New support for women experiencing early menopause

Search

New support for women experiencing early menopause

A new digital resource has brought together the stories of women experiencing early menopause, helping to inform and support others facing the under-recognised condition.

Despite around 10% of Australian women under 45 experiencing early menopause, some as young as 20, there is a lack of information and awareness surrounding the condition.

Now researchers from RMIT and Monash Universities have joined forces with Healthtalk Australia to enable women aged between 28 and 51 with experience of early menopause to share their stories about the impact on their health, personal and work lives and relationships. 

The website aims to inform and support women living through the challenges of early menopause and better infomr the health practitioners treating them.

Victorian Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Women and Youth, The Hon Gabrielle Williams MP, launched the online resource today at Women's Health Victoria.

Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow Professor Renata Kokanović from the RMIT Social and Global Studies Centre said the website will help to empower women with early menopause by providing access to quality information and other people's stories.

Research fellows Dr Kate Johnston-Ataata and Dr Jacinthe Flore interviewed 30 women and 16 health practitioners and put together the digital resource.

“The women we worked with share their stories about diagnosis, symptoms, long-term health effects, treatments, experiences with health services and health practitioners, and the impact of early menopause on their personal lives and relationships,” Johnston-Ataata said.

“The website provides a comprehensive, evidence-based and accessible range of resources for women and health practitioners. It includes personal stories on film and audio, a Question Prompt List for women, and care plans for health practitioners.”

Research team with the Hon. Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Women at the launch of Healthtalk Australia's Early Menopause Digital Resource Research team with the Hon. Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Women at the launch of Healthtalk Australia's Early Menopause Digital Resource

Professor Kokanović, also the Director of Heathtalk Australia, was part of a team led by Professor Helena Teede, Director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, and endocrinologist and project investigator Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor Amanda Vincent from Monash University.

Vincent said that menopausal symptoms can be quite distressing – from hot flushes and night sweats to anxiety and mood swings

“Early menopause can lead to infertility, psychological distress, and increased risks of bone and heart disease at a relatively young age,” she said.

“It can also be a very lonely experience and there is a lack of reliable and accessible information for women experiencing early menopause."

“Women affected have told us heartbreaking stories about their experiences and their difficulties finding information about early menopause, its impact on their health in the short and longer-term, and reliable treatments.”

Kokanović said she was delighted to have been involved in this partnership to create a high-quality digital resource to support and inform women and health practitioners grappling with a challenging and under-recognised health condition.

“One of the strengths of Healthtalk Australia is that our resources are co-produced by people with lived experience, expert clinicians and social researchers in health."

“We hope that this platform can help equip health practitioners and the wider community to better support women in their journey.”

 

Story: Chanel Bearder

04 November 2019

Share

04 November 2019

Share

  • Research
Engage

Related News

Ethical design in suicide prevention

On World Suicide Prevention Day a new, interactive digital space shows how young people, researchers and industry can work collectively to navigate sensitive and often taboo subjects.

Global ranking reputation remains strong for RMIT

RMIT has risen 18 places in the 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings released today.

New discovery pinpoints the ‘golden window’ for IVF success

Researchers have found a way to better pinpoint the “golden window” when a womb is ready for pregnancy, in a discovery that could help boost IVF success rates.

COVID vaccine incentives: experts on why they don't work

As Australia strives for higher COVID-19 vaccination rates, RMIT experts share their views about vaccine incentives and why other methods would be more successful.

Show more
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business. - Artwork created by Louisa Bloomer

More information