More Than A Signature

7-Day Campaign: More Than A Signature

Informed Consent is an Interactive Process

This campaign supports our upcoming booklet on preparing for surgery and making informed choices.

Too many women are being left in the dark before – and after – a surgery that changes everything.

Surgical menopause happens when both ovaries are removed, causing an immediate and permanent drop in hormone levels. It can lead to significant physical, mental, and emotional changes – and women deserve to be as fully informed as possible, and supported throughout this experience.

Our campaign, More Than A Signature, shares a selection of quotes from women who have experienced surgical menopause, drawn from surveys conducted by what is now Surgical Menopause NZ Trust and by Menodoctor between 2022 and 2023. These voices highlight not only the lack of information before surgery, but also the lack of follow-up care and support afterward.

These stories make one thing clear: informed consent must be more than a signature. And support must continue well beyond the operating room.

They also lay the groundwork for what’s next – our upcoming patient booklet and a national campaign calling on Health NZ to distribute it across the system.

Help us raise awareness.
Help us change the standard of care for all women facing surgical menopause.

#WHWNZ #MoreThanASignature #MakeSurgicalMenopauseMatter

Monday 11 August 2025

This week for Women’s Health Week NZ, we’re talking about why informed consent is More Than a Signature. It’s not just paperwork. It’s a process that gives you all the facts, real options and support before and after surgery.

Too many people enter surgical menopause unprepared. That needs to change.

With gratitude to Menodoctor and Surgical Menopause NZ Trust survey participants for sharing their lived experiences. Your voices are the heart of this campaign.

Informed Consent is More Than a Signature

“It is an interactive process, not a one-time event. It is more than signing forms.” – Medical Council of NZ, Informed Consent: Helping Patients Make Informed Decisions About Their Care. June 2021.

What Informed Consent Should Mean:

You received all relevant information and fully understand the consequences of your choices. It”s made of:

Clear, complete information
Real options and time to consider them
Respect for your values & life
Support before and after surgery

Too often, that doesn’t happen.

Real Voices

“I wasn’t told by my gynaecologist that I would go into full menopause after surgery.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ
“I previously had a hysterectomy and was thought to be post menopausal according to blood tests. Surgical menopause came as a big surprise.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ
“I was recommended to have my ovaries removed alongside a hysterectomy. I wish I’d known how life shattering that might be.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ
“I was given no information on what to expect from surgical menopause or how to manage the symptoms.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ

Breached Rights:

Right 6 – Information: Honest details about your condition, options, and any teaching or research. You can ask questions and get written summaries.

Right 7 – Choice & Consent: Clear details on options, benefits, risks, and alternatives. Consent must be voluntary, with time to decide, and you can change your mind anytime before treatment.

Fact:

Only 3% felt well prepared prior to their surgery. – Menodoctor Survey Report 2022-2023.

Question:

Were you given enough information about surgical menopause before your surgery?

#WHWNZ #WomensHealthWeek #MoreThanASignature #MakeSurgicalMenopauseMatter #InformedConsent #SurgicalMenopauseNZ #WomensHealth

Tuesday 12 August 2025

You can’t prepare for what you don’t know but that’s the reality for many. Informed consent means knowing what surgery will do to your body and your life, so you can plan, prepare and protect your wellbeing.

The Emotional Impact No One Told Us About

The removal of both ovaries resulting in surgical menopause can be life-saving but the emotional, mental, and identity shifts that follow are often unspoken.

When women are properly informed, they can prepare, plan, and protect their wellbeing.

Real Voices

“It has been the toughest thing I have ever experienced – and continue to. There is so much I underestimated.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
“Some of these changes have felt life-changing, I’ve changed.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
“[I wish I’d known] how surgical menopause affects absolutely everything, I was only told that the hot flushes would be more intense.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
“I’m still trying to adjust to the new me, and that has impacted on my family.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
“It saved my life but the following symptoms have eroded my quality of life.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust

Breached Rights:

Right 1 – Respect: To be treated with respect, including privacy and recognition of your cultural, religious, social and personal values.

Right 3 – Dignity & Independence: Enabling you to fully participate in decisions about your health.

Fact:

85% of women surveyed were not offered counselling before or after surgery. – Surgical Menopause NZ Trust Survey Report 2022-2023.

Question:

How did surgical menopause affect your mental and emotional wellbeing?

#WHWNZ #MoreThanASignature #MakeSurgicalMenopauseMatter #InformedConsent #SurgicalMenopauseNZ #WomensHealth

Wednesday 13 August 2025

When the surgery ends, care shouldn’t.

Too often, surgical menopause is where follow-up stops – no plan, no check-in, no support.

That’s not informed care. That’s abandonment. We need a system that stays with people for the whole journey.

When the Surgery Ends, Support Shouldn’t

For too many, surgical menopause is where care stops, not starts.

There’s no follow-up. No plan. No one checking in.

That’s not informed care, that’s abandonment.

Real Voices

“No ongoing care from surgeon/gynaecologist. I feel abandoned to deal with myself to be honest.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
“Total lack of support for women in menopause after cancer.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ
“No one is centrally managing this and I have to drive it myself. There’s no aftercare.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust “
[I wish I’d known] all the symptoms and long term effects. Particularly the serious ones like bone density and heart damage. And that no one will monitor these.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust

Breached Rights:

Right 3 – Dignity & Independence: Enabling you to fully participate in decisions about your health.

Right 4 – Appropriate Standards: Safe, ethical and legal care tailored to your needs, aiming to minimise harm and improve quality of life.

Right 6 – Effective Communication: Information must be clear and in a format you understand, with interpreters or support provided if needed for open, two-way communication.

Fact:

53% of women surveyed were given no information about managing surgical menopause long-term. – Surgical Menopause NZ Trust Survey Report 2022-2023.

Question:

Did anyone check in on you after surgery? What support did you receive?

#WHWNZ #MoreThanASignature #MakeSurgicalMenopauseMatter #SurgicalMenopauseNZ #WomensHealth #InformedConsent #SystemicGaps

Thursday 14 August 2025

Surgical menopause isn’t just hot flushes. It can impact your work, relationships, mental health and identity.

Yet these life-changing effects are often left out of pre-surgery conversations.

When people are properly informed, they can prepare for what’s ahead, not be blindsided by it.

Not Just a Procedure. A Life Change.

Surgical menopause can impact your work, your relationships, your sense of self. But too often, none of that is discussed.

Informed consent must include how surgery might affect your life, not just your body.

Real Voices:

“It had a big impact on my marriage. Now divorced.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
“There is a lot of grieving involved in this experience.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
I’m struggling to adapt to the changes in my body, particularly the lack of mental acuity, [which] is having a big impact on my work quality and output.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ
“It was sudden and severe. I had no one to talk to and all my friends did not understand no matter how hard they tried as they were in their early 30s.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
“[I wish I’d known] how alone you feel, it’s such a taboo subject.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust
“It was sudden and severe. I had no one to talk to and all my friends did not understand no matter how hard they tried as they were in their early 30s.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ

Breached Rights:

Right 4 – Appropriate Standards: Safe, ethical and legal care tailored to your needs, aiming to minimise harm and improve quality of life.

Right 6 – Effective Communication: Information must be clear and in a format you understand, with interpreters or support provided if needed for open, two-way communication.

Fact:

51% of women were not told the difference between natural and surgical menopause. – Surgical Menopause NZ Trust Survey Report 2022-2023

Question:

Did surgical menopause impact your job, relationships, or sense of self?

#WHWNZ #MoreThanASignature #MakeSurgicalMenopauseMatter #SurgicalMenopauseNZ #WomensHealth #InformedConsent

Friday 15 August 2025

Under the Code of Health & Disability Services Consumers’ Rights, you have 10 legal rights in healthcare.

These include the right to full, honest information, the right to make your own decisions and the right to change your mind before treatment.

Knowing your rights is the first step to making sure they’re respected.

These Are Your 10 Legal Rights

Under the Code of Health & Disability Services Consumers’ Rights:

Respect
Fair Treatment
Dignity & Independence
Appropriate Standards
Effective Communication
Information
Choice & Consent
Support
Teaching & Research
Complaints Taken Seriously

Real Voices:

“I felt like I was just another patient, and that aftercare was not a consideration.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust

The British Menopause Society (BMS) States:

“All women undergoing surgical menopause should have counselling and be provided with information about the hormonal consequences of surgery and the role of HRT, both before surgery and before leaving hospital, with clear communication to the primary care team.” – BMS. Surgical Menopause: A Toolkit for Healthcare Professionals (Reviewed Sept 2024).

Real Voices:

“No one briefed me on what was going to happen to my body afterwards.” – 2022-2023 Survey Surgical Menopause NZ Trust

Question:

Which of these rights were honoured in your care? Which weren’t?

#WHWNZ #MoreThanASignature #MakeSurgicalMenopauseMatter #SurgicalMenopauseNZ #WomensHealth #InformedConsent

Saturday 16 August 2025

If something didn’t feel right, you have the right to speak up.

The Health & Disability Advocacy Service and the Health & Disability Commissioner are here to listen, investigate and make sure care improves.

You have the right to be informed. You have the right to be heard.

If Something Felt Wrong, You Can Speak Up

Here’s where to get support:

Nationwide Health & Disability Advocacy Service: advocacy.org.nz
Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC): hdc.org.nz

You have the right to be informed.

You have the right to be heard.

You have the right to be supported.

Real Voices:

“I feel that I was ignored by a health system for 33 years of managing debilitating pain, only to result in surgical menopause, with no support post op, medical or otherwise.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ
“I have no fait in the NZ health system.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ

Breached Rights:

Right 10 – Complaints Taken Seriously: If you’re unhappy with your care or feel your rights were not respected, you can make a complaint. Providers must listen, respond promptly, and keep you informed.

Question:

Have you used these services before? What was it like?

If you thought about making a complaint, but didn’t, why not?

#WHWNZ #MoreThanASignature #MakeSurgicalMenopauseMatter #SurgicalMenopauseNZ #WomensHealth #InformedConsent

Sunday 17 August 2025

This @tendnz Women’s Health Week, you’ve heard stories from across Aotearoa – people who weren’t told the full picture before or after surgery.

They weren’t prepared. They weren’t supported.

That’s not informed consent. It’s time to make informed care the standard, not the exception.

Our thanks to Menodoctor & Surgical Menopause NZ Trust survey participants.

Your courage in sharing your experiences is helping push for better informed consent and care.

Informed Care Is the Standard – Let’s Make It Real

This week, we’ve shared the stories of women across Aotearoa who weren’t told the full picture before or after surgery.

They weren’t told what surgical menopause would mean
They weren’t prepared
They weren’t supported

That’s not informed consent. That’s a system that needs to do better.

Real Voices:

“Maybe it wouldn’t seem so scary if surgical menopause was known about by health professionals in general.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ

Fact:

There are gaps in medical training:

Menopause receives limited attention in medical school.
There is no standardised postgraduate training in menopause management. – Menopause Survey Report 2022-2023

Real Voices:

“I’ve been left to find most information by myself.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ
It does seem like the procedure is just that ‘a procedure’. But it’s a complete change in life for a woman.” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ

We’re Calling for a Better Future

Every doctor trained with up-to-date knowledge on surgical menopause
Every patient given clear, honest, accessible information before and after surgery
Consent as a process, not a signature

Because everyone deserves care they can trust.

Our New Booklet Can Help Close the Gap

This free resource is designed to:

Support real preparation
Acknowledge emotional and identity shifts
Clarify rights and expectations
Connect people to support

Launching soon.

Real Voices:

“I thought surgical menopause was going to be the same as natural – it’s not…” – 2022-2023 Menodoctor Survey NZ

Question:

What would have helped you feel truly informed and supported?

#WHWNZ #MoreThanASignature #MakeSurgicalMenopauseMatter #InformedConsent #SurgicalMenopauseNZ #WomensHealth