Midlife Hormonal Changes
Perimenopause
Menopause Health
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
RETHINK MENOPAUSE
Modern perimenopause and menopause management includes more than just hormone replacement, it involves non-hormonal treatments, lifestyle interventions, optimising mid-life health and preventing future disease. It is one of the most important times in your life to have a thorough, whole person assessment by a specialist GP who is experienced in this area of medicine that has changed significantly in the past few years.
Many people are suffering during the perimenopause and menopause stages of life now because of outdated information that no longer applies. There is a misperception that persists from the Women’s Health Initiative trial, published 20 years ago in 2002: that HRT increases your risk of breast cancer.
Many people are suffering during the perimenopause and menopause stages of life now because of outdated information that no longer applies. There is a misperception that persists from the Women’s Health Initiative trial, published 20 years ago in 2002: that HRT increases your risk of breast cancer.
Rossouw JE, Anderson GL, Prentice RL, LaCroix AZ, Kooperberg C, Stefanick ML, et al. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results from the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288(3):321–33
What we know now is that the loss of oestrogen in the perimenopause and menopause puts people at risk of serious disease and disability: especially cognitive decline (and dementia), heart attack and stroke, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes and the accelerated aging and thinning of our skin.
We also know that body-identical oestrogen does not cause an increase in breast cancer risk.
Body-identical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is regulated by the TGA and is the safest and most effective form of HRT. It has the same molecular structure as the oestrogen and progestogen that our bodies produce naturally.
Body-identical HRT will reduce or stop hot flushes and sleep disturbance but it’s most important role long-term is the reduced risk of cognitive decline, dementia, heart attack and stroke, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.
If oestrogen is taken via a patch or gel there is no increased risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis).
I believe that perimenopause and menopause health is neglected in Australia and that people suffer unnecessarily. In addition, there are serious consequences to the long-term health of people in this stage of life without proper management. Please book an appointment to discuss and plan what you can to optimise your health in this important time of your life.
In 1841 the average life expectancy of a woman in the UK was 46 years. The majority of women either never experienced menopause or if they did it was only fleeting.
The average life expectancy of a woman in Australia today is 85 years.
The average age of menopause in Australia is 51 years. This means that on average a woman will live in a low oestrogen, postmenopausal physiological state for 34 years.
The information on this page is intended to give you the most up to date information on what happens to your body, organs, skin and brain when your ovaries stop producing oestrogen and you move into the perimenopause and then into the post-menopausal time of your life.
Body-identical HRT will reduce or stop hot flushes and sleep disturbance but it’s most important role long-term is the reduced risk of cognitive decline, dementia, heart attack and stroke, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.
If oestrogen is taken via a patch or gel there is no increased risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis).
I believe that perimenopause and menopause health is neglected in Australia and that people suffer unnecessarily. In addition, there are serious consequences to the long-term health of people in this stage of life without proper management. Please book an appointment to discuss and plan what you can to optimise your health in this important time of your life.
In 1841 the average life expectancy of a woman in the UK was 46 years. The majority of women either never experienced menopause or if they did it was only fleeting.
The average life expectancy of a woman in Australia today is 85 years.
The average age of menopause in Australia is 51 years. This means that on average a woman will live in a low oestrogen, postmenopausal physiological state for 34 years.
The information on this page is intended to give you the most up to date information on what happens to your body, organs, skin and brain when your ovaries stop producing oestrogen and you move into the perimenopause and then into the post-menopausal time of your life.
Definitions
Menopause: menopause technically begins12 months after your last menstrual period (LMP). The median age in Australia is 50-52 years.
Perimenopause: this is the time from when menstrual cycle changes begin (irregular, heavy, light or missed) up until 12 months after your LMP. These changes can start 5-8 years before your LMP.
Early menopause: age 40-45
Premature ovarian insufficiency: age <40. This was historically called premature menopause. There is a significant increased risk of heart attack and stroke, cognitive decline & dementia, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes and premature death in this group of people.
Perimenopause: this is the time from when menstrual cycle changes begin (irregular, heavy, light or missed) up until 12 months after your LMP. These changes can start 5-8 years before your LMP.
Early menopause: age 40-45
Premature ovarian insufficiency: age <40. This was historically called premature menopause. There is a significant increased risk of heart attack and stroke, cognitive decline & dementia, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes and premature death in this group of people.
Symptoms of perimenopause and menopause
Mental Health:
•Low mood
•Anxiety
•Depression
•Panic attacks
•Sleep disturbance
•Irritibility
•Mood swings
Cognitive:
•Brain fog
•Poor memory
•Word finding difficulty
•Poor concentration
•Poor motivation
•Loss of confidence
Physical:
•Headaches
•Weight gain
•Bloating
•Fatigue
•Palpitations
•Restless legs
Skin Changes:
•Loss of collagen
•Accelerated aging/wrinkles
•Thinning of skin
•Dryness
•Skin conditions such as dermatitis and rosacea
Genitourinary (vulva/vagina and bladder)
•Vaginal dryness
•Discomfort or pain with sexual intercourse
•Vulval stinging or burning
•Urinary frequency or urgency
•Incontinence
Vasomotor (hot flushes):
•Hot flushes
•Night sweats
•Low mood
•Anxiety
•Depression
•Panic attacks
•Sleep disturbance
•Irritibility
•Mood swings
Cognitive:
•Brain fog
•Poor memory
•Word finding difficulty
•Poor concentration
•Poor motivation
•Loss of confidence
Physical:
•Headaches
•Weight gain
•Bloating
•Fatigue
•Palpitations
•Restless legs
Skin Changes:
•Loss of collagen
•Accelerated aging/wrinkles
•Thinning of skin
•Dryness
•Skin conditions such as dermatitis and rosacea
Genitourinary (vulva/vagina and bladder)
•Vaginal dryness
•Discomfort or pain with sexual intercourse
•Vulval stinging or burning
•Urinary frequency or urgency
•Incontinence
Vasomotor (hot flushes):
•Hot flushes
•Night sweats