Menopause will affect most women at some stage of their life, yet the stigma remains.
This World Menopause Day, I encourage women to take charge of your health and arm yourself with trustworthy information.
The day seeks to raise awareness of menopause and support options available for improving women's health and wellbeing. This year's theme is 'Menopause hormone therapy'.
There is a lot of misinformation online and in the public sphere about perimenopause or menopause, particularly in relation treatments available.
To make it easier to navigate, the NSW Government has put together the Perimenopause and Menopause Toolkit - a one-stop-shop for credible information about menopause - https://www.nsw.gov.au/women-nsw/toolkits-and-resources/perimenopause-and-menopause-toolkit
The website includes a menopause symptom checklist (translated and easy-read versions available), 10 podcasts with experts, and 2-minute explainers to help you understand the symptoms.
It also includes links to sources women can go to for further support, such as the Australasian Menopause Society.
Women have identified menopause as a top health issue. While 85% of women experience symptoms of menopause, there is still limited discussion about their impact or treatments, making women less likely to seek help.
Menopause management can be complex.
Your relationship with your GP is vital as you are going through perimenopause or menopause.
GPs have been and continue to be a trusted first point of contact for people experiencing symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
For more complex symptoms, your GP can refer you to a specialist or a Menopause Hub, which can help women with complex menopausal symptoms and the associated health risks of menopause.
We must break down the barriers causing women to suffer in silence, not seek help and withdraw from work or social engagements.
The more women know and speak about their menopause experience, the more we normalise it. Sharing knowledge can help break the silence and challenge taboos, and ultimately improve women's health and wellbeing.
