On World Menopause Day, 18 October, the NSW government announced the establishment of a menopause referral system in the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD).

President of the Country Women's Association (CWA) NSW Joy Beames said the lack of awareness surrounding menopause goes beyond the general public and into the medical field. 

"I think everybody needs to be more educated about menopause, including GPs so that when women turn up at the doctor's office with these symptoms they are aware of what it is." 

"The lack of education about the possible ways that menopause can affect people is quite pronounced." 

When Ms Beames went through menopause at the age of 40 she said her symptoms were misdiagnosed by her GP as fibromyalgia. 

"He didn't really know what it was and said it's fibromyalgia and you'll just have to put up with it," Ms Beames said

It was only earlier this year during a CWA inquiry that she heard the stories of other women and realized her symptoms were related to menopause. 

"I had no idea at all. I thought it was just hot flushes," Ms Beames said. 

"Eventually all the muscle aches went away and I thought maybe it was not fibromyalgia." 

 CWA President Joy Beames said her concerns were not taken seriously.

Ms Beames said that menopause had never been something she talked about in her social circles. 

"And that's a shame."

The referral system will help women navigate their symptoms, Ms Beames said. 

"It would be handy if people knew beforehand that the muscle aches, the anger, or the brain fog are all part of it and we can deal with it."

The referral system was put in place to give women who are experiencing complex menopause symptoms the opportunity to receive expert support. 

“Every woman is different, and every woman experiences different symptoms of menopause. But many women experiencing severe or complex symptoms will endure in silence which can seriously impact their health and wellbeing," Minister for Western NSW Tara Moriarty said. 

WNSWLHD also offers an online perimenopause and menopause toolkit that anyone can have a look at to gain a deeper understanding of what menopause is and how it affects the body.

It includes ten podcasts with experts and 2-minute explainers on the symptoms. 

The majority of consultations will be virtual but the WNSWLHD said they are available to meet in person if the individual patient requires.

“This Specialised Menopause Referral Service will promote flexibility and choice in the way women in Western NSW access support to manage severe menopause symptoms, and by improving access locally this service will significantly reduce the need to travel for this important care," Regional Health Minister Ryan Park said.