The transition towards menopause can profoundly impact a woman’s job, finances, retirement, and overall health. Despite being a natural biological process, menopause remains fraught with stigma, misinformation, and insufficient support, preventing Australian women from reaching their full potential. Experts and advocates are striving to address these pressing issues.
A Unique Perspective
In a Senate inquiry investigating the health and economic effects of menopause, journalist Imogen Crump highlighted an unusual comparison: only humans and toothed whales experience menopause. Crump explained that in species like orcas, beluga whales, and narwhals, older female whales lead the pod, acting as peacekeepers and teachers for the next generation.
In contrast, Australian women facing menopause are often unsupported, leading to significant impacts on their lives. The inquiry heard that inadequate medical support and commercial interests exploiting women with ineffective treatments are significant issues. The Greens senator Larissa Waters, who established the inquiry, emphasized the need for evidence-based policies to support women in workplace and healthcare settings.
Key Solutions on the Table
1. Better Education
Kaz Cooke, author of “It’s the Menopause,” advocated for a public health campaign to provide evidence-based information about menopause. Cooke emphasized the need for campaigns targeting both doctors and women, allowing women to approach their doctors as informed experts on their condition. Prof. Susan Davis of Monash University supported this, highlighting the exploitation of women by commercial interests and the confusion caused by historical missteps in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) recommendations.
Davis mentioned the free Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause developed by Monash University, which lists all available treatments and their effectiveness, helping women bring reliable information to their doctors.
2. Incentivize Training for Healthcare Professionals
Women sharing their experiences with the inquiry revealed they were often dismissed or given ineffective treatments by healthcare professionals. Davis suggested that all medical students should undertake a compulsory module on midlife women’s health. She highlighted the lack of confidence among doctors to discuss menopause due to inadequate training. Incentivizing training and long consultations for women through government Medicare subsidies is crucial.
3. Understand How Menopause Affects Work
Mary Delahunty, CEO of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, pointed out that menopause affects women’s time in the workforce and their earnings, contributing to the superannuation gap. Policy reform options discussed included amending the Fair Work Act to allow flexible work for women with menopause symptoms and mandating menopause leave. However, Delahunty stressed the need for comprehensive research to inform these policies accurately.
4. Use Technology
An app under development, MenoPROMPT, aims to help women aged 45 to 59 track and manage their menopause symptoms. This app will upload symptoms to their electronic medical records, flagging issues to their GP and directing them to appropriate resources. This project, developed by Monash University and collaborators, is currently in the testing phase.
5. Better Care for Induced Menopause
Sonya Lovell, founder of the podcast “Dear Menopause,” shared her experience with cancer-induced menopause and the lack of support from healthcare professionals. Lovell called for better-funded training for all cancer healthcare professionals to support patients experiencing induced menopause.
6. A Holistic Approach
Prof. Davis emphasized that menopause should not be viewed in isolation. It occurs within the broader context of a woman’s life and her previous experiences. Addressing menopause effectively requires considering these broader factors.
Moving Forward
More hearings will take place in Brisbane, Canberra, and Adelaide before the committee delivers its report in September. As the inquiry continues, the focus remains on developing comprehensive, evidence-based policies and practices to better support Australian women through menopause, enabling them to reach their full potential in all aspects of their lives.
