Local author writes a book on menopause

Menopause is something not a lot of people cannot define or understand.

Xoli KaMadlala has written a book explaining and simplifying menopause to the general public.

She experienced premature menopause in her early thirties and that was the beginning of the journey of writing the book.

This is KaMadlala’s first book and it is titled The Perimenopausal Globetrotter.

The title is inspired by her experience with menopause and her career as an air hostess.

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On introspection, she concluded that she went through premature menopause so that she could raise awareness, combat taboos, and deal with the shame and stigma through her lived experience.

Sharing the experience from her own journey, she’s set to unmask premature menopause, while sharing thoughts on mental health, navigating relationships and nuances of showing up at work.

In the book, Madlala lets readers in on co-existing with this “elephant” that is often explored in private spaces within the African context.

“I posted on Facebook about what I was going experiencing.

“At first, people didn’t engage on my posts, then I started approaching menopause from a mental health perspective and only then the engagement improved and other people shared their experiences,” she said.

She added that now people engage more with her posts on Facebook.

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KaMadlala’s approach to menopause is based on science, her experience and other people’s experience.

She feels it is important for children to also be educated about menopause. She would like the Department of Education to include menopause education in the school curriculum as this will stop it from being a taboo topic.

The book is not only aimed at women but also men.

“It is important for men to understand menopause because they co-exist with women. Understanding what women are going through will help men be more tolerant, compassionate and understanding,” she said.

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The book was launched on October 1 at Gratitude Restaurant in Modderfontein.

The launch was packed with Madlala’s family, friends and former colleagues.

The Kempton Express caught up with one of Madlala’s longtime friends, Molwela Tshepiso Ntsime.

“I met her in 2004 when we started working together at SAA. It didn’t start as a book per se, because she was going through a life experience.

“Only later in life it became clear that this was one of the challenges she had to go through with her condition so that she can pen it down and make it to be a testimony for others facing menopause,” he said.

He said he regards himself as her brother and he hopes the book becomes a worldwide success.

“My wish is for her to remain humble as she has always been, to remain driven and always remember to put God first,” he said.

For enquiries on the book, please contact xolimadlala76@gmail.com