Kuala lumpur: Health and beauty retailer Guardian Malaysia has launched a nationwide advocacy campaign, 'Embracing Midlife Wellness', to help more Malaysian women recognize the early signs of perimenopause, an often overlooked life stage that could affect millions of Malaysian women.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Guardian Malaysia, in a statement, said an estimated 3.59 million Malaysian women aged between 35 and 49, representing about 22 percent of the country's female population, were expected to experience perimenopause over the next decade, making the issue one of growing public health significance. The statement highlighted that a sizeable number of the population experienced serious life gaps on a daily basis.
Seeking to understand these gaps, Guardian conducted a qualitative Listening Lab session with women in both the perimenopause and menopause life stages, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. The research uncovered widespread signs of misattribution, especially among the perimenopause participants. Issues like hot flushes were being blamed on the weather, acne was linked to stress, migraines were dismissed, and mood changes were seen as personality flaws. Support from those closest to them was also lacking, as shared by one participant: 'I think the people around us... generally, the men in Malaysia, aren't very alert to how perimenopause affects women.'
Guardian Malaysia and Brunei Managing Director Priscilla Wu said the campaign was introduced to address the lack of awareness surrounding perimenopause, particularly among women in their late 30s and 40s, many of whom experience symptoms without recognizing their underlying cause. 'Many Malaysian women in their late 30s and 40s are silently struggling with signs they cannot name. This needs to change,' she said.
In order to improve the recognition of and encourage advocacy on perimenopause, Guardian hosted a public panel discussion featuring Consultant Gynaecologist, Menopause and Women's Health at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Dr. Premitha Damodaran, women's wellness coach and pilates instructor Nadhrah Maidin, and neuro-counselling psychologist, as well as founder of 360 Wellness Hub, Dr. Lennie Soo. Moderated by television personality Daphne Iking, the discussion focused on the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of perimenopause, while encouraging women to seek professional advice and support at an earlier stage.
Dr. Premitha emphasized that early recognition of hormonal changes could lead to timely intervention and improved quality of life for women. 'Too many women spend months or even years wondering what's happening to them, searching for answers, never realizing that hormonal changes may be the cause. 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,' she said.
Guardian introduced a dedicated Perimenopause Hub on its website and mobile application, offering expert-backed educational content, while its stores now feature dedicated product sections and pharmacist-led consultations. Guardian has also adopted the MTick® certification under the GenM Collective initiative, enabling shoppers to easily identify products that may help address one or more of the 48 recognized signs associated with menopause across categories including vitamins, sleep and heart health, skin health, hair and body odor, as well as feminine care.
The initiative reflects Guardian's commitment to transforming its stores from purely transactional retail outlets into accessible health support spaces where women can obtain reliable information and make informed decisions throughout different stages of life. The company aims to empower more women to navigate midlife confidently through greater awareness, trusted healthcare advice and easier access to suitable wellness products.