Menopause treatment Perth
Menopause Perth
Menopause is the phase in your reproductive lifespan when you have not had a menstrual period for 12 months.
The average age that a woman goes through natural menopause is 51 years. Early menopause is before the age of 45 and premature menopause happens before the age of 40. This is very uncommon and it happens only in about 1% of women.
The perimenopause is a variable length of time leading into the menopause. Your periods become increasingly irregular and you can begin to experience the symptoms of menopause.
So how come you start experiencing some of these symptoms even as you are not reaching menopause yet? The symptoms are caused by lower oestrogen levels, produced by the remaining follicles growing in your ovaries.
How do menopause or perimenopause affect your wellbeing, your quality of life, your self-esteem as a woman? We believe that you deserve a safe place to talk about all women’s health topics and our team are here to help, to listen and to empower you with reliable, evidence-based information and guidance.
Perth gynaecologist
Gynaecologist Perth
What are the symptoms ?
The questions you may have are quite common: How will I know I am in perimenopause? How will I know I am in menopause? What are the symptoms?
At menopause, you stop producing oestrogen (the main sex hormone in women) and this can lead to the typical menopausal symptoms. Oestrogen levels can vary in the time leading up to the final menstrual period. The early signs of the perimenopause are irregularity to the cycle with first a shortening of the cycles, then a lengthening. Hot flushes and night sweats can range from mild to severe.
With or without the night sweats, sleeplessness can be a major feature - either difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Studies have shown that the hormonal changes of menopause can cause some women to feel pain in their joints or make them feel more tired than usual.
Gynaecologist Perth
Perth gynaecologist
or after cancer surgery
We also get a lot of questions from our patients in the Perth metro area, about early menopause.
How do I know if I have premature menopause or early menopause? And what about menopause after cancer surgery?
Early menopause occurs before the age of 45 years and premature menopause is before the age of 40. If you have had cancer treatment with chemo or radiotherapy, then the toxic effects of your treatment may cause early menopause. But then in other situations, early menopause is triggered by a genetic or an autoimmune condition and in some cases, no clear cause is found.
Perth gynaecologist
You may hear another term for premature menopause (before 40): It is also called premature ovarian insufficiency, or POI. The diagnosis of POI is difficult and it is often delayed, simply because you or your treating doctor might not think about the possibility of menopause when you are under 40.
Criteria for a diagnosis of POI include:
- You have gone for more than four months without a menstrual period
- Your follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels are in the menopausal range on two occasions at least 4–6 weeks apart. Your gynaecologist will explain these levels in detail and it is common to consider 30 mIU/mL or higher a confirmation of menopause.
Menopausal treatment Perth
What is it?
Menopausal therapy is all about reducing the impact of the symptoms. Menopausal Hormone Treatment or MHT (also known as Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT) is the most effective way of improving your discomfort.
MHT is not just about reducing the symptoms: it can also benefit your overall health by improving bone density and reducing the risk of fractures. MHT may also reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease for some women.
MHT can be given as tablets, patches, gels and vaginal preparations. Depending on your age, whether you have had a hysterectomy and any other health conditions, your doctor will individualise the MHT appropriate for you.
Gynaecologist Perth
on my sex life?
We tend to answer the question by saying that if your sex life is good before menopause, it is likely to remain good after menopause.
Perth gynaecologist
Sexual wellbeing is complex and many other personal factors in your life could be involved.
That is why at Woom, we look at you as the whole person that you are, not just at an isolated symptom.
Physical symptoms such as vaginal dryness can be treated with creams and lubricant.
Hormonal treatments include oestrogen or testosterone therapy but only use testosterone designed for women. Your doctor, a pelvic health physiotherapist or a counsellor may need to work with you to look at the many factors that might be affecting your sexual wellbeing.
At Woom, our integrated women’s health hub in West Perth, we are very aware of the mental effect of menopause on your self-esteem and your sex life. You will find that our team members are good at listening and they will always create a safe, trusted environment for you to share your experiences and your expectations.
Perth gynaecologist
So when is the right time to see a gynaecologist and talk about menopause? It actually doesn’t really matter what your age is or what your cycles are like. If you have any concerns, or you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of menopause, then you should consult a doctor for advice.
Particularly if you are under 45 and you have experienced a cessation in your cycles for several months then you should see a gynaecologist to discuss that.
It is also recommended to see a specialist about menopause if you have had cancer treatment or surgery that might have caused menopause, or if your GP believes that you may have premature ovarian insufficiency.
For more information, please visit the AMS website.
Perth menopause gynaecologist
Doctors / Experts at woom
available to help with menopause
Gynaecologist
Gynaecologist
Physiotherapist
Women's Health GP
Women's Health GP
Psychologist
Dietitian
Specialist Nutrition Programs at Woom
Nutrition and lifestyle management are first-line treatments for reproductive conditions including PCOS, endometriosis and/or sub-fertility
