When Michelle Bridges started experiencing a host of unexplained symptoms five years ago, she hadn’t even considered they could be hormonal.
It was the beginning of the COVID lockdowns in 2020 when Michelle, then 49, relocated from Sydney to a property in the Southern Highlands with her son, Axel.
After a recent separation, the trainer attributed her sleeplessness, tinnitus, anxiety, and aching hip to the stress of the pandemic on top of everything else.
“I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I couldn’t sleep, I felt anxious, and I was just really flat. It was all having a knock-on effect, and I didn’t feel like training, which was really unusual for me.”
While she knew what menopause was, she had only a basic understanding: “I thought it was something that happens in your fifties. You don’t have a period, you put on a bit of weight, you have hot flushes, and you might have some mood swings. That was really the extent of it.”
“Perimenopause? I didn’t even know that was a word in the English language. I had no clue there was such a thing.”
Michelle isn’t alone. One in five women experience symptoms of perimenopause by the age of 40, yet many women in their 30s still don’t know what perimenopause is. All too often, they suffer in silence, assuming changes like fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, and mood fluctuations are just a natural part of ageing.
Even as one of the most recognisable faces in the Australian health and fitness industry, the 54-year-old admits she rarely went to the GP. However, the impact her symptoms were having on her life became so debilitating that she had no choice but to book an appointment.
After running blood tests, the doctor explained that her LDL (sometimes referred to as ‘bad’) cholesterol had increased, and her vitamin D levels had dramatically dropped—despite no major changes to her diet or lifestyle. Even so, her GP wasn’t concerned, and Michelle was prescribed antidepressants—a common scenario for many women in perimenopause.
“I found myself being quite confronted by them. Not that I have a problem with antidepressants, because they work amazingly well for a lot of people. But I sat in my car that day and went, ‘What on earth?’”
A push in the right direction
Ironically, this period of lockdown was also when the 12WBT (12 Week Body Transformation) co-founder had time to start working on The Menopause Method program—something her community had been asking for years. It was only once she started digging into the research that the penny dropped.
“I started researching and I just went, oh my God, this is me.”
When she switched doctors and finally got her diagnosis, it was a relief, describing it as “validating.”
“But then the very next emotion that washed over me was: I am pissed off. I felt so let down by the medical system.”
“A lot of my symptoms were neurological, so they were very easy to explain away, which is the lifestyle that most of us lead as women. We’re busy, and we often put ourselves last.”
This frustration only drove her to pour her energy into her latest venture, The Perimenopause Method—a program designed to empower women in their 30s and 40s to understand the impact of perimenopause and take control of their health during this transition.
“When you understand perimenopause, you can take action—supporting your body, your mind, and your future wellbeing,” Michelle says.
“I want women to know that they don’t have to suffer. I was a walking perimenopause textbook, and no one had told me. Even my GP misdiagnosed it.”
The 12-week program takes a holistic approach, helping women navigate perimenopause with a focus on fitness, nutrition, mindset, community, and expert advice from leading Australian doctors and specialists.
“These women in this age group category, they’re the rock stars. They are holding down a job, making big decisions, and they’ve got extended family they’re caring for—elderly parents, a partner, kids, and a mortgage. It’s a lot to deal with. If you can get the right support, it doesn’t have to be as hard as it is.”
Putting your hand up for help
Her biggest piece of advice for those going through the transition? Advocate for yourself, because “no one’s going to do it for you.”
“It’s imperative that you have a GP who understands both perimenopause and menopause and has a strong handle on what you can do holistically to support yourself.”
“Ask questions, and if you’re not satisfied, it’s okay to go to a different doctor. You’re not cheating. You’re entitled to get a second or even a third opinion.”
For Michelle, Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT, also known as HRT) was a game changer.
“I’m not suggesting that every single woman should be on HRT, but what I am suggesting is that every single woman should have the opportunity to have the conversation and understand all about it.”
To learn more about The Perimenopause Method, visit 12wbt.com.
