Australian women will soon be eligible for a menopause health check

Why We Need a Menopause Health Assessment

The federal government has recently pledged to create a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments, which will be available from July 1. This announcement was made in response to the government’s response to the Senate inquiry into menopause and perimenopause, which was released last week.

A menopause health assessment is an examination of a woman’s overall health, focusing on the changes that occur during menopause. Menopause is a significant life stage, and it’s essential to address the unique health needs of women during this time.

Why This Is Important

The need for a menopause health assessment is evident, especially considering the lack of attention given to women’s health in the past. Historically, healthcare has been modeled on the needs of men, with women’s health often taking a backseat. A prime example is the government-funded midlife health check for people aged 45-49, which is intended to identify and manage risks related to chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

However, this approach is not suitable for women, as their health profiles change significantly during menopause. Women gain tummy fat, their cholesterol levels increase, and their glucose metabolism becomes less efficient, which can increase their risk of heart disease and diabetes. As a result, many women are given a clean bill of health at the midlife health check, only to develop these conditions later in life.

What Will a Menopause Health Check Involve?

The government has committed A$26 million over two years to fund the new menopause health assessments, as part of a $64.5 million package designed to improve health care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Some $12.8 million will also be dedicated to a menopause-related community awareness campaign.

The new menopause health checks will be provided by GPs, and it’s expected to include a combination of assessments and management of perimenopause and menopause, overall health and wellbeing, and risk assessment and prevention of future ill health, including heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Upskilling Health-Care Providers

It’s not just women who need to understand the impact of menopause on long-term health, but also health-care providers. My research has shown that health-care providers lack confidence in delivering menopause-related care, indicating a need for more education around menopause.

The Senate inquiry called for the upskilling of the medical workforce in the field of menopause through medical school training, postgraduate specialist programs, and ongoing education of clinicians.

A Good Start, but Still Not Enough

The government’s new funding and the new menopause health checks are a good start, but more needs to be done to equip health professionals to provide the best menopause care to women. Adding new menopause modules to medical school and specialist training programs will ensure greater awareness of the impact of menopause on women’s health and wellbeing. However, awareness alone won’t ensure high-level training for the complex care many perimenopausal and menopausal women need.

Conclusion

The introduction of menopause health assessments is a significant step forward in recognizing the importance of women’s health during this critical life stage. However, it’s crucial that we also focus on upskilling health-care providers to deliver gold-standard menopause care. This requires further federal funding to establish an accredited training program for GPs and medical specialists.

FAQs

• What is a menopause health assessment?
  A menopause health assessment is an examination of a woman’s overall health, focusing on the changes that occur during menopause.
• Why is a menopause health assessment important?
  A menopause health assessment is important because it recognizes the unique health needs of women during this critical life stage, and it can help identify and address potential health risks.
• How will menopause health assessments be provided?
  Menopause health assessments will be provided by GPs, and they will involve a combination of assessments and management of perimenopause and menopause, overall health and wellbeing, and risk assessment and prevention of future ill health.
• How will health-care providers be upskilled in menopause care?
  The government has committed to upskilling health-care providers through medical school training, postgraduate specialist programs, and ongoing education of clinicians.