16 October 2017
Changes before the change - World Menopause Day 2017
The theme of this year’s World Menopause Day on 18 October is “Changes before the change”. The perimenopause, or menopausal transition is the time just preceding and immediately after the menopause. In industrialized countries, the median age of onset of perimenopause is 47.5 years and it can last from one to ten years.
“Perimenopause is a time of hormonal swings and heightened symptoms” says Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) President, Clinical Associate Professor Amanda Vincent. “Symptoms include mood changes, sore breasts, bloating, headaches, migraines and changes in menstrual periods including irregular periods or changes in the amount of bleeding. In the later stages of perimenopause, women may experience hot flushes, sleep disturbance, joint pain, crawling under the skin, irritability and fatigue”.
Women are encouraged to visit their GP if perimenopausal symptoms are troublesome. There are many treatment options for symptoms including lifestyle changes and medication. “It is also a good opportunity for you and your GP to take stock of your health - assess your risk for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Your GP can also rule out other health conditions that may be worrying you”.
To mark World Menopause Day, the AMS has developed a new information sheet for doctors and health professionals called “Perimenopause”. It covers diagnosing and managing perimenopausal symptoms. The International Menopause Society has also developed a patient information leaflet – “Changes before the change”. Both information sheets are available on the AMS website www.menopause.org.au.
Experts in the field of menopause and women’s midlife health met at the Australasian Menopause Society’s 21st Annual Congress in Sydney over the weekend. “Menopause: exploring the evidence” showcased the latest evidence-based approaches to managing menopause and women’s midlife health.
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Contact
For further information, contact:
Vicki Doherty
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0458 113 183
Notes for Editors:
Perimenopause
Can be found on the page: www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets
Changes before the change
Can be found on the page: www.menopause.org.au/health-info/resources