To celebrate World Menopause Day on October 18th 2014, IMS launched a new campaign with the theme “Prevention of diseases after menopause”.
After the menopause there is an increased risk of the development of chronic diseases and this campaign examines the rationale for prevention and the opportunity to identify risks and initiate prevention strategies for chronic diseases which begin to occur about 10 years after the onset of menopause. These diseases are a major source of morbidity, decreased quality of life, mortality and economic burden.
Lead author of the White Paper, Professor Roger Lobo, commented;
“At the menopause, women have a chance to take steps which will help determine whether they go on to live a healthy and active life. There are some conditions, for example osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, which are clearly directly associated with the menopause, whereas others are more associated with increasing age. Menopause provides women with an opportunity to review their health and lifestyle and to make changes which will benefit their future wellbeing”.
“Many of the measures a woman can take are simple, but effective”, he continued. “Do a little more exercise, eat a little less, if you consume alcohol, do so in moderation”.
An educational toolkit of materials has been developed to support local country initiatives throughout the month of October to raise awareness of this potential health issue and many have been translated into key languages to ensure the campaign has a truly international perspective.
A White Paper Prevention of diseases after menopause
The International Menopause Society undertook a systematic review to summarise the literature regarding the impact of the menopause and associated risk factors of diseases of aging and how to prevent them. The review is available for download on the Taylor & Francis website and was published in the hard copy of our peer-reviewed journal, Climacteric, in October 2014.
Slide Kit
A short accompanying slide kit, ‘Prevention of diseases after menopause’ for physician education has also been produced and is available in the following languages:
Awareness raising poster – Maintaining health and preventing disease after the menopause
This A4 poster is designed to encourage women to make lifestyle changes today for a healthier life tomorrow highlighting that prevention is key and that managing lifestyle risk factors will lower risks and enhance quality of life.
The poster can be used in a physician’s waiting room or reception, in libraries, or during health awareness meetings for women. The poster can be used throughout the year to encourage women to seek help and advice from their health care professional. It is available in the following languages:
Patient information leaflet – Maintaining health and preventing disease after the menopause
This is a comprehensive booklet which reviews the risk factors associated with aging and highlights the preventative measures that can be adopted to reduce that risk of chronic diseases developing after the menopause.
World Menopause Day – a physician educational event in Uruguay
Eduardo Storch, on behalf of The “Sociedad Ginecotocológica del Uruguay”, has planned a physician meeting to discuss menopause and is using the World Menopause Day theme, Prevention of diseases after menopause, as the focus of the meeting. Invited are gynecologists, endocrinologists and general practitioners, and in the evening he is planning two more community based lectures.
Please click onto the sample programme and poster, and if you are arranging something similar in your country, please let IMS know so we can share your ideas as well. Contact leetomkinsims@btinternet.com.
Reports on World Menopause Day from around the world
United Kingdom – Media Campaign
The British Menopause Society (BMS) ran a successful media campaign to celebrate the day. They organised a publishing house to create a collection of relevant papers to fit the theme available free from Sage Publishing.
The BMS also co-ordinated with a UK specific organisation, The Royal Society of Gynaecologists (RCOG), to release a statement to mark the event.
RCOG statement: Keeping healthy on World Menopause Day
Today is World Menopause Day and the International Menopause Society (IMS), supported by the British Menopause Society (BMS), has published a White Paper in Climacteric on preventing diseases after the menopause. With an increasing older population and life expectancy, more UK women are living into their 80s and beyond (ONS figs).
Apart from the normal effects of ageing, women are more prone to chronic conditions such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease following the menopause. There is also a higher incidence of gynaecological cancer and dementia after menopause. In order to maintain a good quality of life, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has advocated that the NHS incorporates the life-course approach into everything that it does. It includes ensuring that women undergoing the menopause are aware of the simple and effective lifestyle interventions that will improve their health.
Good diet and nutrition, along with regular physical activity and exercise, have been shown to improve the general health and wellbeing of older adults. Similarly social interaction and contact are also important for mental and emotional wellbeing.
Some women may require pharmacological treatment to help alleviate the symptoms of the menopause. If this is the case, they should discuss what options are available to them with their GP or specialist. Dr David Richmond, RCOG President said, “With the increase in lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes and stress-related disorders, we need to ensure that as healthcare professionals, we take every opportunity we can to counsel women on what they need to do now so that they can go on to living longer and healthier lives. This will include diet, alcohol advice, exercise and weight management. The promotion of health is crucial throughout life and even more so in this period of life.”
The resulting media coverage included:
Nuffield Hospitals – Article
Daily Mail – Article 1, Article 2
Guardian – Article
Australia – Media Campaign
The Jean Hailes Foundation promoted the day using IMS materials to create a media relations campaign.
Colombia – Physician Education Meeting
Camilo Rueda said “The Colombian Menopause Society created a physician educational event which was attended by 120 doctors.” Please see below for the academic programme and pictures of the event.
Uruguay – World Menopause Day – a physician educational event in Uruguay
Eduardo Storch, on behalf of The “Sociedad Ginecotocológica del Uruguay”, held a physician meeting to discuss menopause and used the World Menopause Day theme, Prevention of diseases after menopause, as the focus of the meeting. He invited gynecologists, endocrinologists and general practitioners, and in the evening held two more community based lectures.
Eduardo said “Together with the Sociedad Ginecotocológica del Uruguay (SGU) it has been achieved a very good activity for practitioners and for the community with a very good response of the media (TV, radio, newspapers), maybe as never before!
It will appear soon some more interviews at the press (after the next Parliament and Presidential Elections) and on a program at TV (Calidad de Vida – Quality of Life)”
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Menopause Society created a successful countrywide campaign using translated IMS campaign materials.
Prof Shaikh Zinnat Ara Nasreen commented “We celebrated World Menopause Day on 23rd October by arranging a National scientific conference which was attended by several renowned gynaecologists, cardiologists, orthopaedics, psychologists, dieticians, journalists, educationalists and social workers. All of them were asked to give priority to the health of menopausal ladies and they discussed the different options of prevention of diseases after menopause. Also we marked the day by holding a press conference and awareness program, visiting several old people’s homes and publishing a news bulletin in the Bengali language. The news bulletin was distributed to all and gives details of how changes in life style can help to prevent the diseases after menopause. Finally the Bangladesh Menopause Society requested all citizens and the government to come forward to give importance to menopausal health”.
India – Awareness Campaign
Dr. Sunila Khandelwal commented “We are planning to distribute these translated Awareness Raising Posters (English & Hindi) and also the leaflet to all chapters across the country.”
Please click here for the full report.
Mongolia – Symposium and Plenary Lectures
The Mongolian Menopause Society held a Symposium and plenary lectures on 17th and 18th October 2014 as part of their campaign for World Menopause Day 2014 with the participation of 182 regional physicians, multidisciplinary medical specialists and primary health professionals with 14 oral presentations, 8 scientific report posters, 3 lectures and presentations of the translated IMS White Paper and slides.
Their campaign also included public meetings, talks, distribution of printed leaflets and posters at 21 regional and remote health centres which were highlighted on National TV broadcasts. A special edition of the Mongolian Menopause and Andropause Society magazine TOGTUUN HORVOO (Embrace the Change) for the public was published and distributed
Do you have a report of activities for your local society?
Please check back soon for more reports on World Menopause Day in our member countries. If you have a report for your society, we would be very glad to receive it – please email leetomkinsims@btinternet.com.
Source of funding
The translations of the review and costs for the provision of these educational materials were supported by IMS funds. The industry has had no influence on the choice of contributors, the content and the writing of the review, or any other campaign initiatives.
World Menopause Month
The International Menopause Society, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has designated October 18 as World Menopause Day. In observation of the Day, the IMS and the member national societies of CAMS, the Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies, distribute materials and organize activities to inform women about menopause, its management and the impact of estrogen loss. Since it is not always possible for local societies to arrange activities for this specific day, the IMS has now designated October as World Menopause Month. Local societies can also collaborate with other organizations working in the field of adult women’s health, such as societies for osteoporosis and breast cancer, to organize joint events. World Menopause Month can also be a call to implement policies that support research and treatment in the area of menopausal health.
As the world’s population ages, there will be increasing numbers of women entering menopause and living beyond post menopause. The potential symptoms of menopause may have a negative impact on the quality of daily life. Moreover, the consequences of menopause can lead to a host of age-related diseases including heart disease and osteoporosis. Nations around the world should continue to educate women about menopause and the benefits of preventive health care.
The IMS hopes that national societies will take the opportunity of World Menopause Month to highlight the increasing importance of menopausal health issues, by contacting the women of their country to encourage them to talk to their doctors about menopause and its long-term effects.
