Consultations
If you are coming for a consultation with one of our doctors then try to think of some questions before meeting with the doctor so you can get the most out of your appointment. We are here to help and want to make sure you make informed decisions so no question is wrong or silly.
Patients do not need a referral.
Many women are surprised to find themselves experiencing all manner of symptoms that are attributed to perimenopause. It can take time to put the pieces together and realise that yes, you are mid-life and this transition is coming, like it or not.
There are oestrogen receptors in every tissue of the body, so unsurprisingly the entire body is affected by the oestrogen fluxes and deficiency of peri-menopause and menopause.
Early peri-menopausal symptoms such as increased anxiety, mood irritability, sleep disturbance worsening pre-menstrual symptoms, brain fog and fatigue are often explained away by the stress of the very demanding and complex lives of mid-life women. Often women present to their GP and find themselves with a prescription for an anti-depressant. This is the perfect time to talk to a doctor with special skills in menopause management.
The more typical symptoms of the perimenopause include hot flushes, cold flushes, weight gain in the abdomen, muscle loss, memory difficulties, headaches, urinary difficulties, vaginal discomfort and low libido are also important to address.
We now know that the benefits of menopause hormone therapy (or hormone replacement therapy) usually outweigh the potential risks. The method of treatment can be selected to reduce certain risks, making treatment safer. As well as treating symptoms of the peri/menopause, menopause hormone therapy (MHT) has long term benefits that are optimised when commenced earlier in the transition.
So we encourage women in their 40’s and 50’s to consider if they are in perimenopause and talk to a menopause expert about treatment options. We also invite the 1% of women in their 30’s who will experience premature ovarian insufficiency to please seek a consultation.
For further information we recommend the following sites:
Newson Health (Dr Louise Newson’s website) and the Balance App: https://www.balance-menopause.com/
Australasian Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org.au/
British Menopause Society: https://thebms.org.uk/
The Menopause Society (USA): https://www.menopause.org/