Dr Ray O’Connor looks at women’s health, and in particular the latest clinical studies on menopause Women’s Health: Menopause The Lancet medical journal has just run an excellent series of articles on the menopause. The series is edited by Prof Martha Hickey. She is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Melbourne and a consultant gynaecologist.
Dr Ray O’Connor The aim in this series 1 is to move beyond describing and treating symptoms. The first article 2 describes how menopause eventually happens to all people with typically functioning ovaries, and almost one billion women worldwide are postmenopausal. Although the biology of typical menopause is experienced by all women, usually at around age 50 in high income countries, the experience varies substantially.
Factors contributing to the experience include not only individual factors, such as the nature and severity of symptoms, but also psychological, social, and contextual considerations. Many of these are modifiable. The authors argue for a new approach that goes beyond the treatment of specific symptoms, to the use of empowerment.
By this they mean an active process of gaining knowledge, confidence, and self-determination to self-manage health and make informed decisions about care. This involves the health-care worker supporting the patient to become an equal and active partner in managing their own care. Looking at early menopause 3 , it is common, with around 12 per cent of women global.
