This World Menopause Day, Malaysian women and men unravel the secrets to dealing with age–related conditions such as menopause.
The World Menopause Day Celebration 2014 at the Sunway Convention Centre in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, recently shed more light on the little-talked-about subject of biological changes associated with ageing.
Organised by the Malaysian Menopause Society, the event’s primary aim was to enlighten both men and women on solutions available to provide therapeutic and psychological support, besides correcting the public notion of menopause being a disease.
It featured health talks with interesting topics such as debunking the myths of menopause, hormone replacement therapy and how to maintain a happy marital relationship.
More than 200 participants attended the event.
“Menopause is not a disease. It is a natural biological process every woman may experience as they grow pass 50 years,” said Malaysian Menopause Society president Dr Kim Wong.
“To improve their quality of life during these biological changes, it is important for women and their families to understand the process and its associated symptoms, as well as related medical conditions.
“The scientific knowledge they acquire will help them to seek the right professional medical or alternative therapy, and will encourage them to morally support each other,” added Dr Wong.
The talks also highlighted the ailments that affect people in menopause — osteoporosis and heart attack being the chief two.
According to the statistics from Haines et al. Maturitas 2005; 52:264–276, most Asian Women from 11 countries had a problem with joint pains (85%), decline in memory (80%), nervousness or irritability (70%), insomnia (69%), tiredness (67%), mood swings (65%), hot flushes (65%), skin texture changes (62%) and night sweats (53%) when they entered the stage of menopause. Some of them also suffered from vaginal dryness and irritation (56%), which they seldom discussed with their doctors.
The average age of menopause is about 51 years. It can range anywhere between 45 and 55 years for women.
Men may have a similar condition of testosterone deficiency but its process is a more gradual one.
Menopause can occur early in certain conditions; women who had surgical removal of both her ovaries before 45 years, smoking, severe dieting, cancer treatment with chemotherapy or pelvic radiotherapy.
“This educational health event proved to be of great help to both men and women, especially in gaining a new perspective on the natural process commonly called ‘the change of life’,” said Dr Wong.
