GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE From the clinic into the home using an app that tracks symptoms across stages
With
Dr Nicole Avard,
Co-founder & Medical Director
Metluma
Georgie Drury,
Co-founder and CEO
Metluma
FULL CIRCLE DIGITAL HEALTH SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | May 2026
Nearly half of women seeking help for menopause symptoms are already experiencing clinically significant distress by the time they ask for support, according to a recent national benchmark report released by Metluma.
The 2026 Australian Menopause Experience Report, based on insights from 1,468 women using Metluma’s UMA40 assessment tool, found 43% triggered at least one clinical red flag at baseline (referral to a doctor within 24-48 hours), with more than one in five presenting with multiple red flags linked to more complex symptom burden.
The findings paint a stark picture of menopause being recognised too late, with many women arriving already exhausted, mentally depleted and struggling to function across work, relationships and daily life.
Metluma’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Nicole Avard said the report exposes how often menopause is still misunderstood, minimised or mistaken for unrelated problems.
“Too many women are being told they are stressed, burnt out, anxious or simply not coping, when menopause may be sitting at the centre of it all,” Dr Avard said.
“This is not a niche issue. It is affecting women’s health, confidence, relationships, careers and economic participation.”
The report found menopause symptoms are colliding with women’s highest-responsibility years.
Poor concentration peaked among women aged 40 to 44, often a life stage associated with career progression, leadership pressure and caregiving load. Work (30.4%) and primary relationships (31.1%) were the areas of life most commonly reported as impacted.
CEO and Co-founder of Metluma, Georgie Drury said menopause remains one of Australia’s most underestimated productivity and wellbeing issues.
“For many women, this is happening while they are leading teams, raising families, caring for others and carrying peak responsibility,” Ms Drury said.
The report also found menopause stage was a stronger predictor of symptoms than age alone, with 77.8% of symptoms varying significantly by stage, challenging simplistic age-based assumptions about when menopause starts and ends, prompting a call by experts to update guidelines to consider this crucial aspect.
Dr Avard said that whilst awareness around perimenopause and menopause had increased following the Senate inquiry last year, there are still major gaps that women are falling through as highlighted in this this year’s report.
Source: Adapted from Metluma media release May 2026
-
Exercise Physiologists flex and grow at national conference in Adelaide
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) this week in Adelaide convened the Activate Conference billed as “where science meets inspiration”, bringing together the latest research, breakthrough ideas and real-world applications from across exercise and sports science.
-
Pharmacist Prescribing Model gets further support from state health
A full scope pharmacist prescriber model allows pharmacists to independently prescribe medicines within their professional competence, without requiring prior doctor authorisation. It extends pharmacists’ role beyond dispensing to include assessment, diagnosis of minor and chronic conditions, initiation and modification of therapy, and ongoing patient monitoring. This model integrates pharmacists into primary care teams, aiming to improve timely access to treatment, reduce pressure on general practitioners, and enhance continuity of care. Pharmacists use their clinical knowledge, patient records, and collaborative pathways to ensure safe prescribing. The model emphasises training, regulation, and accountability to maintain high standards of patient safety.
-
Health Minister appoints Chair to National One Stop Shop Program
The Australian Government has appointed Emeritus Professor Ian Chubb AC, FAA FTSE to lead key reforms as Chair of the Inter-Governmental Policy Reform Group (IGPRG) for health and medical research, including clinical trials.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Mark Butler MP on the selection and appointment said, “Professor Chubb has dedicated his career to improving health and medical research and education in this county and I am pleased he has agreed to share his knowledge and experience through the IGPRG.
