Menopause nearly COST ME EVERYTHING

After years of struggling with symptoms, Bronda Smith has launched a petition to create awareness and help others

- Cloe Willetts

Last year, Hawke's Bay careerwoman Bronda Smith almost lost everything. Not only did her senior corporate job crumble from under her, but she also came within inches of losing her marriage. Her mental and physical health were the worst they'd ever been, and it all came down to one major problem - menopause.

"I was 45 when my menopause symptoms started, but it comes on so gradually that it takes a while to realise what's happening," recalls Bronda, 52, who was working in local government roles as a chief financial officer. "I'd be sitting at the dinner table and suddenly look like I'd had water chucked on my face, with sweat everywhere.

"The thing that made me go to the doctor in 2019 were the hot flushes because I'd wake up needing to pat myself down with a towel and regularly change the bedsheets since I was soaking through them."

When her GP printed out a list that included over a dozen menopause symptoms, Bronda realised she had all of them except one. They included sweats and body odour, heart palpitations, brittle nails, weight gain, sleeping problems, breast tenderness, and nausea.

"It's hard because the symptoms are quite vague, and it's not until you're at the right age and the doctor asks enough questions that you realise it's menopause," says Bronda, who also went on to suffer brain fog, difficulty concentrating, bladder weakness, vaginal dryness and dry, itchy skin.