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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026
International Women’s Day
#IWD2026 #GiveToGain
March 8
The Menopause Practice celebrates one year of supporting women
BY JENNIFER MCFEE
PHOTOS BY ENASAL-AINI PHOTOGRAPHY Erica Henderson, Annabelle Reimer and Melina Elliott, founders of The Menopause Practice.
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HE MENOPAUSE PRACTICE recently marked its one-year mile - stone of offering personalized care for women by women. A trio of wellness experts noticed a gap in services related to meno - pause, perimenopause and hormonal health, so they combined their skill sets and launched the private practice in January 2025.
could include hot flashes, night sweats, increased irritability, anxiety and pos - sibly weight gain. It’s that period of time when you start feeling not like yourself.” Some women may start experiencing symptoms up to 10 years prior to the actual date of menopause, she added.
“The symptoms of menopause that are tradition - ally spoken about, such as hot flashes and night sweats, can carry on for another seven to 12 years post-menopause, so it’s quite a lengthy duration for women,” Reimer says. “Whether or not you have symptoms, your body is still going through changes. That may include increased risk of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance or diabetes and higher body weight, which can contribute to other concerns. The time of transition of menopause also increases our risk of some mental health concerns, such as increased anxiety, depression and possibly a re-escalation of ADHD type of symptoms.”
The Menopause Practice brings together the expertise of Melina Elliott and Erica Henderson of Body Measure, along with nurse practitioner Annabelle Reimer. Rounding out their team, they also work alongside several more nurse practition - ers, a social worker, and an office assistant. Their goal is simple yet succinct: to empower women through transformative evidence-based care that enhances quality of life during every stage of menopause and beyond. Women can self-refer to the private practice, which isn’t covered by Manitoba Health. With a focus on flexibility, appointments are available vir - tually, by phone, or in person at the clinic, located at 1086 St. Mary’s Rd.
“We’re helping women not just to survive through this period of our lives but to really thrive.” – MELINA ELLIOTT, MASTER'S OF SCIENCE THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
At The Menopause Practice, the team takes the time to understand each client’s specific symptoms and provides tailored guid - ance to help manage their needs. Services can include in-depth blood work, bone density scans, nutritional guidance, hormone therapy and more. Melina Elliott, who holds a Master's of Science degree from the Faculty of Medicine and Community Health, University of Manitoba, is passionate about working with women so they can feel their best. “We’re helping women not just to survive through this period of our lives but to really thrive. Oftentimes, society sees women in mid-life as not really having value anymore, but I think that’s changing now,” she says.
Annabelle Reimer, the first nurse practitioner in Manitoba to obtain certification from The Menopause Society, shares some insights on this time of transition. “Menopause is the one day when it’s been one year since the time of your last menses for a woman who is having a natural menopause experience,” she says. “Perimenopause or pre-menopause is the period of time prior to that date when women are starting to notice changes within their hormonal cycles. Their men - ses might start getting slightly irregular. They may be having symptoms that
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