Your Journey. Your Choice.
Supporting women through every stage of menopause
Australia’s first dedicated Telehealth menopause clinic, and specifically created by women, for women.
Signs and Symptoms of Menopause
Why do we experience hot flashes and night sweats during the menopausal transition, and how can we alleviate them?
Hot flushes can be one of the most distressing symptoms of the menopausal transition. Most women will experience them to some extent, and around 20% have moderate to severe symptoms (also called vasomotor symptoms, or VMS).
What Do Hot Flushes Feel Like?
The sensation of a flush varies, but typically includes:
- A sudden wave of heat through the body
- Sweating (sometimes drenching)
- Red or flushed skin
- Increased heart rate
- Feelings of anxiety or restlessness
- Tingling in the hands or feet
They can happen at any time – during the day or at night (known as night sweats) – and often disrupt sleep.
What Causes Hot Flushes?
Hormonal changes during perimenopause affect the brain’s temperature regulation. While the exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, it’s believed that:
- Some women have a narrower tolerance for body temperature shifts
- Triggers include: hot drinks, spicy food, warm environments, stress, and alcohol
What Can Help?
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT):
- The most effective treatment for hot flushes
- Helps smooth out hormonal fluctuations
- Modern studies support its safety and effectiveness for most women
- Women with a uterus need combined HRT
Non-Hormonal Options:
- Certain antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications can reduce flushes by ~50%
- These may suit women who can’t or choose not to use HRT
Complementary Therapies:
- Herbal or natural remedies may help some women
- Evidence is limited – seek reliable advice before trying
If you are struggling with hot flushes and night sweats, the first port of call should be a discussion with your GP. If you can’t find a menopause-informed GP, book in for a comprehensive Telehealth assessment with on of WellFemme’s expert menopause GP’s.
Women often notice worsening irritability, anxiety and depression at perimenopause. What can we do about it?
Perimenopause is a time of increased risk for the development of mood symptoms including anxiety and depression. Hormonal fluctuations around perimenopause can definitely be a contributor but they usually aren’t the only cause. Other contributing factors can include:
- A history of mental health disorders, eg. postnatal depression, previous anxiety
- Family or relationship problems
- Caring for ageing parents or high-needs family members
- Work stress
- Poor physical health, chronic pain or disease
- Lack of exercise
- No time for self-caring and reflection
- Other significant perimenopausal symptoms, like hot flushes
- Drug and alcohol dependence
- Negative perceptions of ageing, eg. body image and sexuality
- “Empty nest” grief
- A perceived lack of purpose or meaning in life
Treatment Options
It is difficult to separate out all the possible causes of a woman’s mood symptoms, therefore effective treatment demands a wholistic approach. All the contributing factors need to be considered and addressed. The treatment plan may include:
- Counselling or psychological therapies
- Relationship or sexual counselling
- Online education and electronic resources
- Meditation, mindfulness, relaxation therapy
- Exercise
- Treatment of other medical issues
- Improved diet
- Development of hobbies and other meaningful activities
- Medication, which may include hormonal treatments
Your GP can help guide you to an understanding of your particular issues and connect you with the resources you need to treat them. In some cases it may be possible to treat hot flushes and mood symptoms at the same time with a single medication.
Can’t find the professional help you need to treat your menopausal symptoms? Book a Telehealth menopause consultation with a female WellFemme menopause doctor.
Sleep problems at perimenopause are very common and distressing.
Up to 60% of women experience sleep problems during the menopausal transition – from trouble falling asleep to frequent night waking. Around 1 in 4 may develop severe insomnia, which can affect mood, energy, and daily life.
Common Causes
Sleep issues during perimenopause are often due to:
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Anxiety or depression
- Sleep apnoea or snoring
- Restless legs
- Caffeine, alcohol, or stress
- Irregular routines or screen time before bed
What You Can Do
- Sleep Hygiene Tips
- Stick to regular sleep/wake times
- Avoid screens 90 mins before bed
- Cut back on caffeine, alcohol and heavy meals
- Keep your room cool, dark and quiet
- Use your bed only for sleep or sex
- Try a calming pre-bed routine – warm bath, breathing, or meditation
- Natural Options
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Yoga or light exercise
- Melatonin, magnesium or herbal remedies (some evidence, not all proven)
- Earplugs for snoring partners
- Medical Support
- Hormonal treatment for hot flushes
- Medications for sleep, mood or restless legs
- Sedating antihistamines or melatonin (short-term use only – check with GP)
Vaginal dryness in menopause can cause sexual pain and urinary problems like UTI’s and incontinence.
Declining estrogen levels around menopause effect the delicate tissues of the vulva and vagina. They become thin, dry and more easily damaged (atrophy). Around 50% of postmenopausal women will experience this Genito-urinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), which may cause painful intercourse, urinary issues, or vulval itch and irritation.
Treatment Options
Depending on your specific symptoms the treatment options may include:
- Avoidance of irritants, eg. soaps, cosmetics, chemicals, fabrics
- Pelvic floor physiotherapy
- Bladder training
- Vaginal moisturisers and/ or lubricants
- Relaxation therapy
- Vaginal estrogens
- Systemic HRT
- Medications for irritable bladder or urinary tract infections
Currently there is insufficient evidence to support the use of vaginal laser therapy for GSM.
Hormonal Treatments
In milder cases of vaginal dryness it may be sufficient to use vaginal moisturisers and lubricants, but for more severe symptoms the most effective option is likely to be estrogen therapy. This can be in the form of vaginal estrogen creams or pessaries which specifically target the dryness. Women who also have hot flushes or osteoporosis however may benefit from systemic HRT; that is, estrogen taken transdermally (skin creams or patches) or orally. This delivers benefits throughout the body like relief of hot flushes and stronger bones.
Vaginal estrogens are very safe and effective treatment for menopausal vaginal dryness. There’s no need to take progestins to protect the uterus (like with systemic HRT) so there is no increased risk of breast cancer. Vaginal estrogens should be avoided in women who’ve had breast cancer though, due to a small risk of stimulating any remaining cancer cells.
See a Doctor
It is important to remember that there are many other causes of vulvovaginal symptoms like itching and pain, for example infections and skin conditions (some of which may be quite serious). Don’t assume that because you are menopausal it must be GSM, especially if treatments aren’t working. You should see your GP for an examination prior to starting any treatment.
If you can’t find the professional help you need for your menopausal symptoms then book a telehealth consultation today with a female WellFemme menopause doctor.
Hormonal changes and life stressors around perimenopause can cause women to be less interested in sex. How can we improve a low libido?
What Causes Low Libido?
This is a tricky area. There are many possible contributors to low libido; some are physiological and some are sociological.
Do you love your partner and feel loving towards them? Do you have any unresolved psychological or medical issues? Do you actually have “windows of opportunity” when you and your partner are together privately, feeling relaxed and well-rested for a decent amount of time? Do you touch your partner and share intimacies with them in a non-sexual way? Is there any pain or discomfort with sex?
We highly recommend Dr Rosie King’s book Where Did My Libido Go? She summarises the main causes of reduced libido beautifully, which is a good start point for addressing it. As always, We highly recommend that you find a trusted health professional to talk to as well.
How much sex are you actually having?
Everyone’s inherent levels of desire are different. Some women will have sex every week and call it a dry spell, others might have sex monthly and consider that quite a lot.
The Role of Hormones
Testosterone has a big role to play in sex drive; the more you have, the more you want it. We have a much lower level of testosterone than men to begin with, which halves between the ages of 20 and 40. It declines even more after menopause.
For women who have difficulty becoming aroused or orgasming there may be a role for supplementing with testosterone cream. This should always be done under the supervision of a doctor with the expertise to monitor your testosterone levels and adjust the dose as needed.
Declining estrogen levels with age further erode our libidos and can cause vaginal dryness and sexual pain. It’s actually in our physiology to have a lower libido as we age. Having said that, a new sexual partner seems to enhance libido at whatever age you are so psychological factors can definitely triumph in the right setting.
Desire Mismatch
If you were living alone and didn’t feel like having sex then that’s fine. Where it becomes an issue is if your partner wants it and you don’t, or vice versa.
No-one wants to feel like they’re having to pester their partner for sex all the time. If there is resentment building because one partner is feeling pressured and the other rejected then sometimes a relationship or sexual counsellor can help to break the cycle.
If you are struggling with poor libido, the first port of call should be a discussion with your GP. If you can’t find a menopause-informed GP, book in for a comprehensive Telehealth assessment with on of WellFemme’s expert menopause GP’s.
Let’s dive headlong into the girliest of all girly issues. “Period problems” are a very common women’s health issue during Perimenopause.
Changes in your period are common during perimenopause, but that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. Understanding what’s “normal” for you is the first step.
What’s Considered Normal?
- Most women start menstruating between the ages of 9–15 and reach menopause between 45–55.
- Irregular cycles are common around menarche and perimenopause.
- Track your period length, flow, and symptoms – apps or simple calendars work well.
- Family history of endometriosis, infertility, or early menopause can also be helpful to note.
Common Period Issues
- Frequency of Bleeding
-
- Amenorrhoea (No periods): Could be hormonal, related to PCOS, stress, weight, or pregnancy. See a GP if no period by 16 or if periods stop suddenly.
- Polymenorrhoea (Frequent periods): Less than 21-day cycles. Can be due to stress, endometriosis, infections or hormonal issues.
- Oligomenorrhoea (Infrequent periods): Often caused by PCOS, thyroid issues, extreme weight loss or stress.
- Heavy Bleeding (Menorrhagia)
-
- Can lead to fatigue or anaemia.
- Often due to hormone imbalances, fibroids, adenomyosis or thyroid issues.
Treatment options:- NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen)
- Hormonal treatments (e.g. pill, IUD, Implanon)
- Tranexamic acid
- Surgical options in severe cases (e.g. ablation, fibroid removal, hysterectomy)
- Painful Periods (Dysmenorrhoea)
-
- Very common, especially in younger women.
- Primary pain starts early and often responds to NSAIDs.
- Secondary pain appears later and may signal endometriosis, adenomyosis or other conditions.
When to see a GP:
If pain is severe, disrupts daily life, or doesn’t improve with common treatments. If you can’t find a menopause-informed GP, book in for a comprehensive Telehealth assessment with on of WellFemme’s expert menopause GP’s.
Many women notice unwanted weight gain around menopause, especially around the belly, even if their habits haven’t changed. It’s frustrating but common, and thankfully, there are effective ways to manage it.
Why Does Weight Gain Happen?
Menopause (defined as 12 months without a period, typically between ages 45–55) brings hormonal changes that affect fat distribution, metabolism, and muscle mass. As estrogen declines, fat tends to shift from the hips and thighs to the abdomen. Muscle mass also decreases (particularly if we are less active), which slows your metabolism and lowers your daily energy needs. Even the end of your monthly cycle means your body burns fewer kilojoules – about 200kJ per day.
While the average weight gain is only around 1kg, studies show trunk fat can increase by 5.5% and waistlines by up to 4.6cm, which increases the risk of heart disease, one of the biggest killers of Australian women.
The Role of Diet
The best eating approach for midlife women is a modified Mediterranean diet. It supports weight management and reduces the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Key features:
- Focus on whole foods: vegetables, fruits, legumes, wholegrains, nuts, seeds
- Lean proteins (fish, chicken, legumes) to support muscle and metabolism
- Healthy fats (olive oil, avocado) for satiety and heart health
- Low-GI carbs like oats, brown rice, and quinoa. Also, keep carbs to under 30% of total daily calories
- Minimise added sugars and processed foods
As energy needs decline, portion control becomes more important. Some women also benefit from reducing carbs in the evening. A dietitian can help you personalise your nutrition to stay well-fuelled without overeating.
What About Exercise?
Exercise is crucial – not just for burning calories, but also for preserving muscle and bone mass, controlling blood sugars, managing abdominal fat and raising basal metabolism (meaning that you burn more calories 24/7).
Research supports:
- Nordic walking 3x per week to reduce waist size and cholesterol
- Circuit training to reduce belly fat, even without weight loss
- Lifestyle support leading to better outcomes than self-directed changes
- The Australian “40-Something” Trial found that women aged 45–50 who received regular guidance had better weight and waist outcomes over two years than those who were left to self-manage. Their proven successful habits included:
- 2 serves of fruit and 5+ serves of veg daily
- Wholegrains, lean protein, dairy
- Limiting processed foods and takeaways
- 150–250 minutes of exercise weekly
- Less sitting (under 3 hours/day), and
- 10,000 steps a day
The Bottom Line
Menopausal weight gain is common, but not inevitable. Small, consistent changes in diet and activity can make a big difference. Focus on nutrient-rich foods, stay active, and get support when needed. Work with menopause-informed doctors to sort out any underlying medical or lifestyle issues, and get personalized advice if needed from other health practitioners such as dieticians or exercise physiologists.
Your health goals are still achievable; you just need a strategy that works for this new stage of life.
If you are struggling with weight gain, the first port of call should be a discussion with your GP. If you can’t find a menopause-informed GP, book in for a comprehensive Telehealth assessment with on of WellFemme’s expert menopause GP’s.
Why Consider WellFemme?
Evidence-Based & Experienced
We’re a team of expert menopause doctors and other healthcare professionals, passionate about providing care that’s grounded in science and personalised to each woman’s needs.
Supportive & Non-Judgemental
We meet every woman where she’s at, no topic is off limits. Whether you’re just beginning perimenopause or navigating hormonal treatments, our support is warm, respectful, and judgement-free.
Accessible & Personal
Our Telehealth model makes it easier for women across Australia especially in regional and rural areas to access tailored menopause care from trusted professionals, without long waitlists or rushed appointments.
Empowering & Honest
We believe every woman deserves to understand her body and her options. We’ll help you cut through the noise with clear information, real talk, and practical strategies that suit your lifestyle.
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Start your menopause journey with confidence, from anywhere in Australia.
Many women put up with menopause symptoms, unsure if what they’re going through is “normal” or not knowing where to turn for support. WellFemme was created to change that, giving women across Australia access to personalised, evidence-based menopause care through simple Telehealth consultations.
No matter where you live, you can now connect with a qualified menopause doctor from the comfort of your home.
Not sure where to begin?
Take our quick assessment to find out where you’re at in your menopause journey and how WellFemme can support you.
Our Doctors
WellFemme’s doctors are experienced GPs with a special interest in menopause and women’s midlife health. They understand the real-life challenges that come with perimenopause and menopause — because they’ve supported thousands of women through it, and many have experienced it themselves. It’s woman-to-woman care, delivered with empathy, clinical know-how and genuine understanding. You’ll receive personalised, evidence-based support to help you feel more like yourself again — and guide you confidently through your menopause journey.
Dr Kelly Teagle
Menopause GP and WellFemme Founder / CEO
