Call for change: appeal for better menopause support

Greater support and action is needed around the often under-prioritised transition to perimenopause and menopause, according to a peak medical body.

Australian Medical Association is marking World Menopause Day on Saturday by calling for a national framework to set clear goals and treatment timelines to address the wide-ranging disparities affecting women's health.

AMA president Danielle McMullen said perimenopause and menopause were not only critical life stages requiring better treatment, but also key opportunities to identify women at increased risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and certain cancers.

Women typically enter menopause between 45 to 60 years of age, and perimenopause - which precedes it - can start in their 30s and last up to 10 years.

Perimenopause is a transitional period before menopause when levels of oestrogen begin to decrease, bringing with it a range of symptoms.

A first-of-its-kind study of more than 5500 women by Monash University published in July examined the similarities and differences in symptoms across the stages of menopause.

Almost 40 per cent of perimenopausal women in the study experienced debilitating symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats.

The association says all women should have access to evidence-based support to determine the ways to manage symptoms and improve their health and lifestyle.

"Women carry a disproportionate burden of chronic disease throughout their lives yet face systemic barriers in accessing appropriate care and treatment," Dr McMullen said.

"We need properly funded services, evidence-based care, and a health system that recognises women's specific and individual healthcare needs."

Dr McMullen also flagged a lack of gender-specific research and is calling for improved data collection, analysis and evaluation to help shape better policy and service delivery for women.

Women deserved access to affordable, timely, quality health care that recognises their unique needs, she said.

"For too long, medical research has excluded women or failed to analyse data by sex and gender," Dr McMullen said.

"This knowledge gap has real consequences, treatments that may benefit women could be unavailable, while others may prove suboptimal."