A Tauranga woman who was “hit like a tonne of bricks” when she first experienced menopause symptoms is hosting an event to empower, educate and uplift women and their communities.
New Zealand’s first Peri/Post Menopause Wellness Event – called Living Your Best Life During the Menopause Transition – is to be held on Saturday, August 23, at Tauranga Boys’ College from 9.30am to 5pm. “This unique event is the first of its kind,” said event organiser Sara Llewellyn-Evans.
Dream team
“There will be a dream team of menopause specialist speakers – three being world-class menopause-related doctors: Dr Linda Dear, Dr Wendy Sweet and Dr Waz Tze Cheng.
“Each will cover a different topic – Menopause in the Workplace, Weight Management and Lifestyle, and Hormone Replacement Therapy and Non-Hormone Therapies,” said Llewellyn-Evans, 54.
“Plus, we have a variety of lifestyle speakers and demonstrations from businesses that will focus on topics such as nutrition, fitness, sleep, corporate wellness packages, supplements and general wellbeing.”
A Wellness exhibition will showcase products, services and support available during this stage in life, “which may help ease symptoms or simply make women feel better about themselves”.
Ten years ago, Llewellyn-Evans lived in the UK, working in corporate sales, marketing and event management. “Perimenopause hit me hard. I struggled with sleep deprivation, which then led to anxiety and panic attacks.
“I just didn’t feel like me anymore and, at the time, I had no idea what was happening. I’d visited doctors on a few occasions, but they were clueless.”
More needed
After a tough six months, she started to understand what was happening, through self-initiated research and by talking to friends and family. “Almost 10 years ago, there was a lot less information available.”
Sara Llewellyn-Evans is hosting New Zealand’s first menopause wellness event, called Living Your Best Life During the Menopause Transition, in Tauranga on August 23. Photo / Brydie Thompson
When she moved to New Zealand five years ago, she felt work was under way here to bring knowledge on peri/post-menopause into the open, but more was needed. “I’m obviously not medically trained in this area, but I do think of myself as a collaborator.
“I’ve reached out to experts in different areas of expertise, with the hope to help others become aware of the potential symptoms and gain knowledge and understanding of what resources and support are available.”
Llewellyn-Evans said the event was aimed at women experiencing, or about to experience, their peri/post-menopausal journeys.
“Many of us have daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts and nieces, and I believe the current average age of Kiwi women is about 39. Perimenopause generally starts around 45, so there will be many women approaching this stage of their lives soon.”
Empower
Llewellyn-Evans wanted the event to empower and uplift women, their friends and families. “I want people to walk away feeling empowered and with a better insight into what could potentially happen or be happening.”
She had the idea for hosting an event two years ago, but spent the last six months piecing it together. “To get the specialists [on board], I just started cold-calling, and the speakers have been incredible in terms of wanting to be involved.”
Thankfully, some women have few or minor menopausal symptoms, but for others it could be the opposite, she said.
“It doesn’t just affect women. Indirectly, it can sometimes affect their partners, families, workplaces and communities.”
That’s why she’d like everyone to come along, including men. The event was a chance to come together, with opportunities to discuss the topic openly, in a safe place, without judgment, she said. “It’s about helping and supporting each other.”
Tickets
She hopes to expand the event in future. “I’d like to build on this first event, to host it within other regions and reach more Kiwi women.”
To buy tickets to Living Your Best Life During the Menopause Transition, visit www.eventbrite.com.