Misdiagnosis of menopause is more common than you think
Menopause is a life-stage that affects half of the population at a certain point in life, but a lack of attention and awareness of it can result in misdiagnosis and improper care for women.
While hot flushes and vaginal dryness are symptoms frequently associated with menopause, others such as mood fluctuations, disturbed sleep, and poorer daily function are less well-known and can be misdiagnosed as symptoms of a mental health condition instead.
To address this issue, insurance company AIA Australia has partnered with the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) to raise awarness and increase the discourse around menopause.
“AIA and AMS want to drive awareness and better understanding about the commonly overlooked life stage of menopause,” Stephanie Phillips, the Chief Shared Value and Marketing Officer at AIA Australia, tells OverSixty.
“AIA has a strong belief in the importance of early intervention and considers it crucial that Australian women can access the right treatment in a timely fashion.
“Partnering with AMS is an opportunity for us to empower women experiencing menopause so they know that they are not alone, and that there is a wide range of support available if they need it.”
Menopause can still affect women over the age of 55
Women first begin experiencing menopause, the term referring to a woman’s final menstrual period, between the ages of 45 and 60, though some symptoms can begin before then, during a period called perimenopause.
“The average age of menopause is 50-51, but some women can continue to have periods up to the age of 55,” gynaecologist Dr Peter Ganter and endocrinologist Dr Christina Jang, of Queensland Health, tell OverSixty.
“It is less common for women to be having periods after the age of 55,” they add.
Though every woman goes through menopause, the symptoms they experience can differ from person to person and can even be experienced for years.
“Many women experience symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes, sweats, poor sleep while others are fortunate to have no symptoms at all,” Dr Ganter and Dr Jang say.
“Women troubled by menopause may continue to experience symptoms into their 60s and sometimes 70s.”
Women in the perimenopause and menopause periods are more likely to experience feelings of anxiety and depression due to changes in hormone levels, as reported by Cleveland Clinic.
According to AIA, the highest rate of suicide in 2020 was among women in the 45-49 age bracket, while those in the 45-55 bracket are 50 percent more likely to experience depression or anxiety than men, which the insurer argues could be to do with menopause.
“While deterioration in mood can be diagnosed by a medical practitioner, often it is not considered that a contributing factor could be menopause, meaning that symptoms may be treated pharmacologically with antidepressant medications in the first instance,” AIA said in a statement.
Dr Karen Magraith, the President of AMS, says healthcare providers should help women manage their symptoms in a “multi-faceted” way.
“For women experiencing symptoms of menopause, a comprehensive assessment and multi-faceted management plan is recommended,” Dr Magraith says.
“For women with symptoms of depression and anxiety, this may involve psychological therapies, and attention to healthy lifestyle changes.
“Some women may need medication as part of their treatment plan. Whether this should involve menopausal hormone therapy, antidepressant medication, or other treatment is an individual clinical decision depending on the particular circumstances of the woman, and should be a shared decision with her doctor.
“Women having treatment need follow up and tailoring of treatment to meet their needs, and generally need several consultations to enable this to occur.”
What should you do if you’re concerned?
Dr Magraith recommends women reach out to their GP if they are experiencing any symptoms during perimenopause or menopause.
“In some cases, women may need to seek help from a doctor with a special interest in menopause,” she says.
For those women who do need to find a doctor, the AMS website’s search function can help them find a doctor in their area.
As for women looking for more information about menopause, Dr Magraith says there are several resources women can access, including:
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