The happiest time in her life, Mary Coustas was suffering. It took time to work out why

Menopause has become a mainstream conversation in Australia, but personal accounts show how long it can take to get answers—especially when symptoms overlap with life changes. In May 2026, the federal government launched an awareness campaign on menopause and perimenopause to educate women and men, noting the stages can begin in a woman’s late 30s and may last months or years. Mary Coustas, after more than 23 rounds of IVF and menopause soon after childbirth, described severe and confusing symptoms and difficulty finding doctors, leading her to co-found the telehealth clinic UnPause in 2023 with Xanthi Kouvatas. UnPause’s founders cite limited access to care and the impact on mental health, including links raised by advocates. Another contributor, Shelly Horton, experienced perimenopausal depression beginning in 2020 and later used GP education, antidepressants, and HRT. She published I’m Your Peri-Godmother in 2025.