Women spend one-third of their lives without estrogen

July 24, 2022

Healthcaretoday, estrogen, estrogen, fertility, fertility issues, menopause, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, cancers, non-communicable diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels,

Menopause is not a common topic to discuss at the dinner table due to the stigma and negative connotation that follow, making it more difficult for women who enter this new phase in life to step up and get help. According to recent data published by the Department of Statistics in July 2021, women in Malaysia show an average life expectancy of 78 years.

“With an average menopausal age to be around 50 years old, we are looking at women who will spend one-third of their lives without estrogen hormones that also end their fertility,” said Dr Premitha Damodaran, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist who is also the Chair of the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Committee. “The concern now does not stop at fertility issues, but women who experience menopause are also at higher risk of a multitude of health problems - physical, social, psychological, sexual and mental”.

Women who experience menopause record a higher prevalence of serious diseases including coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, cancers, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels, making the remainder of their lives more challenging. Additionally, other socio-economic and family problems may occur around the same time. Retirement equals loss or reduced earnings, switching roles from caring for children to older parents when the children leave home compound to the hormonal changes women go through.

Dr Premitha added, “What makes this clinical practice guideline unique is the localization of its procedures to suit our multi-ethnic women. While we adopt the guidelines from several international organizations, we consider religious aspects because we understand the role they play in our society. Every woman who experiences menopause should not feel ashamed or reluctant to get assistance from healthcare professionals”.

Managing menopause
Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin expressed his gratification for the effort taken to establish the clinical practice guideline for the management of menopause.

“It is indeed an historical achievement in our healthcare milestone. As one of the pioneers in the management of menopause guidelines in Southeast Asia, Malaysia proves our commitment to enhancing our healthcare system. From the ministry’s perspective, we aim to support this initiative by driving our efforts to increase awareness surrounding menopause,” he said.

“Menopause is not an issue to be mocked or ridiculed. We need to encourage and empower the public to speak about this matter more openly in a respectful manner and understand that women will continue to play a major role in our society regardless of their age. Therefore, we must give them the support they need as an initiative to create a more diverse and inclusive Malaysia,” he added.

The clinical practice guideline on the management of menopause will be made available on various platforms including the Ministry of Health, the Academy of Medicine Malaysia, the Obstetrical and Gynecological Society of Malaysia, and the Malaysian Menopause Society. The guidelines are also accessible via Android and iOS under MyMAHTAS.

This guideline covers various information on menopausal symptoms, clinical assessment and investigations, various treatments and their effects, and religious perspectives on menopause.

The launching of the management of menopause clinical practice guidelines was organized in Petaling Jaya with more than 50 doctors specializing in obstetrics and gynecology and healthcare workers.

Women spend one-third of their lives without estrogen

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