MENOPAUSE
Menopause is the absence of a period for greater than 12 months.
With our current life expectancy, we are living almost half of our lives in menopause; optimising our care in the second half will maximise our chances of making the most out of this time. At Women’s Health Melbourne, our dedicated team of doctors and allied health services specialises in the delicate balance of hormonal changes during menopause. We recognise that menopause brings a unique set of symptoms for every woman, owing to hormonal fluctuations.
Many women experience troublesome symptoms like hot flushes, disturbed sleep and mood changes. Often, serious concerns like reduced sexual satisfaction are not discussed or addressed due to embarrassment or a feeling that nothing can be done. Preventative health care in menopause includes regular breast and bone health assessments.
Our individualised approach takes into account your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle to craft a bespoke treatment plan that could encompass both hormonal and non-hormonal therapies.
Our specialists have a special interest in balancing the hormonal changes of menopause to help women achieve symptom control and quality of life. Our holistic team of Doctors and Allied Health services have expertise in managing menopause with both hormonal and non-hormonal therapies.
OUR SERVICES
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Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) is an option for managing the symptoms of menopause. Our experts will meticulously assess whether MHT is suitable for your individual needs and will talk you through the potential advantages and risks, allowing you to make an educated choice regarding your health. In addition to MHT, we offer a host of non-hormonal therapies that may be equally effective in easing menopausal symptoms. These might involve adjustments to your lifestyle and diet, techniques to reduce stress, and complementary therapies.
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Beyond merely treating symptoms, we are committed to empowering you with knowledge about menopause. We believe that understanding what to expect during this transformative phase enables you to approach it with confidence and make informed decisions. Our team is on hand to answer any questions, allay any fears, and provide continuous support throughout your menopause journey.
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The definition of menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for greater than 12 months. Before this occurs, most women begin to notice a series of changes – termed the “perimenopause”.
While the hormonal transition into menopause is a natural event, the associated symptoms can be distressing. Disturbed sleep, mood changes and uncomfortable “hot flushes” can negatively impact on quality of life. Local effects of lower oestrogen levels can make sexual intercourse uncomfortable.
Women going through menopause have many healthy, happy and active years in their future. At Women’s Health Melbourne, our holistic approach is targeted to symptom relief and also includes bone, breast and general health assessments. Creating individually tailored treatment plans, we help women make a healthy transition beyond menopause.
Dr Tzippora Ben-Harim and Dr Lironne Wein have a specific interest and expertise in the hormonal and non-hormonal management of hot flushes and other menopause symptoms.
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Entering menopause before the age of 40 is uncommon. When this occurs, it can be unexpected or secondary to the effects of other medical treatments like chemotherapy, or ovarian surgery.
Women who have experienced an early menopause need expert attention, specifically an individualised approach to hormonal and symptom management and fertility advice. Many women may not be aware that a woman with ovarian insufficiency can in some cases carry a pregnancy to term with hormonal support. In this circumstance, conception occurs using a donor egg or one of the woman’s own eggs if these were frozen at an earlier time.
Acupuncture is a useful treatment option to incorporate into your IVF treatment plan to help support hormonal production and for stress management which may help improve IVF success. A prescription of certain vitamins and minerals may also be used to support treatment for women with Early Ovarian Insufficiency.
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MHT stands for Menopause Hormonal Therapy, previously known as Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT. If you need help with the symptoms of menopause, don’t be afraid to reach out to us. We treat you as a whole person, analysing holistically what measures can be taken to relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
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Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture offer very effective treatment options for women in peri-menopause and menopause. In an appointment with our Integrative Chinese Medicine Practitioner Mandi Azoulay, a treatment plan will be formulated specifically for you. This may incorporate acupuncture, herbal medicine, vitamins and dietary therapy tailored to your individual needs.
FAQ
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Menopause is a natural phase of a woman’s life which generally occurs in your early 50’s, officially defined as 12 months after the time of your very last menstrual period. Some women enter into menopause at a younger age, which may be prompted by ‘surgical menopause’ (after removal of the ovaries) or early menopause as a side effect of cancer therapies (pelvic radiation or chemotherapy).
Some women have a genetic tendency to an early menopause, which can run in families. At menopause, your ovaries stop producing the hormone oestrogen and symptoms begin to occur as your body learns to adapt to having low oestrogen levels. All women are affected by menopause symptoms and physical changes, which typically resolve 5 to 10 years after your last period.
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Around menopause, your periods become irregular and can also become heavy. Hot flushes, sore joints, insomnia, clouded thought processes, vaginal dryness and bladder symptoms are common. You may also experience a reduced libido and mood changes, which can become a source of tension in relationships.
Falling oestrogen is associated with bone density loss, and changes in your body’s natural fat distribution (for example, your figure becomes less pear-shaped and more apple-shaped as a result). Blood cholesterol levels can rise and so does your overall risk of heart disease and stroke. Some of these symptoms may spontaneously resolve with time, but there is treatment available to manage them.
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Menopause symptoms often start before periods stop all together, which is known as peri-menopause. Periods may reduce in frequency at the same time that hot flushes start occurring. Some women have really troublesome period symptoms around their menopause, such as prolonged bleeding and flooding. These symptoms can have the flow on effect of causing anaemia, iron deficiency and fatigue, but there are many courses of treatment to manage dysfunctional menstrual bleeding.
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Around menopause, low oestrogen levels cause a decrease in moisture produced by the lining of the vagina. This can cause bladder urgency and sexual discomfort.
To ease sexual discomfort and enhance pleasure lubricant is a necessity. We developed Lovers with your needs in mind.
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Hot flushes can range from mild to severe. Some women have predictable triggers like caffeine or alcohol, while others may encounter psychological triggers such as public speaking. Some women may find that they sweat profusely, which can feel embarrassing when it involves soaking through clothes in public. In some cases, women experience night sweats so profound that they need to change pyjamas or even their bedding, which can disturb your partner’s sleep too. Treatment for even severe hot flushes can be extremely effective, using hormonal or non-hormonal approaches. You may also find that weight reduction and lifestyle changes can help to address these symptoms too.
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Aside from hot flushes, many women in menopause find it hard to sleep, or to fall back asleep after waking. This in itself is a symptom of menopause and one that makes all other symptoms that much more difficult to cope with.
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This symptom can be really stressful, but a combination of topical vaginal oestrogen treatments, physiotherapy and smooth muscle relaxant medications can make a big difference.
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The hormonal changes of menopause lead some women to notice general muscular aches and pains, as well as pain and stiffness in their joints.
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It’s normal for everyone to sometimes be in a bad mood, or to feel a little bit anxious on occasion. However, feelings like this can occur more often or be more intense during menopause. You might feel sad, upset or emotional in situations that you previously would have easily coped with.
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Treatment options
• Lifestyle changes
• Menopausal Hormone Therapy
• Non-hormonal treatments
• Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional supplements and diet modification can be very effective options to help manage symptoms
At WHM our Doctors and Integrative Health Practitioners work together as a team to support you.
Before considering which treatment option is right for you, we must consider the following basic checks and risk factor assessments:
• Have I had a screening mammogram?
• What’s my baseline bone health profile?
• Am I at a higher than average risk of having a heart attack or stroke? (Risk factors include smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, previous incidents, diabetes and family history)
• Have I had breast cancer, or am I at increased risk because of my family history?
• How do my symptoms of menopause impact my health and quality of life?
FOR THE ETERNAL WOMAN
Eternelle lubricant from Ellechemy is deeply moisturising formulation, suitable as a daily treatment and nourishing lubricant. Eternelle provides Intensive hydration and natural non-hormonal support for mature skin.
A gift from the Ellechemists for any woman entering the evolution of perimenopause to menopause.
Eternelle helps ease vaginal dryness while also enhancing pleasure during sex. Eternelle is also safe and effective for breastfeeding, and anyone who may be unable to benefit from medical hormonal treatments.
