From Reflection to Empowerment: Navigating Midlife and Menopause

Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Dr Lydia Altini shares insights from the Australasian Menopause Congress, 1 - 3 September, 2023 as part of Women's Health Week.

The Australasian Menopause Congress

The Australasian Menopause Congress, Women’s Health Week: 1 - 3 September, 2023

Thirteen million Australians are born with ovaries; 3 million are currently between the ages of 40 and 60 years and 85% are experiencing symptoms of menopause. A third will be experiencing such severe symptoms that it impedes daily life and increases risk of suicide! With statistics like these, it’s high time we are empowered to be proactive about our health and well-being as we navigate midlife and menopause.

This is why it was such a privilege to attend the 26th Australasian Menopause Congress which brought together health professionals from many different disciplines to hear about the latest advances in this field. This article highlights just two of the many topics that were covered and shares a few key resources with you, which you can use as valuable tools when seeking evidence-based knowledge and support.

Closing the Knowledge Gap

We know there is still significant embarrassment and stigma in our society around the perimenopause and menopause, despite being natural phases of a woman’s life. As a consequence, women don’t feel comfortable discussing their experiences with their peers. Myths and confusion abound.

There are still large gaps in our knowledge about what to expect, how to manage our symptoms and how to protect ourselves from the chronic diseases women become more susceptible to as they age – heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia.

There are knowledge gaps amongst health professionals too contributing to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. The good news however, and what I was most encouraged by at this latest Congress was just how many dedicated researchers and clinicians there are working hard to challenge the status quo.

Premature ovarian insufficiency and early menopause affect 3.7% and 12% of women, respectively, across the globe.

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency and Early Menopause

Professor Nick Panay from the United Kingdom and Clinical Associate Professor Amanda Vincent from Monash Health were keynote speakers on premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and early menopause.

Premature ovarian insufficiency is a loss of ovarian function before the age of 40 and is also known as premature menopause.

Early menopause occurs before the age of 45.

These two conditions affect 3.7% and 12% of women respectively globally. Causes may be unknown, genetic or as a result of damage to the ovaries through infections, auto-immune conditions, smoking, pollutants, chemotherapy, or when ovaries are removed.

Any woman experiencing irregular periods and symptoms of menopause younger than 45 should be investigated promptly to facilitate timely diagnosis.

As one can imagine, experiencing premature or early menopause may have profound psychological and psychosocial consequences with a marked increase in anxiety and decreased self-esteem. If not managed effectively, women are at increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, respiratory diseases and high blood pressure. Their cognitive function may be affected as well as their fertility and sexuality.

Surveys have discovered knowledge gaps especially amongst women living in regional and remote areas which in turn impacts health related behaviours. For this reason, Professor Vincent and her team have developed a resource where you will find stories of 30 women from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds living in Victoria, Australia, who share what it is like to experience early menopause or POI. Visit www.healthtalkaustralia.org and www.askearlymenopause.org to find out more.

Preserving Bone and Muscle Mass

We need to preserve bone and muscle mass during menopause, and exercise is an essential part of the solution.

There were a few highly informative presentations on bone health but the one that stood out for me was a talk by Professor Belinda Beck from Griffith University on Exercise and Musculoskeletal Health in the Menopause.

In the first 5 years after we reach menopause, we will all experience a rapid decline in bone mineral density. Some of us may have even experienced pre-menopausal bone loss from smoking, drinking excessive alcohol, low body weight, Rheumatoid arthritis, premature ovarian insufficiency and being on corticosteroids.

What can we do to defend ourselves from developing osteoporosis as we age? According to Professor Beck, up until recently, there was a general belief amongst health professionals that exercise had a modest effect on bone health as compared to medication.

Health professionals are often fearful of causing harm which means they may only recommend fairly gentle forms of exercise like swimming, cycling, walking and Tai Chi. Although all these activities have health benefits, as Professor Beck says “They are NOT going to help grow new bone”. To do that you have to overload bone reasonably often which means regular strength training! Visit www.healthybonesaustralia.org.au for more guidance.  

Summary

It is enormously reassuring to see the work being done to advance women’s health in the perimenopause and menopause and promote healthy ageing. There are multiple options nowadays for women from medications, complementary and psychological therapies and lifestyle coaching. 

At Sage Women’s Health, we will be keeping ourselves well-informed of the latest research and evidence-based guidelines so we can ensure you are receiving accurate and reliable information, supporting you to thrive through the menopause transition and beyond.

References

Ask Early Menopause (2023) Monash Health. Available at: http://www.askearlymenopause.org/ (Accessed: 04 September 2023).

Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences (2022) Healthtalk Australia. Available at: http://www.healthtalkaustralia.org/ (Accessed: 04 September 2023).

Osteoporosis prevention - healthy bones for life without fracture (2023) Healthy Bones Australia. Available at: http://www.healthybonesaustralia.org.au/ (Accessed: 04 September 2023).

Program (2023) AMS. Available at: https://www.amscongress.com.au/2023-program (Accessed: 04 September 2023).

Vital Meno Research (2023) Flinders University. Available at: https://www.flinders.edu.au/research/vitalmeno#:~:text=VITAL%20is%20a%20registry%20that,perimenopause%20and%20menopause%20across%20Australia. (Accessed: 04 September 2023)

More Posts on Menopause