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Hormonal health has been a hot topic over the last few years. New studies and findings have concluded that perhaps we haven’t been giving women’s health the attention it really deserves. For too long, women have been expected to just accept there are certain times in their lives during which they may or may not be miserable. For some, symptoms can go on for years and, for others, they may never stop at all.

In this issue, UNO talks to two local doctors about what have previously been deemed to be tricky life stages –perimenopause and menopause. Both doctors are experts in their fields of women’s health and, amazingly, both live right here in the Bay.

I, myself, have learned so much from Dr Stacy Sims over the past year. It was a ClubFit instructor who first put me on to Stacy when I began discovering those strange – but now completely understandable – symptoms of perimenopause. Sleep problems, weight gain, irritability, memory loss, fatigue –these can all be put down to stress and just dealing with life in middle age. But, around the age of 40-50 (sometimes earlier), there’s a good chance that there is more to it.

And, when it comes to perimenopause, what’s really astonishing is that we’ve had medical treatment for decades that women have been told to ignore, simply due to one study that found a tenuous link to breast cancer 20 years ago.

The fact I have a hard time writing this is testament to the fact that we really should talk about these issues more, to normalise a totally normal time in a woman’s life.

Turn to page 20 to find out how you can take back your power, no matter what age you are. You might be surprised to find symptoms can be prevented early on, and even lessened if you’re right in the midst of menopause. And, if you feel like you need more help, this may ease your fears around medication.

For husbands, sons, brothers and male friends, I urge you to read this too. It provides a lot of clarity about a time that Dr Dear describes as a liberating new chapter in womens’ lives.

As everyone in the Bay knows, sometimes you need a little rain for the sun to eventually shine through. Have a wonderful winter.

Hayley, editor

DIRECTOR

Michele Griffin 021 183 4618 michele@unomagazine.co.nz

DIRECTOR

Rebecca Meyer 027 469 6177 rebecca@unomagazine.co.nz

EDITOR

Hayley Barnett hayley@unomagazine.co.nz

DESIGNER

Annabelle Rose

ASSISTANT DESIGNER

Alice Rose

MEDIA ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Stephanie Taylor

SUB-EDITORS

Katherine Granich

Shiree Schumacher

CONTRIBUTORS

Nicky Adams

Amber Armitage

Monique Balvert-O’Connor

Jess Easton

Jo Ferris

Salina Galvan

Will Johnston

Stacey Jones

Jahl Marshall

Kathrine McDonald

Graeme Murray

Desiree Osterman

Karl Puschmann

Jenny Rudd

Catherine Sylvester

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UNO is a quarterly publication: ISSN 2744-7901

© Copyright 2022. Articles and illustrations may not be reproduced in any form without the permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of, nor endorsed by, SAO Media, unless stated otherwise. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy at the time of printing, the publisher shall not be held responsible for any actions taken as a consequence of information contained in this publication.