24/10/2026
Lily Xu at The Asian Network Incorporated (TANI), recently held a menopause awareness talk at Highland Park Library in East Auckland, covering common symptoms, treatment options and ways to maintain wellbeing.
Xu said the discussion encouraged women to speak openly about menopause, helping to challenge the stigma surrounding the subject in Asian communities.
"By sharing what you've been through and exchanging perspectives on how you've dealt with those experiences, you can learn a lot from one another," she said.
"That kind of sharing can be incredibly helpful."
Xu said attitudes towards menopause varied among women in the Chinese community.
Some ignored the symptoms.
Some felt anxious, while others were reluctant to discuss the subject.
She suggested setting up a multilingual helpline for Asian women, staffed by health professionals who could answer questions and address concerns about menopause.
Such a service, alongside community education, could help women better understand their symptoms and feel more confident seeking medical advice, she said.
According to Health New Zealand, menopause is a natural biological process that typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
Perimenopause, the transition leading up to menopause, can begin in a woman's early 40s and last four to eight years, during which periods may become irregular or heavier before stopping altogether.
Full article can be found here :
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/chinese_english/2095084/nobody-talks-about-it-menopause-stigma-silences-asian-women?fbclid=IwdGRjcAVJEQJjbGNrBUkQ_2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YFc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeYuzJEP92tf87gFv-FJqbw-C3gjjMfQ9JZGkz1f8SmuTUdYVHKVpLdtiiIoA_aem_KcgMXM1xhYeldmf5kvbt2w
Healthy Babies Healthy Futures Healthy Healthy Babies Healthy Futures South Asian- TANI Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Auckland Council Women's Health Action Trust Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora Whānau Āwhina Plunket RNZ
