Menopause clinic opens in Newington with leading doctor
Family Planning Australia, a leading provider of reproductive and sexual health services, has opened a dedicated menopause clinic in Newington, bringing expert care to women struggling with troublesome symptoms during menopause and midlife.
Family Planning Australia Senior Medical Officer and Medical Educator Dr Elina Safro has had a specific interest in menopause for more than 10 years and is excited to be offering these dedicated appointments to patients.
"At Family Planning Australia, we see people at every stage of their life. This makes us uniquely positioned to support those going through perimenopause and menopause. We've launched the clinic to help women in the local community to understand the full range of up-to-date treatment options and lifestyle advice that can help,” Dr Safro said.
"Perimenopause and menopause are a natural stage in a woman's life but that doesn't mean it's always easy. There are troublesome symptoms that can impact on quality of life, relationships and workplace participation. In fact, two out of 10 women experience menopause symptoms so severe that daily life becomes a struggle, which is why it's so important for those suffering to see an expert healthcare professional to have the short-term and long-term benefits maximised, and the health risks assessed and minimised as much as possible.”
As well as seeing patients at Family Planning Australia, Dr Safro represents NSW on the Board of the Australasian Menopause Society and is highly involved in the education of healthcare professionals and patients. She is also involved with Monash University's HER Centre, for women's mental health.
"Many people falsely believe they must struggle on through symptoms like hot flushes, mood swings, insomnia, weight gain and vaginal dryness without medical intervention but this is not the case. There's an increasing range of treatments available that can improve quality of life and long-term health for women suffering menopause symptoms,” Dr Safro said.
"Women now spend more than a third of their lifespan in the post-reproductive phase. It's far too long to be suffering in silence by not seeking medical intervention.
"Everyone experiences perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms differently. I'd strongly advise anyone who is concerned about symptoms they're experiencing to speak to a doctor.
Help is available and every person experiencing menopause or perimenopause should have access to information and to treatment.”
The menopause clinic is open every second Wednesday at Family Planning Australia's clinic in Newington, with 45-minute consultations from 1pm to 5pm. The menopause clinic is a full fee service, with Medicare rebates covering part of the fee available for patients with a Medicare card.
Bookings can be made by calling 1300 372 372 or by chatting with a nurse on Talkline, Family Planning Australia's online chat service, at https://www.fpnsw.org.au/talkline.
Media enquiries:
P: 0421 619 097 E: media@fpnsw.org.au W: https://www.fpnsw.org.au
