By Member for Forde Rowan Holzberger
At just 39, Loganholme author Therese Zuanetti entered menopause, but it took years before she fully understood what was happening.
Her memoir, How Menopause F***ed Up My Life, draws on her lived experience of confusion, mental health challenges and the feeling of losing herself.
By sharing that journey openly, she hopes other women facing similar experiences will feel less alone.
That is what makes her upcoming book launch such an important community event.
For many women, hearing Therese’s story may be the first time they recognise symptoms in themselves, realise support is available, or feel comfortable having a conversation with their GP, family or friends.
The timing is significant because women’s health, and menopause in particular, is finally receiving the national attention it deserves.
The Federal Government has introduced Medicare-funded menopause health assessments, funded additional training for health professionals, developed national clinical guidance and supported awareness initiatives to help women access reliable information and care.
Practical support has also improved. The first new menopausal hormone therapies to be listed on the PBS in more than 20 years, including Estrogel®, Prometrium® and Estrogel® Pro, are helping make treatment more affordable for 520,000 Australian women.
Women in Logan can also access specialist support through the federally funded Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic at Oxley, which now provides perimenopause and menopause care.
Similar federally funded services are available at Toowong in Brisbane and Benowa on the Gold Coast, helping ensure women across south-east Queensland can access specialised support closer to home.
Sometimes meaningful change begins with one person being willing to tell their story.
By doing so, Therese is helping ensure fewer women face menopause feeling unheard, unsupported or alone.
Community members are invited to attend the launch of How Menopause F***ed Up My Life on from 11.30am-1.30pm on Thursday 22 October at The Sporting Globe at Loganholme.
The event will also raise funds for Beyond Blue.
Learning more about perimenopause and menopause, including symptoms, management and treatment options, can help you feel prepared. Visit: www.health.gov.au/perimenopause
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