menopalooza explores the weird and wonderful changes that happen to our bodies during perimenopause and menopause.
You’ll hear speakers from a variety of backgrounds and professional disciplines who’ll share what women need to know as they navigate their menopause journey – specialists in OBGYN menopause, naturopathy, registered massage therapists, pelvic floor physiotherapists and registered dietitians, ready to answer to all those burning questions.
“We’re going to have panels that talk about mental health and about myths. We’re going to talk about sex. We’re going to talk about shame. We’re going to talk about grief,” Meadows says.
What you need to know
Menopalooza is at the Union Club in downtown Victoria Sept. 27 and 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tickets are $275 for two full days of menopause education, buffet lunch catered by the Union Club, refreshments and a carefully curated swag bag full of treats and surprises.
Learn more, and get ready to explore all things menopause at menopalooza.com.