Women affected by early menopause to benefit from Monash research

Professor Teede

A Monash-led research project aimed at treating early menopause has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The early menopause project is being driven by researchers in the Faculties of Medicine and Arts. The Monash team members include the Director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Professor Helena Teede; the Director of Social Studies of Health and Medicine Research Program, Associate Professor Renata Kokanovic, and Associate Professor Amanda Vincent of MCHRI.

Professor Teede said that early menopause, defined as menopause before age 45, affects more than 10 per cent of Australian women. She said women afflicted with early menopause are at greater risk of premature death and also suffer negative impacts on their quality of life.

“Our project aims to bridge the knowledge gaps within the community on early menopause and to improve health professionals’ understanding and management of the condition. Lack of understanding about early menopause can delay diagnosis, cause variation in care and limit risk perception,” Professor Teede said.

“We will undertake epidemiological research to clarify and evaluate the long-term impacts of early menopause as well as conduct qualitative research to better understand women’s experiences of early menopause,” she said.

Associate Professor Kokanovic said project outcomes will include the development of website information resources that outline the health implications of early menopause.

“The information we acquire through our research will be available on the respected online site, Healthtalk Australia,” Associate Professor Kokanovic said.

The information compiled, she said, will be evidence-based and include links to other relevant resources.