The Menopausal Transition can be tough, and can put a strain on relationships. Let’s explore how to support your partner through menopause. By Sally Stankovic and Dr Kelly Teagle Whilst it’s not altogether unexpected, when menopause eventually arrives it can be surprising, unpleasant, and more than a little emotional.  “Hot flushes” have always headlined the stages of menopausal transition but as many of us are discovering, there’s so much more to it. From physical pain to mental and emotional distress, women are swinging between irritation, confusion and tears. Struggling to maintain rel ..read more

WellFemme founder Dr Kelly Teagle has made the following submission to the upcoming Senate Inquiry into menopause: Committee Secretary Community Affairs Committee Department of the Senate PO Box 6100 Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA Dr Kelly Teagle, MBBS, BSc, FRACGP, Grad Dip Women’s Health Principal clinician, WellFemme Telehealth menopause clinic                                                                ..read more

Menopause is no longer ‘on mute’! The new Australian survey that’s telling it like it is… By Dr Linda Dear, Menodoctor NZ Last year Menodoctor, a New Zealand based menopause clinic, released an Australian survey all about menopause. It was a chance for women to share their experiences – good and bad. It asked about symptoms, treatments and how their menopause/perimenopause had affected their work, relationships and mental health. Over 5,000 women took the time to share their stories. And now the full report is available for everyone to read. The survey results paint a picture of what’s going o ..read more

After menopause, prioritising bone health becomes crucial to counter the increased risk of osteopenia (low bone density) and osteoporosis. By Dr Anna Alderton and Sally Sankovic The recent Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) Congress really reinforced the message that bone loss begins in perimenopause. We reach our peak bone mass in our early 20s and it is then usually stable until our early 40’s. At this time, we start to lose a little bone density, but this accelerates rapidly from menopause. In fact you can lose 15-20% of your bone density in just the first five years after menopause! Risk ..read more

The menopausal transition brings many physical and psychological changes; some good, some not so good. After decades of helping menopausal women I’ve learned a few things that are critical for women’s future health and wellbeing that need to be addressed early at midlife. The things that bother my patients the most can be quite different however! This list is dedicated to World Menopause Day, October 18th. It includes some things that I (as a doctor) am most concerned about for a woman’s future functioning, plus some of things that women complain about the most. Collaborations with my fantasti ..read more

Eleven WellFemme doctors made the trip to Queenstown, NZ for the annual Congress of the Australasian Menopause Society. With so many brains in attendance we have an abundance of fantastic information to impart… but too much for one post! Here’s our first instalment, with more for you in coming months. Sydney GP Dr Laura Wilson enjoyed the Congress as well as the skiing, scenery and nightlife of Queenstown: Dr Laura Wilson “This was my first AMS Congress and it was truly inspiring to see hundreds of health professionals interested in learning more about Womens Health during, leading up to and ..read more

Calling all Perimenopausal women! Please donate a few minutes of your time to help grow this ground-breaking new database, and support the next generation of Perimenopause research. VITAL is named this way because it’s VITAL that we invite real people across our community to tell us what perimenopause and menopause means for them. You are our “VITAL voice” on what Peri really means, what really matters and its true impact. Most importantly, that voice will define what changes in research, education and policy must be implemented to make VITAL changes in Australian health outcomes. Together wit ..read more

A recent study claims a link between hormonal treatment and Dementia. So what is the truth behind the headlines?  Research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has sparked renewed interest and debate regarding the potential connection between menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.  This research study aimed to shed light on a topic that has long been a subject of concern and uncertainty for women considering or using hormone therapy.  WellFemme Associate Dr Marita Long, from Dementia Training Australia, had this to say: “From w ..read more

Did you know that you can take your own cervical screening sample? If you’ve been avoiding a test, this information could be life-saving! An extract from an article by Dr Elina Safro, Chair of the Education Subcommittee of the Australasian Menopause Society, to inform GP’s. National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) has paved the way for Australia to become the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer within the next decade or two (1). However, the ongoing engagement in the program remains low, with only 56% of eligible participants between the ages of 25-74 screening as frequen ..read more

In an unprecedented event, Parliament House rang with voices calling for reform in Australia’s approach to the menopausal transition. PHOTO ABOVE, L to R: Peta Murphy MP, Prof Jayashri Kulkarni, Sen. Hon Anne Ruston, Prof Rod Baber, Dr Karen Magraith, Dr Kelly Teagle, Shelly Horton, Dr Ginni Mansberg, Hon Ged Kearney MP, Prof Sue Davis, Bridget Archer MP, Hon Emma McBride MP. Front, L to R: Researcher Erin Morton, TV journalist Shelly Horton, Prof Jayashri Kulkarni and MP Peta Murphy with the team of menopause experts and advocates. 7th March 2023 was a landmark day in Parliament House: the ..read more