December 9th 2024.
As the summer season approaches in Australia, Bella Tehrani knows that she won't be able to enjoy the warm weather outdoors like most people. At 44 years old, she is one of many women in the country who experience severe menopause symptoms that make it almost unbearable to be out in the heat. The risk of heat-related health issues such as heatstroke, dizziness, and fainting is significantly increased for these women.
Bella, who resides in Aubin Grove, Western Australia, compares herself to an electric blanket according to her husband. She describes the feeling of her whole body being on fire due to the intense hot flashes she experiences. She began experiencing menopause at the early age of 38 and is currently undergoing hormone replacement treatment through patches and cream to supplement the estrogen and progesterone lost during menopause. However, this treatment isn't always enough to alleviate her symptoms as she naturally has lower estrogen levels due to her ADHD.
For Bella, winter is a breeze, but summer is a nightmare. She constantly needs to have the air conditioning on to keep her body temperature in check. Even at night, she sweats profusely and has to change her sheets almost every day. As a result, she rarely leaves the house during summer unless it's early in the morning or late at night, and she knows there will be air conditioning at her destination. The constant struggle with menopause symptoms affects her mental health, especially on days when she hasn't slept well.
Hot flushes and night sweats, the most common menopause symptoms experienced by 80% of women, are even worse during summer. According to Dr. Therese Foran, a sexual health physician from the University of New South Wales and a member of the Australasian Menopause Society Board, hot weather exacerbates these symptoms. The decrease in estrogen levels affects the neurons that regulate body temperature, making it more challenging for women going through menopause to control their temperature.
This temperature dysregulation can also cause a less common menopause symptom called formication, which is a sensation of insects crawling on the skin. Due to her menopause symptoms, Bella has to pay $300 out of pocket every month for HRT patches and cream, on top of the cost of specialist appointments, air conditioning, and other cooling mechanisms such as ice packs and fans. Unfortunately, many advanced hormonal treatments for menopause are not covered by public health insurance, despite the demands for their inclusion.
Moreover, there has been a shortage of HRT patches in the country since earlier this year, making it difficult for women like Bella to access the medication they need. Dr. Foran advises women going through menopause to consider using HRT, even if it's only during the hot months. She also suggests planning for the heat by keeping the house cool with curtains and blinds, using ice packs, and having bed linen made of natural fibers like cotton or bamboo. Ultimately, greater public education, research, and funding on menopause are essential to improve women's health during this stage of life.
Claire, a 51-year-old woman who also suffers from severe menopause symptoms, emphasizes the need for better doctors and education on menopause. She has been living with osteopenia, a bone disease caused by a lack of estrogen, for over a decade. Unfortunately, her early menopause symptoms were dismissed by doctors throughout her forties, leading to her current health condition. The Senate Inquiry into Menopause and Perimenopause, which took place earlier this year, found that there is a lack of understanding about menopause in Australian communities, workplaces, and even among doctors. This highlights the need for more education and awareness on menopause to improve women's health.
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