“Menopause Never Saw Us Coming”: How my meno is Transforming Menopause Care

“I knew I couldn’t be the only woman this was happening to.” We chat with Hannah Salama, whose own experience with healthcare professionals during perimenopause inspired her to create my meno, a service dedicated to supporting women through their menopause journey.

Menopause is a significant life stage that every woman will experience, yet it’s often met with confusion, frustration, and a lack of proper support.

This is where my meno steps in – with clinics across the north of England designed to provide personalised care and guidance for women during their menopause journey.

Founded by senior nurses specialising in women’s healthcare, Hannah Salama and Clare McKenna, my meno was inspired by their own experiences and a passion for helping other women navigate this often misunderstood phase of life.

“Menopause lasts eight to ten years for most women—that’s too long to suffer in silence.”

Hannah’s personal experience with early perimenopause was the driving force behind my meno. “I started going through perimenopause at 40, which is relatively young,” she explains. “I had some nasty symptoms—anxiety, sleeplessness, hot sweats, and this horrible sense of not being able to cope with life.”

As a nurse, she had the knowledge to suspect it might be perimenopause, but when she turned to her GP, her concerns were dismissed. “The only question he asked me was if my periods were still regular. He diagnosed me with depression and offered antidepressants, but I knew depression wasn’t causing my symptoms.” Determined to find the right solution, Hannah saw a private doctor, who, after a consultation and bloodwork, prescribed hormone therapy.

“Within three to four weeks, I felt completely different,” she recalls. “As the symptoms withdrew and I began to feel like myself again, I realised how wrong it was that my GP had dismissed me so easily.”

This experience led Hannah to a powerful realisation: “I knew I couldn’t be the only woman this was happening to. The service I received was completely substandard. I understand the pressures on the NHS, but it’s just not good enough for women to be neglected at such an important stage of life. Menopause lasts eight to ten years for most women—that’s too long to suffer in silence.”

“Our symptoms can affect our marriages, friendships, and careers”

Hannah and Clare began having deeper conversations with the women around them and found that many were suffering in silence, unsure of where to turn. “There was this perception that they just had to get on with it and not bother anyone,” Hannah explains. From these conversations, my meno was born in 2022—a service designed to ensure that women no longer have to endure menopause alone.

“We wanted to get the message out that you don’t have to just get on with it,” says Hannah. “There is help out there; you just need to know how to access it.”

One of the most common challenges women face is understanding their symptoms. While changing periods can be a clear sign of perimenopause, many women, like Hannah, don’t experience immediate changes in their cycle. “It can be a prolonged change, and it creeps up on a lot of women. They might feel anxious or lose confidence, but they attribute it to other things—like their children leaving home or going through a divorce.”

“we guide women through the choices so they can decide what’s best for them.”

my meno offers a holistic approach to menopause care, starting with an hour-long consultation. “We discuss symptoms with a medical professional, and from there, we develop a personalised treatment plan,” Hannah explains. A blood test helps identify hormonal imbalances and other health factors that may be contributing to the symptoms, and treatment options are tailored to the individual.

“Once we’ve analysed the blood results, we discuss treatment options. That might be a prescription of HRT, which is a synthetic hormone available on the NHS, or bio-identical hormones, which are non-synthetic and personalised but not yet available through the NHS. Both options have their benefits, and we guide women through the choices so they can decide what’s best for them.”

But my meno is about more than just prescribing hormones. “It’s not always as simple as taking a pill,” Hannah emphasises. “We also offer lifestyle advice, and if needed, we refer women to specialists like dieticians, nutritionists, or life coaches. It’s a holistic approach because we all have different symptoms, hormones, and lives—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.”

For many women, menopause impacts all areas of life—from work to relationships to self-confidence. “Our symptoms can affect our marriages, friendships, and careers,” says Hannah. “When hormones are imbalanced, and women don’t feel heard, it can negatively impact so much. But the feedback we’ve received has been amazing. Women tell us how relieved they are to be understood and how transformative it is to realise that what they’re feeling is normal and treatable.”

“The whole journey of menopause can be empowering”

At its core, my meno is about changing the way we view menopause—shifting the narrative from one of stigma and silence to one of empowerment and support. “The whole journey of menopause can be empowering and enlightening, rather than something to dread or stay silent about,” says Hannah. This mission extends beyond personal healthcare; Hannah and Clare are also working to create broader societal change by partnering with businesses. By offering on-site consultations, educational workshops, and guidance on implementing menopause-friendly policies, my meno is fostering a more supportive environment for women in the workplace, ensuring they are not only understood but championed throughout this critical stage of life.

If you’re ready to take control of your menopause journey and get the support you deserve, visit mymeno.com to learn how my meno can help you embrace this transformative stage of life.

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