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Two women who saw the need for a space to help people with menopause are to launch the first venture of its kind in the area.

Claire Gurling and Rachel Fowler teamed up just weeks ago after connecting with a charity who set up a network of ‘Menopause Cafes’ across the world.

Open to all, the charity provides a confidential space for people to eat cake, drink tea and discuss menopause-related problems, personal experiences and beyond.

Next week the pair will launch their own Menopause Cafe in Gosport charged by a dream to help women who, like them, suffered turbulent times going through the menopause.

The Menopanuse Cafe, Gosport Discovery Centre, Gosport will be opening on Saturday the 3rd September.

Pictured: Founders Claire Gurling and Rachel Fowler outside Gosport Discovery Centre, Gosport.

Picture: Habibur Rahman — The Menopanuse Cafe, Gosport Discovery Centre, Gosport will be opening on Saturday the 3rd September. Pictured: Founders Claire Gurling and Rachel Fowler outside Gosport Discovery Centre, Gosport. Picture: Habibur Rahman

The group will also extend a hand to men wanting to know how to deal with their partner’s symptoms, while raising awareness of ways women can support one another through remedies and advice.

Former intensive care nurse, Rachel, had to have a hysterectomy after she was misdiagnosed with endometriosis and often found herself ‘passing out’ at work.

She says: ‘I’ve been through menopause myself early. I had to have a hysterectomy. The nurse in me thought, “someone needs to support these women because they can think they're going crazy”.

‘It became apparent through friends that there's a lack of knowledge and support for women in perimenopause and menopause.

‘There's a lack of knowledge of existence of perimenopause [the transitional time around menopause] and trying to talk to a GP. A lot of friends have come up against a brick wall.

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‘I thought, “this is ridiculous. What is there out there to support women? This is a key area and I want to help people”.’

Claire, the owner of a removal company, was forced to give up work for a year as a result of her menopause. For a year, she says she ‘mentally stopped’ after a lack of support for menopause from her GP, combined with relationships breakdowns.

‘I’m now 45 – it can happen at any age,’ she explains.

‘I'm a Gosport girl and this has really affected me passionately.

‘I had a real long struggle. From this and having to go privately when you don't get support from your doctor and then having to think, “what would I do to make this better”?’

‘When I rebooted, my first thing was trying to get the Menopause Cafe.

‘I then met Rachel through another friend who said we are very similar people. It’s gone from there, really.’

Gosport women to launch first Menopause Café in area propelled by their own struggles