Perimenopause and Menopause Support for Women in Reading
Women Experiencing Perimenopause or Menopause
We were created for women and our doors are open to all. Whether you are in the early stages of perimenopause and still trying to make sense of what's happening in your body, or you are further along in your menopause journey and looking for community and connection, you are welcome here.
The menopause transition typically begins in a woman's late 30s to mid 40s, though every woman’s experience is different. Perimenopause can start earlier or later depending on individual factors. Symptoms can include irregular periods, hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance, anxiety, low mood, brain fog, and changes to memory and concentration.
If you are experiencing any of these changes, or simply want to understand more about what to expect, CHC Menopause Café is here to help. You don't need a diagnosis. You don't need to know exactly where you are in the process. You just need to show up.
Support for Women Experiencing Anxiety, Low Mood, and Emotional Changes
The emotional and psychological impact of menopause is often underestimated, even by women experiencing it. Anxiety, low mood, irritability, loss of confidence, and a sense of lost identity are all common during this transition but are frequently misunderstood or misattributed to other causes.
CHC Menopause Café provides a space where women can talk openly about the emotional side of menopause without feeling they are making a fuss. We are not a mental health service and we always encourage women who are significantly struggling to seek professional support. But we can offer community, connection, and the reassurance that what you are experiencing is understood and taken seriously.
Menopause Support for Women From Diverse and Underserved Communities in Reading
Reading is a richly diverse town and we are committed to ensuring menopause support is accessible to all its women. For women from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities, menopause can carry additional challenges. Cultural expectations around silence, a lack of culturally sensitive healthcare, and the compounding effects of health inequalities can all make it harder to access support. We are working actively to reach these communities and create spaces where every woman feels genuinely seen and heard.
Organisations and Professionals We also work with organisations, employers, and health and wellbeing professionals who want to better understand menopause and its impact. If you are a GP, practice nurse, social prescriber, HR professional, or charity worker looking for menopause awareness support or collaboration, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Work With Us page or get in touch directly.
What We Set Out to Build
From the beginning our vision was simple. A community space where any woman in Reading, regardless of her background, her culture, or her circumstance, could walk through the door and feel immediately welcome.
A space where menopause could be discussed openly and honestly. Where no question was too small, no experience too unusual, and no woman was made to feel that what she was going through was unimportant. A space grounded not in clinical detachment, but in lived experience, warmth, and genuine human connection.
Where We Are Now CHC Menopause Café CIC is preparing to open its doors to women across Reading. Our sessions are designed to be accessible, inclusive, and genuinely supportive, and our commitment to serving underserved communities remains at the very heart of everything we do.
We are a small organisation with big ambitions, and every step we take is driven by the women we exist to serve.
