Demystifying what is often considered a taboo topic, as part of World Menopause Month, HealthWISE brought together 50 community members at the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health in Tamworth on October 8 to learn about this stage of life.

Developed out of a gap we saw in menopause education and open discussion, the event was designed to break down myths and mysteries surrounding menopause and increase community capacity to make informed decisions for themselves and/or provide support for others. A staff and community survey helped us identfiy common themes that were of interest.

Attendees heard from health professionals and those with lived experience with menopause, who busted myths, provided education and strategies. With a humorous take, mental health clinician and occupational therapist Lisa Staples gave an overview of menopause and some of the most up-to-date information on the topic. Every woman is affected by menopause in some way, and most will have some symptoms for 5-10 years, although some can have them for 15. The average age of menopause is 51 years, but you can enter this phase much earlier, and it impacts 100% of the body’s systems.

Jess Walker – women’s health physio and owner/director of Fit2Function, spoke on the musculo-skeletal changes during menopause, (bone loss, muscle loss and connective tissue problems), how you can support yourself and prevent (or at least slow down) the negative impacts these issues cause. Jess was open and frank and reminded women that suffering in silence was unnecessary. Often, simple strategies, products and solutions are available.

HealthWISE dietitian Dr Amy Ashman presented an insightful piece on the specific nutrient requirements during this stage. Amy emphasised rejecting pressure to ‘diet’ or cut out certain foods, and instead focusing on consuming lots of nutritious foods from a variety of sources. 

Mental health nurse Michelle O’Keefe from Community Mental Health spoke to the link between mental health and neuro-endocrine (brain- hormone) changes during menopause. Guests learned that while many women do not have mental health issues during the menopausal transition, fluctuating oestrogen levels can have an impact on the brain, predisposing some women to increased feelings of depression and anxiety.

Life circumstances during middle age, such as caring for children and/or ageing parents, career changes, relationship changes, ageing and body changes, further complicate matters. Given this complexity, and overlapping nature, Michelle advised women be gentle with themselves, speak with their GPs about our mental health, and take stock of all aspects of their lives to live the heathiest possible lifestyle.