South Cumbria support group Menopause Matters is hosting a free online public forum via Microsoft Teams to examine midlife pain and perimenopause, aligning with International Menopause Society global awareness efforts.
World Menopause Day Spotlights Midlife Pain
Midlife health discussions often center on hot flushes and hormone replacement therapy, but everyday discomfort occupies a much larger space for many women. The International Menopause Society designated chronic pain at midlife as the official theme for World Menopause Day 2026.
Data from the organization shows that nearly three in four women experience joint or muscle pain during perimenopause. At the same time, women face up to a 70 per cent higher likelihood of developing chronic pain overall compared to men, an issue that remains under-recognised across both research and clinical care.
The South Cumbria organization Menopause Matters stepped into that gap by scheduling a special online forum called Midlife, Menopause & Pain: An Open Conversation. The digital session runs via Microsoft Teams, offering an accessible space for participants to connect.
Inside the Online Forum Format
Organizers structured the gathering as an open dialogue rather than a traditional webinar or expert panel. Attendees can listen in quietly, ask questions, or share their own experiences without any pressure to speak.
The roster of participants brings together multiple professional viewpoints and lived experiences. The session features a South Lakes general practitioner, a pelvic-health physiotherapist, a public health professional, Flippin’ Pain Painfluencers, menopause support group facilitators, and individuals managing persistent pain.
What we’ve seen through the menopause cafe is that women’s experiences don’t fit neatly into boxes. We might start with menopause and very quickly find ourselves talking about pain, sleep, mental health, stress or neurodiversity. No one person on this call has all the answers. That is exactly why we’re bringing different perspectives together.
Leigh Williams, facilitator of Menopause Matters and founder of Thrive Health
Monthly cafe-style drop-ins held in Barrow-in-Furness by the group have consistently revealed that midlife health concerns overflow standard categories. Participants regularly raise issues concerning sleep disruption, mood changes, nutrition, neurodiversity, and persistent musculoskeletal aches that mimic fibromyalgia.
Rethinking Pain Science in Midlife
For founder Leigh Williams, the initiative stems from personal encounters with perimenopause and persistent discomfort.
I know what it feels like when pain starts to shrink your world. For a long time, I understood pain in the way many of us do – if something hurts badly, there must be damage somewhere in the body causing it.
Leigh Williams, founder of Thrive Health and facilitator of Menopause Matters
That understanding forms a central pillar of the discussion. The 2026 International Menopause Society White Paper notes that roughly half of women in midlife experience chronic pain, often accompanied by overlapping conditions such as migraines, chronic pelvic pain, and fibromyalgia. Discussions often focus on mechanisms like central sensitisation, where the nervous system becomes increasingly sensitive and amplifies pain signals, even after an injury has healed.
Organizers emphasize that unpacking these biological and social factors aims to validate symptoms rather than dismiss them.
Support and Community Access Across Cumbria
The digital forum welcomes anyone navigating midlife health changes, alongside family members, health and care professionals, and community support workers. Local organizers hope the outreach helps break a cycle where individuals endure discomfort for extended periods.
Regular drop-in sessions and online events provide a vital outlet for individuals who find few places to discuss these transitions openly. As Williams noted, symptoms can persist across a decade, making accessible community support essential for overall well-being.