Improving the Health of Women at Midlife: Health behaviours, Wellbeing and Work Performance

Abstract

Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstrual cycles resulting from the depletion of ovarian follicles. Menopause is described as “natural” when due to biological ageing. Iatrogenic causes of early menopause include removal of both ovaries (surgical menopause), chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The major consequences of menopause are due to oestrogen deficiency and include: vasomotor symptoms (VMS, hot flushes and night sweats), urogenital atrophy (vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and urinary tract infections), sleep disturbance, mood changes, and arthralgia. Some women are mildly symptomatic, whereas others can have debilitating symptoms. Little is known about the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms in Australian women, or how such symptoms are associated with women‟s wellbeing and work ability.