Dalene
“What's really important for me is that women understand that they don't have to suffer.”
Sharon
“I am hoping by talking about [perimenopause and menopause] and making it common language, that we [will] have the words to talk to our GPs, to talk to our friends.”
Rachel
“We deserve to be as happy as we possibly can. And I really think that perimenopausal and menopausal healthcare helps us achieve that.”
Amanda
“If you find [a doctor] who hears what you're saying and is willing to work with you to find something that is going to help, it can be life changing.”
Amrita
“Every person's symptoms are different and every person's healing is different. Do your own research, talk to your GP, listen to your body and do what you can.”
Karen
“Laugh when you can. Now when I speak with other women who are experiencing this stage of life themselves, I try to find humour in it and use that to help normalise and make others feel a little less alone.”
Amanda
“Listen to your body and seek support if you need it. Be open to information.”
Abby
“Along with my sister and my friends, I blamed symptoms of perimenopause on a range of different things.”
Azza
“We all have to go through it but it’s also strangely somehow empowering because we still need to show up, and I still show up as a leader at work, I still show up as Mum, and I still show up as a wife.”
Bec
“I’m not going into this lying down. I want the story of menopause to be one of empowerment – I’m just not going to be beaten by it.”
Claire
“Talk to people. Reach out and get help and support you need. Friends can be the biggest help – just have that woman time.”
Gracie
“Reach out – let your family and friends know exactly what you’re going through. Don’t just suck it up. It doesn’t define you.”
Jasmine
“It was hard to distinguish whether what I was experiencing was just from working in a high stress business or [perimenopause] symptoms.”
Tania
“If you don’t like the way you feel, go and see a doctor. And if you feel like your concerns are being dismissed, it might be worth seeking another opinion.”
Rhonda
“As First Nations women, our voices and experiences—especially around health—are not always spoken about openly. I believe in breaking that silence, supporting one another, and normalising conversations about menopause so that other women feel informed, empowered, and not alone in their journey.”
Angela
“It is a rite of passage. And there's no single, right way to manage it. Be your own advocate and find what works for you.”
Mel
“It took me a couple of years to get some kind of traction. How many other people are going to have the same experience? So don't be afraid push the point with your GP.”
Leanne
“You're not alone and others have gone before you and there's a whole sisterhood out there that are going through it.”
Natalie
“It was a sense that things aren’t quite right and not feeling 100%, but without knowing why. There are just funny things that you realise are related, especially when you talk to other women.”
Meg
“It is not an old lady thing! You can get help and support – don’t wait around.”
Simar
“Just stay calm, stay cool, we are going through this together as women.”