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There’s good news. Huge things are starting to move in the perimenopause space — in research, in policy, in awareness. And for women everywhere, that means this long-overlooked phase of life is getting the attention it deserves. At the same time, there is still a long way to go. But, here’s what’s changing — and what each of us can do to help make the rest happen sooner.What’s Changing — The Good News 1. Government &amp; Policy Shift in Australia In 2024–25, the Australian Government allocated $64.5 million over three years specifically to improve access to specialist care for women’s health, with a focus on perimenopause and menopause. This includes funding for awareness campaigns, health professional training, and improved services.&nbsp; A Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) health assessment service for menopause/perimenopause has been introduced — meaning women can access consultations more formally through Medicare.&nbsp;The Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) applauded new funding: $26.3 million for menopause health assessments, $4.4 million over three years for developing national clinical guidelines and professional development for health workers, plus $12.8 million for a national awareness campaign.&nbsp;2. Research &amp; Inquiries Leading the Way The Senate Committee’s inquiry into “Issues related to menopause and perimenopause” released a landmark report with bipartisan support. Among its many recommendations: more research into the economic impacts (how symptoms affect work, retirement, income, superannuation), improved workplace policies, better access to treatment, and medical education reforms.&nbsp;Research Australia, COTA Australia, and other advocacy groups have helped ensure that lived experience is informing policy, and that voices from diverse and marginalised groups (e.g. First Nations women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people) are part of the dataset and conversation.&nbsp;3. Public Awareness &amp; Cultural Change More media coverage. More stories from women speaking out. The stigma is loosening — perimenopause is becoming part of public conversation, not hidden in private whispers. Workplace conversations are shifting. Employers are more openly acknowledging that symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, mood shifts, sleep disruption matter, and that supporting employees through this phase is not “nice to have,” it’s part of retaining talent and equity. &nbsp; What Still Needs to Happen Even with these advances, there are gaps — and some urgent ones.It is one thing to recommend, or announce funding; it’s another thing to see the money flowing, services built, and outcomes tracked, especially for women in rural / remote regions, or from more marginalised groups. Many medical professionals still receive minimal education on perimenopause/menopause in their training. There’s a big need for standardised, evidence-based training, and ongoing professional development so GPs, specialists, psychologists, allied health know how to recognise, assess, and treat symptoms well.Flexible work, menopause-friendly workplace policies, options for leave or adjustments, and destigmatised conversations in HR and management — these are still patchwork at best. Many women report that their symptoms are dismissed or misunderstood at work.Hormonal therapies, alternative therapies, support services (mental health, bone health, sleep, etc.) need to be affordable, accessible, and based on good evidence. Addressing supply constraints, cost burdens, and ensuring equitable access is key.We still don’t have good enough data on how perimenopause affects different groups: First Nations women, LGBTQIA+ women, women in remote areas, women with disability or chronic illness. How do symptoms vary? How are outcomes different? How to best tailor support? &nbsp; What You / We Can Do — Women Helping Women Here are actions individuals, communities, and organisations can take. We all have a role.Share your story — when you feel safe to do so. Public stories de-stigmatise. They help others feel less alone and push institutions to pay attention. Ask for what you need — at work, with your GP, with your support network. If a doctor dismisses symptoms, ask for referrals, second opinions. If your workplace lacks understanding, suggest simple adjustments. Educate others — friends, family, colleagues. Sometimes the ignorance is not malicious but just because perimenopause has been under-addressed for so long. The more people know, the more pressure for change. Support advocacy &amp; policy efforts — sign petitions, contribute to public consultations, support organisations doing the work (research bodies, women’s health groups). Look after yourself — it’s often the small, consistent self-care moves that help symptoms feel less overwhelming: nutrition, sleep, movement, stress management, and when needed, professional help. Mentor and lift up other women — especially those who might be more marginalised or less visible (younger women who will face perimenopause later, women in regional areas, etc.). Share resources, connect them with medical professionals you trust, help them navigate this transition. At VANTA COACHING, we believe perimenopause is not a pause — it’s a pivot. A chance to reset, reclaim strength, sharpen purpose. We see the movement growing: policy, research and awareness are all aligning. But lasting change comes when each woman knows she has tools, knowledge, and community.On World Perimenopause Day (22 September) and beyond, our mission is: To equip women with clarity on what’s happening in their bodies and minds. To create spaces where conversations are real, honest, and respectful. To help women lead with their full power through this phase — not despite it. &nbsp; If you're a woman experiencing perimenopause, commit to one action: telling one trusted person about it; asking your doctor one question; trying one lifestyle change. If you have a platform — social media, workplace, community — use it to raise awareness, share facts, reduce shame. If you are a healthcare provider / manager / employer: seek out training, update policies, listen to lived experience. Because when we do this together, the change is not just around the corners — it’s here now.There’s already momentum. Governments are funding new programs. Research is being done. More people are speaking out. But it wasn’t inevitable — it’s the result of pressure, stories, science, and courage.And there’s room for more. For you. For your voice. For your experience.This perimenopause year, let’s not wait for change — let’s be the ones pushing. Because the next era of women’s health deserves nothing less.

Perimenopause: The Momentum Is Building — And We’re Part of It

There’s a moment in motherhood that rewires you forever.For me, it was the night my young daughter spiked a fever so high that I felt my body snap into a different gear. I hadn’t slept in days, my energy was gone, but suddenly I was alert, clear, unstoppable. That primal drive to protect her — to stay awake when I was exhausted, to get up and act when I wanted to collapse — was stronger than caffeine, stronger than willpower, stronger than logic.It was almost animalistic. It was my protector instinct.And here’s the truth: that same energy that keeps us awake at 3 a.m. when our baby is sick… is the same energy we can channel when building businesses, pursuing athletic goals, navigating perimenopause, or reinventing our lives.This blog is about exactly that: how to take the primal, unstoppable “protector energy” that lives in every woman, in every mother, and consciously harness it for your own goals. Science backs this up — women’s brains are wired with systems of care, vigilance, and motivation that can be redirected beyond child-raising. And in perimenopause or midlife, when our identities shift, this instinct can become one of our greatest tools for transformation.Here are seven ways to ethically and powerfully harness your protector energy.1. Identity Framing, Not Willpower Most women don’t need more willpower, they have plenty of it; they need to remember who they are.When I frame my workouts as “me time,” I can easily skip them. But when I frame them as protector rituals — protecting my bones, my brain, my future self — suddenly the resistance melts away. I become the woman who shows up because my identity demands it.This is what psychologists call identity-based motivation. When your action becomes an expression of who you are — protector, role model, guide — following through is no longer optional.Try this: instead of saying, “I need to eat better,” say “I fuel my body like a warrior-mother who’s protecting her family’s future.” That framing keeps you in motion even when motivation fades.2. Stress Into Connection When life gets stressful, most people think the only response is fight or flight. But for many women, the natural response is different: tend and befriend. That means turning stress into care and connection.Think about it — when your child is sick, you don’t just panic. You text a friend, call family, or gather support. That instinct lowers stress and keeps you strong. You can use the same approach with your goals. Don’t push through challenges alone. Pair your hard tasks with connection — train with a friend, share wins with your kids, or check in with a colleague. Turning stress into togetherness doesn’t make you weak; it makes you unstoppable.3. Oxytocin: The Chemistry of Calm Focus The protector system in our brains is fueled by oxytocin — the same hormone that drives bonding, caregiving, and yes, fierce mama-bear protection. Oxytocin doesn’t just make us feel good; it sharpens focus and lowers stress. That’s why even a small act of warmth — hugging your child, cuddling the dog, laughing with a friend — can reset your nervous system.When I start my day with a simple oxytocin ritual — a hug, a moment of gratitude, even petting my cat — I feel calmer, steadier, and more ready to take on tasks that normally drain me.Design your own: a family breakfast ritual, a gratitude text, or even two minutes of playful movement. Each act is a fuel for the protector within.4. The Care Reframe Here’s the secret: we’ll do for others what we often won’t do for ourselves. That’s why one of the most powerful hacks is reframing your goal as an act of care for your circle. If I eat well, my kids get a role model. If I exercise, my partner gets a stronger, calmer woman beside him. If I protect my sleep, everyone in my house benefits. When you’re tempted to skip a task, ask: “Who benefits if I show up today?” Then rename the task in your planner:“Meal prep → care for tomorrow’s family” “Workout → protect my future bones” “Financial planning → secure my children’s opportunities” This isn’t manipulation. It’s truth: our actions ripple into the lives of those we protect.5. Protective Boundaries as Performance Tools The same instinct that makes you snap awake when your child cries can also make you fiercely protective of your time and energy.Think of sleep, food, and recovery as security protocols, not luxuries. In perimenopause especially, guarding your energy isn’t selfish — it’s survival.When I started framing my boundaries this way — saying no to late-night work, guarding my gym time as non-negotiable — guilt disappeared. I wasn’t being “selfish,” I was being a protector. Every time you say no, imagine you’re defending your energy like a shield. Because you are.6. Micro-Hero Moments Big goals are achieved through small acts of protection.When my daughter was a toddler, I used to check the locks at night. That one-minute ritual gave me peace of mind. Now, I use that same instinct for my own goals:Drinking a glass of water = protecting future me from headaches. Stretching for 2 minutes = protecting my hips and back. Logging out of email at 8 pm = protecting my nervous system. These micro-hero moments build a sense of capability. They remind you daily: I am the protector. I am strong. I follow through.7. Menopause: Keeping the Mission, Shifting the Methods Here’s the beauty of the protector instinct: hormones shift, but meaning remains.During perimenopause, many women feel their old strategies stop working. Sleep is fragile, energy dips, recovery slows. But the drive to protect — that fierce mother energy — doesn’t vanish. It just needs new outlets.Now, my workouts are less about pushing hard every day and more about building strength for bones, mobility, and brain health. My nutrition is less about weight and more about protecting long-term vitality. My self-care is less about pampering and more about resilience.When I remind myself that my mission hasn’t changed — I’m still a protector, just in a new season — it makes midlife feel powerful instead of diminishing.Becoming the Woman Your Future Daughter Thanks Every mother knows the surge: that unstoppable, animalistic energy that rises when a child is threatened. That same energy can carry you through building a business, preparing for a race, or navigating midlife changes.Harness it consciously. Frame your actions as protector acts. Use connection to lower stress. Build oxytocin rituals. Reframe your goals as care for your circle. Guard your boundaries like a fortress. Celebrate micro-hero moments. And when menopause shifts the landscape, hold onto the mission, even if the methods change.Because when you live as your own fiercest protector, you don’t just achieve goals. You become the kind of woman your daughter — and your future self — will thank.

Harnessing the Protector Within: How Women Can Channel Their Fiercest Instincts to Achieve Big Goals

Menopause is so often spoken about as a purely biological event. Hormones fluctuate, periods stop, symptoms arrive, and eventually, the body settles into a new equilibrium. Yet to reduce menopause to this biological narrative alone is to miss the far more profound truth: it is also a relational journey. It changes the way women see themselves, and therefore the way they relate to their partners, their families, their colleagues, their communities, and the wider world. To approach menopause holistically is to understand that this transition doesn’t just happen inside the body—it ripples outward, touching every connection a woman holds.Research consistently shows that menopause influences not only physical health but also psychological and social wellbeing. A large review published in The Lancet (2022) highlighted that symptoms such as sleep disturbance, mood changes, and hot flushes are directly associated with shifts in relationships and quality of life. In other words, menopause is never just “hormonal”—it is deeply human.A Woman’s Relationship with Herself Every relationship begins with the one we hold with ourselves, and during perimenopause and menopause this relationship is often tested in ways it never has been before. The changes in the body are obvious: fluctuating hormones that can leave energy unpredictable, brain fog that can undermine confidence, night sweats and disrupted sleep that erode resilience, weight redistribution that can alter body image.A study in the Journal of Women &amp; Aging found that self-esteem tends to dip during midlife, largely due to body image concerns and a sense of losing control over health. But the same study also showed that women who embraced lifestyle interventions such as exercise, mindfulness, and social support experienced a stronger sense of self-worth and personal growth. This suggests that menopause can be a time of renewal rather than decline—if women invest in the relationship with themselves.Romantic and Intimate Relationships The impact of menopause on intimate partnerships is well documented. Hormonal changes can alter libido, and physical symptoms such as vaginal dryness can make sex uncomfortable. According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), around 50% of women report experiencing genitourinary symptoms of menopause that affect sexual function.But intimacy is not just about physicality. Emotional shifts—irritability, low mood, or fatigue—can create misunderstandings. Partners may feel rejected, while women may feel guilty or frustrated. A survey by The Menopause Charity in the UK found that over 60% of women believed menopause had negatively affected their relationships, but importantly, couples who engaged in open communication reported stronger bonds afterwards.This demonstrates that menopause, while challenging, can also be a catalyst for rediscovery. Couples willing to learn, listen, and adapt often discover new dimensions of intimacy—emotional closeness, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for one another’s resilience.Family Dynamics and Parenting Menopause often overlaps with the turbulence of teenage years, leading researchers to describe midlife women as part of the “sandwich generation”—caring for children on one side and aging parents on the other. This dual burden can increase stress, with studies in the Journal of Family Issues showing that women in midlife report higher conflict at home compared to men of the same age, often linked to hormonal fluctuations and caregiving demands.Teenagers may not fully understand the emotional volatility their mothers experience, sometimes interpreting withdrawal or irritability as rejection. Psychologists highlight the importance of “family literacy” around menopause—talking openly so that children and partners understand the biological and emotional context. Families that adopt this approach often experience greater empathy and cohesion.Friendships and Social Circles Friendship networks can be both a lifeline and a mirror during menopause. Women who share their experiences within supportive circles report reduced stress and greater wellbeing. A 2019 Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health confirmed that social support is one of the strongest predictors of resilience during menopause.However, friendships that lack understanding may fade. Many women report becoming more discerning at this stage of life, investing energy only in relationships that feel nourishing. From a holistic perspective, this pruning of social circles is not a loss but a recalibration, aligning with the developmental psychology concept of “socioemotional selectivity theory,” which suggests that as people age, they prioritise emotionally rewarding relationships.Professional Relationships and the Workplace The workplace is one of the most overlooked arenas where menopause exerts influence. I touched on this in my previous articles. Cognitive symptoms like brain fog and forgetfulness, alongside physical symptoms such as hot flushes, can erode confidence. A UK survey conducted by the Fawcett Society (2022) found that one in ten women had left their jobs due to menopause symptoms, while many others had reduced their hours or passed on promotions.This is not just a women’s issue—it’s an economic one. The same report estimated that the UK economy loses millions annually due to untreated or unsupported menopause in the workplace. Forward-thinking companies are beginning to introduce menopause policies, flexible working arrangements, and awareness training for managers. Such measures not only retain talent but also build inclusive cultures where women feel valued at every stage of life.For individual women, this period is also an opportunity for self-advocacy. By speaking openly about needs and challenging outdated stigmas, women redefine leadership in ways that normalize honesty and humanity in the workplace.The Role of Supportive Others The presence—or absence—of support is one of the strongest predictors of how women experience menopause. A systematic review in Maturitas (2018) found that women who had supportive partners, family, and social networks reported significantly fewer psychological symptoms than those who felt isolated. Support does not have to be grand; it can be as simple as listening without judgment, sharing responsibilities at home, or offering empathy rather than dismissal.This relational web matters. When others understand that menopause is not weakness but transition, they become allies in helping women thrive rather than merely survive.Reframing Menopause as an Opportunity The cultural narrative of menopause as decline is outdated. Increasingly, research suggests that many women experience menopause as a turning point toward greater authenticity. Psychologists describe this as a "process of individuation"—where women begin to assert clearer boundaries, rediscover passions, and cultivate deeper self-awareness.Far from ending connection, menopause can deepen it. Couples who communicate, families who adapt, and workplaces that support create environments where women can flourish. Friendships become more authentic, and self-relationships grow stronger. This reframing is essential: menopause is not simply an ending, but a recalibration of life’s most important bonds.Summarising, menopause is, in many ways, the great revealer. It brings to the surface not only the changes happening within a woman’s body but also the hidden dynamics of her relationships. It exposes cracks, but it also creates opportunities for repair and renewal. For women willing to meet themselves with compassion, and for those around them willing to respond with empathy, menopause becomes not a period of loss but of growth.Relationships will shift during perimenopause and menopause—there is no avoiding that. But these shifts do not have to be destructive. With awareness, honesty, and holistic support, they can instead become the very catalyst that allows women and those who love them to step into a deeper, more authentic way of relating. Menopause, far from being the end of connection, can be the beginning of a richer, more grounded way of living in relationship—with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.

When Relationships Shift: A Holistic Look at Menopause and Connection

When we talk about perimenopause, much of the conversation centers on hot flashes, shifting moods, or changes in energy. These are the symptoms that often dominate headlines, yet beneath the surface another, quieter change is underway — one that shapes the future of every woman’s strength and resilience. It’s the story of our bones.Bone health rarely captures the drama of other midlife transitions, yet it is the scaffolding upon which everything else depends. Every stride you take, every weight you lift, every moment you steady yourself from a fall is underwritten by the architecture of your skeleton. And during perimenopause, when estrogen levels begin their gradual decline, this architecture becomes increasingly vulnerable. The result, if ignored, is a measurable drop in bone mineral density, leading to fragility, fracture risk, and a long-term impact on independence and quality of life. But here’s the truth that deserves to be amplified: bone loss is not inevitable decline. It is a biological challenge — and challenges can be met with strategy, movement, and intentional living.In fact, the evidence shows that bones are dynamic tissues. They respond to load, adapt to pressure, and strengthen in response to the right kinds of stimuli. The cliché that bones are static, cement-like structures is a myth. They are living, vascular, constantly remodeling organs, in a perpetual dance of breakdown and repair. And while estrogen’s fall tilts that dance toward breakdown, women are far from powerless. With the right approach, bone health can not only be preserved but also optimized, even in the absence of hormone replacement therapy.The Science of Bone Loss To understand what’s happening during perimenopause, we need to dive briefly into bone biology. Bone is formed by osteoblasts, the builders that lay down new mineral matrix, and broken down by osteoclasts, the demolition team that resorbs old bone. In a healthy young woman, these two forces are balanced: bone turnover ensures strength and flexibility, while density is preserved. Estrogen plays a crucial role in restraining osteoclasts, essentially keeping the demolition crew from working overtime.As estrogen levels decline, the checks on osteoclast activity loosen. Bone resorption accelerates while formation lags, tipping the balance toward net loss. Research shows that women may lose up to 20 percent of their bone density in the five to seven years surrounding menopause. The vertebrae, hips, and wrists — the very structures that hold us upright, bear the weight of our stride, and catch us when we fall — are the most vulnerable.The numbers are stark: one in three women over 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture. And yet, what those numbers don’t reveal is the capacity for intervention. The very forces that threaten bone can be countered with mechanical loading, nutritional strategy, and intelligent training.Why Movement Is Medicine for Bone Among the most compelling findings in bone science is that bones respond best to stress. It is the very impact of movement — the ground force of a jump, the tension of a muscle pulling on its attachment, the weight of a barbell resting on the spine — that sends the signal to osteoblasts: build here. Without this stimulus, bone has little reason to renew itself. Astronauts in zero gravity famously lose bone mass at a rapid pace, not because of hormones, but because the absence of mechanical load deprives bones of their reason to adapt.For perimenopausal women, this is not a call to fear loss but an invitation to use movement as medicine. Resistance training, high-impact loading, and multidirectional jumps are not just exercise prescriptions for athletes; they are biological signals to maintain skeletal integrity. The evidence is clear: women who engage in regular resistance and impact training preserve bone mineral density more effectively than those who stick to low-impact activities alone.Running, dancing, skipping, and jumping provide intermittent bursts of ground reaction forces that bones respond to. Strength training adds another layer, placing controlled stress directly through muscle attachments. The combination is powerful: impact stimulates bone directly, while resistance strengthens the muscles that stabilize and protect joints, reducing fall risk. Balance training, often overlooked, completes the circle by ensuring that the bones we work so hard to maintain are not placed in jeopardy by avoidable slips and falls.Nutrition: Building Blocks for Bone If exercise provides the signal, nutrition provides the raw materials. Calcium remains the most obvious player, and with good reason. Around 1,200 milligrams per day is recommended for women over 50, and this doesn’t have to mean endless glasses of milk. Sardines with bones, leafy greens, fortified plant milks, almonds, and tofu all contribute. Yet calcium alone is insufficient.Vitamin D is the gatekeeper, ensuring calcium actually gets absorbed and incorporated. Sunlight remains the most reliable source, though in many regions — and for many women spending more time indoors — supplementation is necessary. The target is 800 to 1,000 IU daily, though individual needs may vary.Protein, often underrated in the bone conversation, is vital. Collagen and bone matrix require amino acids, and higher protein intake has been correlated with better bone density outcomes, especially when paired with resistance training. Aim for 1.6 to 2.0 grams per kilogram of body weight — a target that also supports muscle retention, another key to longevity.Magnesium, vitamin K2, and trace minerals such as zinc and boron play supportive roles. The nutritional picture is one of synergy: without adequate raw materials, even the best training signals fall flat. With them, every jump, every squat, every loaded lift translates directly into stronger architecture.The Power of the Jump One of the simplest, most effective, and most overlooked interventions for bone is the humble jump. It seems counterintuitive — after all, many women are advised to avoid impact as they age. But research suggests that brief, targeted jumping protocols can increase bone density even in postmenopausal women. The mechanism is elegant: each landing delivers a short, sharp mechanical load to the skeleton, stimulating osteoblasts in ways that walking or cycling cannot.Imagine a daily ritual of just ten jumps, performed with soft knees and controlled landings. Over time, those minutes compound into stronger hips and spine. Add variety — forward jumps, side hops, bounding, star jumps — and you create multidirectional forces that mimic the unpredictability of real-life movement. This is not about reckless pounding of the joints but about strategic, intentional, playful impact.Lifestyle, Recovery, and the Bigger Picture Movement and nutrition form the pillars, but lifestyle habits determine how strong those pillars stand. Alcohol, when consumed in excess, interferes with bone remodeling. Smoking directly accelerates bone loss. Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which further fuels resorption. Sleep deprivation undermines recovery and hormone regulation.Conversely, recovery, rest, and intentional stress management enhance bone outcomes. Yoga, tai chi or dancing may not deliver bone-loading forces, but they improve balance and reduce fall risk. Mindfulness practices lower cortisol, indirectly protecting bone integrity. In this way, perimenopause becomes not a season of decline but a holistic recalibration, where every choice either contributes to or detracts from resilience.Beyond HRT: Owning the Narrative Hormone replacement therapy remains a valuable tool for many women, offering protection not only for hot flashes but for bone density. Yet it is not the only path. For women who choose not to, or cannot, pursue HRT, the combination of impact training, strength work, nutrition, and lifestyle is formidable. This is not second-best medicine; it is frontline prevention.What matters most is agency. Too often, the narrative around perimenopause is one of loss. At VANTA, we flip that script. This is not the end of your peak; it is the moment to build a stronger foundation than ever before. By training with intent, fueling with strategy, and living with awareness, you create a blueprint for strength that carries you not just through menopause but decades beyond.Perimenopause is not a pause at all; it is a pivot. And in that pivot lies opportunity. Your bones are listening. Every step, every jump, every plate of food sends them information. The question is whether that information tells them to fade — or to thrive.So begin today. Rise onto your toes, dip into a squat, and jump. Land softly, knees bending, body grounded, heart lifted. Do it again, and again, and again. With each repetition, you are not just exercising; you are writing resilience into your very structure. You are ensuring that your story of perimenopause is not one of frailty, but of power.And when you share that story — in the gym, at the workplace, on your feed — you remind other women that they too can reframe this season. Bone health is not a niche concern. It is the foundation of longevity, performance, and independence. It is the invisible strength that allows every visible achievement to shine.Perimenopause is your chance to claim that strength, without apology, without hesitation, and without the myth of decline. This is the VANTA way: science-backed, strength-driven, unapologetically bold. Because your bones deserve nothing less than your fullest power.

The Bone Blueprint of Perimenopause: Strength Beyond Hormones

Menopause and perimenopause are costing Australian businesses billions.$10 billion in replacement costs. $15.2 billion in lost earnings and super for women. 83% of women saying symptoms impact their work. 1 in 8 retiring early. This isn’t a “personal problem.” It’s a business problem. But problems are only one half of the story. Today, let’s talk about the other half — the solutions. Because perimenopause is not the end of your performance era. It’s the beginning of your power era.Why We Need Solutions Now Let’s get real. If you’re a nurse, police officer, firefighter, entrepreneur, soldier, or corporate leader, you don’t get the luxury of pressing pause when hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, or anxiety hit.You still have to: Lead meetings, respond to emergencies, manage staff, hold the line for your patients, your clients, your communities. And because women like you are the backbone of entire industries, the cost of silence is enormous.When women downshift careers, walk away from leadership, or exit the workforce, businesses lose not just a worker — they lose:-Institutional knowledge (years of expertise and relationships). -Leadership capability (the wisdom to handle crises calmly). -Mentorship pipelines (the next generation of talent). If you’re a business leader reading this, ask yourself: How much does it cost to replace one senior manager, or one highly trained frontline leader? Now multiply that by thousands. That’s why this is a multi-billion-dollar issue.But here’s the hope: we can change it.Perimenopause feels unpredictable. One day you’re on fire, the next you’re questioning if you’ve lost your edge. But what if you reframed it as a recalibration, not a collapse? Here’s where to start:1. Nervous System Mastery Stress is gasoline on the fire of perimenopause symptoms. Without regulation, cortisol spikes magnify hot flushes, anxiety, sleep problems, and brain fog.This isn’t about bubble baths or “self-care.” It’s about performance-level regulation tools: tactical breathwork to switch your body from fight-or-flight to calm-in-control, micro-pauses between high-pressure tasks. Training your stress response so you can still deliver under pressure without frying your system. Think of it as mental armour — especially critical if you’re in a frontline role.2. Fuel the Brain and Body Nutrition isn’t optional — it’s strategy. Creatine (5g+ daily): Research shows it’s not just for athletes. It supports cognitive clarity, memory, and problem-solving — the very skills that feel shaky in perimenopause. Protein: At least 1.6–2.2g per kilo of bodyweight daily. It preserves muscle (and metabolism), improves satiety, and stabilises blood sugar, which means fewer energy crashes mid-shift. Anti-inflammatory support: Omega-3s, curcumin, magnesium, vitamin D. Not trendy add-ons, but foundational building blocks for stable mood and energy. This isn’t about dieting. It’s about fuelling your leadership.3. Strength Training is Non-Negotiable Bone density, muscle mass, and resilience all take a hit during perimenopause. Cardio is great, but strength training is survival. It protects against injury (crucial for physical jobs), it boosts confidence in your body’s capability, it literally makes you harder to break — physically and psychologically. If you’re leading teams, running a business, or working the frontlines, you don’t just want endurance. You want power that lasts decades.4. Identity and Boundaries Reset Here’s the truth most won’t say: perimenopause exposes what’s unsustainable. The overworking, people-pleasing, and perfectionism you once could push through? It won’t fly anymore. This isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. It’s your body demanding alignment.That might mean: saying no more often, delegating instead of controlling everything, reframing success away from “doing it all” to doing what actually matters. For entrepreneurs, executives, and frontline leaders, this is where coaching matters most — guiding you to step into leadership that’s sharper, not heavier.5. Work With, Not Against, Your Physiology Even if your cycle is irregular or gone, your body still runs on rhythms. Instead of fighting them, you can: schedule demanding work in your sharper windows, allow recovery time when symptoms flare instead of bulldozing through, build flexibility into your performance plan. This doesn’t reduce your output — it makes it more effective.For Businesses: Retention Over Replacement If you’re in leadership, HR, or running an organisation, here’s the wake-up call: you can’t afford to lose your top women.1. Menopause-Informed Policies Flexible schedules for symptom management. This isn’t “special treatment.” It’s smart business. Menopause education for managers, so they know how to support without stigmaas well as clear policies that encourage retention, not quiet exits will go long way.2. Education is Everything Menopause should be as normal in leadership training as stress management. When men and women alike understand what’s happening, stigma dissolves and support becomes practical.3. Performance Coaching for Midlife Women Workplace wellness programs aren’t enough. Women need performance strategies tailored to their stage of life. Imagine offering executive coaching that includes hormonal literacy and nervous system training — the ROI would be extraordinary.4. Measure What You Want to Keep Stop tracking only exits. Start measuring retention of senior women, reduced absenteeism, and leadership continuity. When you see the metrics improve, you’ll know your strategy is working.The Bigger Picture: Redefining Peak Performance We’ve been sold the myth that peak performance looks the same forever — 12-hour workdays, endless hustle, and grinding through symptoms. But that model was built on male physiology. Women’s peak performance looks different. It’s cyclical, adaptive, and resilient. Perimenopause isn’t the end of that — it’s the upgrade.When women are supported through this transition, they emerge sharper, wiser, and more powerful. Imagine what industries could look like if we stopped losing women right when they’re at the height of their capability.

Menopause is Costing Billions — But Here’s What We Can Do About It

There’s a quiet crisis sweeping through boardrooms, startups, hospital floors, and fire stations — but you won’t hear it spoken aloud in annual reports or team meetings. It’s not a lack of ambition, a skills shortage, or generational disengagement. It’s perimenopause — and its impact is real, measurable, and deeply personal.For high-performing women — the ones holding together departments, leading teams, running businesses, and saving lives — perimenopause often arrives not with a whisper, but with a roar. Brain fog that disrupts decision-making. Fatigue that no amount of coffee can fix. Emotional volatility that shakes your confidence in your own leadership.But here’s the thing: we’re not disappearing. We’re evolving. And the world of business, leadership, and performance needs to catch up.The Numbers Don’t Lie — But They’re Not the Full Story In the UK alone, it’s estimated that menopause-related symptoms result in the loss of 14 million workdays per year. One survey found that 1 in 10 women have considered quitting their jobs due to unmanaged menopause symptoms. In Australia menopause costs organisations AUD 10 billion in replacement costs alone; 1 in 8 women retire during menopause, and another 2 in 8 consider retiring; 80% of women will experience menopause moderately to severely; 83% report at least one symptom affecting work; 15% have considered quitting, while 13% have quit their jobs; women lose AUD 15.2 billion annually in earnings and superannuation. The cost to the economy? Billions. And yet — most businesses have no strategy, no language, and no clue about what their top female talent is silently enduring.These numbers don’t even capture the cost of women scaling back their ambition, avoiding promotions, or stepping down from leadership roles because they’re battling an invisible, internal war. Or the loss of institutional knowledge when experienced, brilliant women exit at the peak of their capability — not because they want to, but because they feel they have no choice.This isn’t a women’s issue. It’s a workforce issue, a leadership issue, and a retention crisis. And it’s time we stop ignoring it.When the Body Rebels Against the Identity For women who’ve built their lives on competence, resilience, and high performance — entrepreneurs, executives, nurses, soldiers, police officers, first responders — perimenopause feels like betrayal. Not because it happens (it’s inevitable), but because no one prepared us for what it does to our minds, bodies, and identities.You’re used to solving problems fast. Executing under pressure. Holding space for others. And now?You walk into a room and forget why you’re there. You start to second-guess decisions that would’ve once been instinctive. You feel rage bubbling up over things that never used to bother you. You’re exhausted by 3 p.m., but your calendar’s full until 8. The disconnect between who you were and what you’re experiencing now is disorienting. You start wondering if you’re broken, unfit to lead, or past your prime. And because society still sees menopause as something vaguely embarrassing — or worse, irrelevant — you internalize it. You try harder. You push through. You don’t complain.Until something gives.This Is Not Burnout. This Is Biology. Let’s be clear: what many call “midlife burnout” is often hormonal dysregulation in disguise. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — the hormones that fuel your sharpness, stamina, confidence, and mood regulation — don’t decline slowly and linearly. They fluctuate wildly for years, creating chaos in systems you’ve relied on your whole life.The result?Cognitive lapses that feel like early dementia Insomnia despite feeling bone-deep exhaustion Anxiety without a clear trigger Joint pain that mimics injury Overstimulation and sound sensitivity in high-pressure environments Reduced stress tolerance even in formerly manageable situations This isn’t about being weak. It’s about your internal operating system rebooting without warning, while you’re still expected to perform like nothing’s changed.And if you’re in a job that requires precision, strength, decisiveness, and presence — like firefighting, surgery, tactical operations, or CEO-level strategy — these changes can feel catastrophic.The Performance Myth Is Failing Us We’re conditioned to equate performance with consistency. Same energy, same speed, same capacity — day in, day out. But in a female physiology, performance is cyclical by design. And in perimenopause, the cycle turns turbulent.The myth of "just push through it" doesn’t work when your brain chemistry is shifting and your nervous system is under constant assault.High-performing women have been taught to override their bodies for decades. To show up no matter what. But perimenopause breaks through those mental barriers. It forces the body back into the conversation. And if we don’t listen, it speaks louder — through chronic illness, breakdowns, or sudden career exits.Why Most Corporate Solutions Miss the Mark If you’re lucky, your workplace has a menopause policy. Maybe even a few free webinars. But in most cases, the solutions on offer are:Too generic (“take some magnesium and breathe!”) Too clinical (prescription HRT without lifestyle context) Too reactive (addressing symptoms, not performance) And almost none of them are designed for high-achieving women who are navigating both leadership and hormonal chaos. There’s a world of difference between a gentle wellness suggestion and a performance-aligned strategy for hormonal change.What’s missing is not just support — it’s respect. Respect for the complexity of this life stage. Respect for the ambition, stamina, and standards high-performing women hold. Respect for the fact that many of us are not interested in slowing down — we just want to feel like ourselves again.Meet the New Era of Female Resilience Here’s the truth they don’t tell you: You are not done. You are not less. You are not broken. You’re being recalibrated — mentally, physically, hormonally, spiritually.If managed well, perimenopause becomes the catalyst for your next evolution. You gain wisdom, depth, discernment, and power you’ve never had before. But only if you support your system — not suppress it.This is where VANTA Coaching comes in. We’re not here to coddle. We’re not here to sell band-aids. We’re here to help high-performing women reclaim sovereignty over their bodies, brains, and ambitions.Because this isn’t about symptom management. It’s about power realignment.What That Looks Like in Practice For a woman leading a company or team, on-call overnight in emergency services, or running her own business — time, energy, and clarity are non-negotiable. Our approach focuses on five pillars:Nervous System Mastery Understand and regulate your baseline. Most perimenopausal symptoms worsen with chronic stress dysregulation. You need more than yoga — you need trauma-informed tools that integrate into high-pressure lives. Performance-Aligned Nutrition and Supplementation Not just calories. Not just vitamins. Strategic use of compounds like creatine (5g+ daily) for brain function, protein for muscle retention, and anti-inflammatory support to reduce cortisol-driven symptom flares. Movement as Medicine Strength training isn’t optional. It’s essential for bone density, metabolic health, and mood. Cardio alone won’t cut it anymore. We train like we mean it — and like we plan to lead for the next 40 years. Psycho-Emotional Recalibration Midlife reveals what’s no longer sustainable. Old beliefs, people-pleasing, overwork — all of it comes up. Coaching helps rewire identity, boundaries, and purpose so you can lead from clarity, not depletion. Cycle-Informed Productivity Even if your cycle is irregular or gone, hormonal rhythms still affect cognition, focus, and output. Our strategies show you how to work with your physiology, not against it — making your output more efficient and powerful. What’s at Stake if We Don’t Act? When high-functioning women are unsupported during perimenopause, they either:-Quietly suffer and burn out -Step down, reduce hours, or avoid leadership -Leave their industries altogether -Stop believing in their own brilliance And the business world loses its most valuable assets — women with experience, maturity, emotional intelligence, and cross-sector expertise.This isn’t just sad. It’s a loss of innovation, mentorship, and diversity at the top. And if you’re a woman reading this — it’s not just about the system. It’s about you, too. How long will you tolerate feeling foggy, flat, or disconnected from your power? How many more mornings will you wake up feeling “off” and push through without asking what your body’s trying to tell you?The Reclamation Starts Here Let’s be clear: this isn’t a softening. This isn’t a retreat. This is a redefinition of peak performance in a female body. It doesn’t mean you give up your ambition. It means you upgrade your operating system to support it.Whether you're leading in the corporate world, running your own company, or serving on the front lines — you deserve strategies that meet your level of intelligence, intensity, and impact.VANTA Coaching was built for this.Because we know that women like you don’t want sympathy. You want solutions that work. You want to stop wasting time trying to fix things that aren’t broken — and start owning your next evolution with clarity and confidence.This isn’t the end of your performance era. It’s the beginning of your power era.👉 Join the waitlist for The VANTA Reset 👉Contact us for our Guide for Women 40+: The Science of Midlife vitality 👉 Book a free Power Mapping Call and start designing your high-performance strategy

The Silent Exit: How Perimenopause is Costing Businesses — and What High-Performing Women Can Do About It

VANTA Coaching

I provide holistic wellness coaching for perimenopausal and menopausal women, this includes physical fitness, sleep, hormonal health, nutrition, mental health, goals setting

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