guardian Malaysia has launched a nationwide campaign to raise perimenopause awareness, offering expert resources, pharmacist support and wellness solutions.
HEALTH and beauty retailer guardian Malaysia has launched a nationwide advocacy campaign aimed at raising awareness of perimenopause, following research showing many Malaysian women are unaware of the early signs of the transitional life stage.
The ‘Embracing Midlife Wellness’ campaign seeks to support an estimated 3.59 million Malaysian women aged between 35 and 49 who are expected to experience perimenopause over the next decade, a group that makes up around 22% of the country’s female population.
The campaign was unveiled on Tuesday alongside findings from guardian’s qualitative Listening Lab, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. The study explored the experiences of women going through perimenopause and menopause and highlighted widespread misconceptions surrounding the condition.
Participants revealed that common symptoms such as hot flushes were often dismissed as hot weather, acne was attributed to stress, migraines were overlooked, while mood changes were frequently mistaken for personality traits rather than hormonal changes.
The study also found that many women felt they lacked understanding and support from those around them, particularly family members.
guardian Malaysia and Brunei managing director Priscilla Wu said many women in their late 30s and 40s continue to struggle in silence because they do not recognise the symptoms they are experiencing.
“Many Malaysian women in their late 30s and 40s are silently struggling with signs they cannot name. This needs to change,” she said.
To kick-start the campaign, guardian hosted a panel discussion featuring healthcare professionals and wellness experts to increase public understanding of perimenopause and the importance of timely support.
The panel comprised consultant gynaecologist and menopause specialist Dr Premitha Damodaran from Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, women’s wellness coach and Pilates instructor Nadhrah Maidin, and neuro-counselling psychologist Dr Lennie Soo, founder of 360 Wellness Hub. The discussion was moderated by television personality Daphne Iking.
Dr Premitha said many women spend months or even years searching for answers without realising hormonal changes may be responsible for their symptoms.
She stressed that recognising perimenopause earlier allows women to receive appropriate support, improve their quality of life and avoid unnecessary suffering.
“Earlier recognition of perimenopause leads to earlier support, better care, and a better quality of life. No woman should have to face this journey alone or suffer in silence,” Dr Premitha explained.
Beyond raising awareness, guardian is expanding its support ecosystem through both digital and in-store initiatives.
The retailer has introduced a dedicated Perimenopause Hub on its website and mobile application, offering expert-backed educational resources to help women better understand the condition.
In stores, customers will have access to dedicated perimenopause wellness sections and consultations with guardian pharmacists.
guardian has also adopted the MTick® certification through the GenM Collective initiative, allowing shoppers to more easily identify products that may help manage one or more of the 48 recognised signs of menopause across categories including vitamins, sleep support, heart health, skincare, hair care, body odour management and feminine care.
Priscilla said guardian hopes the campaign will encourage women to approach midlife with greater confidence by providing access to trusted information, professional guidance and suitable wellness solutions.
“To all the Malaysian women out there who are in their late 30s and 40s, midlife is no longer a time of doubt and silent suffering. The new dawn starts today as we strive to help empower you to navigate midlife with confidence,” she added.
