A practical guide for women across Aotearoa New Zealand
Menopause is not always natural.
Surgical menopause can be sudden, overwhelming, and full of questions. Whether you’re preparing for surgery or adjusting to life afterward, our free patient booklet provides clear, evidence-based information, lived-experience perspectives and practical tools to help you understand surgical menopause and navigate the changes it can bring.
What’s inside:
- Understanding surgical menopause – what happens when both ovaries are removed, hormonal changes and fertility considerations.
- Making informed choices – informed consent, preparing questions and communicating with your healthcare team.
- Preparation for surgery & recovery – practical planning, what to expect and ways to support your recovery.
- Understanding treatment options – HRT/MHT, non-hormonal treatments and supportive lifestyle approaches.
- Identity, relationships & wellbeing – navigating emotional changes, relationships and self-advocacy.
- Practical tools & resources – symptom tracking, preparation checklists and further information to support your journey.
This booklet is a starting point for understanding surgical menopause and exploring your options. It does not replace personalised medical advice, but can help you feel more prepared to discuss your needs with your healthcare team.
Download the booklet (PDF) – Updated October 2026. Version 1.2.
Koha
If you find this resource helpful, please consider giving a koha to support our work. Any support is deeply appreciated!
https://smnzt.raiselysite.com/
Help us reach more people (Closed)
Our Givealittle campaign to help print New Zealand’s first surgical menopause patient booklet has now closed. Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative and helped us move closer to making this resource available in print.
With support towards printing, we’re working towards distributing copies to clinics, hospitals, GP practices and other healthcare settings throughout New Zealand.
Our long-term goal is for surgical menopause awareness, education and support to become an integral part of the health system, so that people receive the information and care they need as part of their healthcare journey.
As a patient-led charity, we’re working to make reliable, accessible information available to those who need it and help bring surgical menopause into greater awareness across the health system.
Share & give feedback
We encourage you to share the booklet with:
- Family or friends who are going through surgical menopause
- Healthcare professionals
- Support groups and community networks
We also warmly welcome your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions. Your feedback will help us improve the booklet and make it even more useful for everyone going through surgical menopause. Please share your comments at info@surgicalmenopause.org.nz.
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[Updated: Oct 2026]
