Menopause and perimenopause are still misunderstood.
On 2 May, a special Catalyst program, ‘The Truth About Menopause with Myf Warhurst’, aired on ABC and examined a life stage shared by more than half the population.
“There’s so much confusion, negativity and stigma around menopause”, says Myf Warhurst. “What I want to know is, what exactly is happening in our bodies as we move through menopause?”
Dr Sonia Davison, Endocrinologist at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health and Adjunct Research Fellow, Women’s Health Research Program at Monash University, appeared on the documentary to help demystify the menopause journey and explain why menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) remains an underutilised treatment option.
“The perception of risk is much greater than the actual risk”, says Dr Davison.
Women really worry about taking hormone therapy and their risk of breast cancer. They think the increase goes up like a rocket."
Dr Sonia Davison, Jean Hailes Endocrinologist
"And when you look at it in the scheme of it, hormone therapy increases the risk of breast cancer as much as having two alcoholic drinks per day", explains Dr Davison.
Myf asks, “What are the benefits of hormone therapy?”
“It’s about those three words: I feel normal”, says Dr Davison.
The value of peer support groups and workplace conversations were highlighted by women interviewed for the program as crucial on their own menopause journey.
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