What a month it has been. Throughout October, for World Menopause Month, we've published so many articles, hosted our Evening Edit at The Leinster Hotel, held corporate webinars and events, and had conversations with so many of you about what this stage of life really looks like.
As the month ends, here's a look back at what we learned, and where we go from here.
1. Women are still falling through the gap
We started the month asking why so many women are still suffering needlessly. Part of the answer is that women are experts at putting themselves last. Part of it is a knowledge gap on both sides of the consultation: around 90% of menopause care in Ireland happens in general practice, and a 2026 UCC scoping review found that menopause education for Irish healthcare professionals remains limited and inconsistent.
2. Misinformation fuels anxiety
Research on menopause content online shows that most videos cite no sources at all and many are selling something. A UK study found two in three online claims about HRT fell outside official guidance. And a randomised experiment showed that frightening, distress-framed posts about menopause leave women more worried, more confused and less empowered. The answer isn't to stop looking online. It's to ask: who's talking, what are they selling, and where is the evidence?
3. Mood changes are real
A 2024 meta-analysis found that women in perimenopause are around 40% more likely to experience depression than women before it. That's not weakness. It's biology, life and timing, and it deserves proper care.
4. Confidence starts early
Nearly one in five girls aged 10 to 16 in one study had considered quitting sport because of their periods. Early, open, practical conversations, before the first period, help girls stay confident. This is why we created Own It!.
5. Fear shouldn't make the decision
We looked at the two biggest HRT fears: blood clots and breast cancer. Patches and gels were not linked to an increased risk of clots in a major BMJ study. And the absolute increase in breast cancer risk varies a great deal by type of HRT, from about one extra case in 200 women for oestrogen alone to one in 50 for daily combined HRT over five years. Good information, and a good conversation with your GP, should guide the choice.
6. Pain, bones and sleep matter too
This year's World Menopause Day theme was chronic pain in midlife. Around seven in ten perimenopausal women experience musculoskeletal pain, and chronic pain at 44 nearly triples the odds of a heavy menopause symptom burden later. Bone loss speeds up about a year before the final period, making perimenopause a critical window for strength training and bone health. And around a quarter of women experience insomnia severe enough to affect their days, yet CBT for insomnia helped over eight in ten women in one trial.
The thread that runs through it all
Every article came back to the same idea: education is the key. When women understand what's happening, they can ask better questions, make better decisions and look after their whole selves. And when clinicians are better trained, women get better answers.
Help us change what doctors learn
That's why we're so proud to partner with RCSI on Project CHIME, which gathers real women's experiences to shape how future doctors are trained in menopause care. If you've been through perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause, your story can make a difference. The survey is anonymous and stays open: CLICK HERE
Coming up in 2027
We're carrying this into the new year with a full programme at The Factory, Bolands Mills, and our retreat in the west:
Sunday 7 February: Mastering The Transition (one-day workshop)
Monday 8 February: Evening Edit — GLP-1s: what do we know?
Sunday 7 March: Own It! for parents and teens
Monday 8 March: Evening Edit — Hormone Health & Longevity
21–23 March: In Her Prime retreat at Deerstone Luxury Eco Lodge
Monday 12 April: Evening Edit — Mastering The Transition
Sunday 9 May: ReBalance (one-day workshop)
Sunday 6 June: Mastering The Transition (one-day workshop)
You'll find everything at thebalanceproject.ie, and our community events are listed under The Balance Club.
Thank you for reading, sharing, questioning and showing up this month. Menopause awareness shouldn't stop on 31 October. Let's keep the conversation going.
Georgie and Helen x
Always with balance. Always with you.
In Her Prime
A Luxury Hormone Health & Menopause Wellness Retreat
21st to 23rd March 2027
Deerstone Eco Retreat, Wicklow
Mastering The Transition
Hormone Health, Perimenopause & Menopause One-Day Workshop
7th March 2027 / 6th June 2027
See full list of Experiences
Blog by Georgie Sliney McCormack & Helen Flynn
Georgie and Helen are the co-founders of The Balance Project. Through their work, they are committed to making women's health information more accessible, informed, and empowering. They believe better conversations lead to better understanding, better support, and better outcomes for women.
