New Menopause Centre at KKH Provides One-Stop Care for Menopausal Women

2/6/2024 9:47:00 AM | Defining Med

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Menopause is a natural biological process where the ovarian function gradually declines and permanently stops due to ageing, or when both ovaries are surgically removed.

Most women become menopausal naturally between the ages of 45 and 55 years, with the average age of onset at around 50 years.

ABOUT THE KK MENOPAUSE CENTRE

KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) has expanded and enhanced its menopause service to include a multi-specialty practice comprising gynaecology, family medicine, dermatology and mental health specialists, to better support the needs of the mature female population in Singapore.

The KK Menopause Centre aims to offer women easy access to effective holistic treatment, the most up-todate information, and emotional and psycho-social support in the community. The Centre look at various aspects of a woman’s health – physical, emotional, psychological, sexual as well as chronic disease screening and prevention.

Early assessment, detection, and intervention, alongside group support, will enable all women to receive the best possible care during menopause, and continue to lead a healthy quality of life beyond this transformative phase of a woman’s life.

OUR SERVICES

Perimenopause
Early menopause
Premature ovarian insufficiency
Menopause
Iatrogenic menopause (medically/surgicallyinduced menopause)
Cancer survivors with menopausal symptoms
Menopausal vaginal atrophy (thinning, drying and inflammation of vaginal walls)
Menopausal sexual dysfunction
Osteopenia and osteoporosis
Advice on management of menopause in patients with complex medical problems such as autoimmune conditions, blood clotting, breast cancer or high-risk breast cancer gene

PERSONALISING CARE FOR EVERY WOMAN

Every woman’s menopause experience is unique. While some go through this period with little or no issues, some women may experience hormonal changes that result in common symptoms such as:

Hot flushes and night sweats
Body aches and pains
Dry skin
Sexual dysfunction
Urinary frequency
Sleeping disturbance
Mood disorder

Primary care doctors can play a critical role in recognising these symptoms and their association with menopause. Conversations can be initiated with women during clinic visits to keep them informed about potential symptoms that may present during menopause. Should the symptoms be affecting their quality of life, women are encouraged to seek medical attention.

Additionally, identifying women with early menopause is crucial. This group of women will benefit from evaluation and treatment with hormone replacement therapy until the age of natural menopause to prevent conditions such as osteoporosis and early cardiovascular disease in women.

At the KK Menopause Centre, treatments and management plans will be discussed and personalised to a woman’s health needs as they journey through this transitional phase, and support their health and lifestyle in the years following menopause.