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IMS Congress and More…

Can you tell us about the menopause conference you attended recently in Melbourne and its significance?

It has been 4 years since the previous International Menopause Society (IMS) World Congress. The IMS World Congress normally takes place every 2 years but the 2022 Congress did not take place due to Covid. That made this year’s World Congress, held in Melbourne on 19 – 22 October 2024, highly anticipated. Over 2,500 experts in women’s health and researchers from all over the world attended in person. It was quite special to be there and I am very grateful to my colleagues for the tremendous work they shared.

What are some of the key messages you took away from the conference?

One of the key message is that lifestyle factors are absolutely fundamental to our health in general, and during midlife in particular. Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) is not a magic solution, but it can be very helpful when appropriate (see link to IMS publication below).

Of lifestyle factors, sleep is fundamental. Sleep difficulties during menopause transition can affect many women. We know that this can happen for a number of reasons including anxiety, hormonal changes, disordered breathing (e.g. sleep apnoea), restless legs, getting up to go to the toilet and, of course, night sweats. If a woman is having difficulty with sleep or waking up unrefreshed, she should seek medical advice.

Loss of lean muscle can accelerate during menopause. This is due to a number of factors including reduced physical activity, hormonal changes and low protein in the diet. Muscle mass is important to us because of its many positive health effects – stronger bones, better heart health, better metabolism, and brain health to name a few. Strength training and a healthy diet including adequate protein intake is a good start. Before commencing any significant exercise regime or making any other significant lifestyle change it is advisable to consult a health care professional.

Why were you inspired to specialise in menopause treatment?

From the start of my medical career, I was motivated to maintain wellbeing through informed prevention rather than see the management of chronic conditions as the main or only path. Supporting women in a holistic way through peri-menopause and menopause has given me the opportunity to fulfil the need so many women have for sound and up-to date medical advice that enables them to then take the necessary healthy lifestyle action for their further lifelong health.

How has the treatment/understanding of menopause changed over the past few years?

Thankfully we now have a much more in-depth understanding of how menopause can affect women in different ways. Progress in MHT treatments, namely body-identical hormones and better formulations mean that MHT is now considered safer and better utilised by the body than prior pharmaceutical treatments. We also have new non-hormonal options for hot flushes and night sweats, which came about due to advances in clinical research of how hot flushes are generated in the brain.

Are there specific tests or screenings women should have during menopause?

I advise all women to commence breast screening from at age 40 as well as to continue their cervical screening (pap smears). It is also important to get your 45-49 health check done. Other tests will depend on individual health factors as these are specific to each patient.

What resources or support groups do you recommend for women experiencing menopause?

The Australasian Menopause Society’s Factsheets:

https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets

For this year’s International Menopause Day (18 October), the IMS published a concise guide to MHT the ‘5Ws’ – Who, What, Why, When and Where.

https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf?v=8bcc25c96aa5

For more information on sleep:

https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/

Anything else you would like to add?

Mid-life transition is a phase in a woman’s life, it is not a taboo or somethings to be used to dismiss or even worse, against her. Many women want to feel their best, confident and strong – they need to be supported in this. Good quality of life, prevention of illness and healthspan form my approach to helping women with their health.