In emergency medicine I saw how strong and resilient women are — and how often their symptoms are not truly seen.

I am Iris, trained as an emergency physician, and I have worked for many years in different countries (Belgium, South Africa, Guadeloupe). There I learned to listen beyond protocols and symptoms. In emergency medicine I saw how strong and resilient women are — and how often their symptoms are not truly seen, especially around peri- and menopause. I learned a great deal about hormones, diagnoses and guidelines. But I learned at least as much by listening to women who said: 'I don't recognise myself anymore.' 'Something isn't right, but nobody looks further.' 'It's not just in my body.' And they were right. Many women come here because they no longer feel like themselves. Poor sleep, mood swings, brain fog, anxiety, fatigue, physical complaints — and often the feeling that they are not taken seriously. Hormone therapy (HRT) can be a very effective and safe treatment during peri- and menopause. For many women it makes a world of difference. And peri- and menopause affect so much more than oestrogen alone. They touch old patterns, stored stress, unprocessed grief, a lifetime of caring for others — and sometimes the feeling of having lost yourself along the way.