Menopause Survey for Women

This survey is targeted at peri- or post-menopausal Australian women* to inform the Australasian Menopause Society's advocacy campaign.

*Please refer to the AMS Gender Language Policy

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* 1. At what age did you first start having perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms? (see symptoms here)

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* 2. Menopause is defined as the final menstrual period. Have you experienced any of the following:

Early menopause (menopause before the age of 45 years)

Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy induced menopause (this is often menopause caused by cancer treatments)

Surgical menopause (menopause caused by removal of both ovaries)

Spontaneous premature ovarian insufficiency or premature menopause (menstrual periods stopping before the age of 40 years)

None of the above

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* 3. When your menopausal symptoms were at their worst, rate the impact on your daily function (Rate on a scale of 1-10, 1 being no impact on daily function, and 10 being cannot function at all. Rate 0 if you have not had any menopausal symptoms)

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 4. What negative life events can you directly attribute to untreated or inadequately treated menopausal symptoms. Choose as many as are applicable:

significant health changes eg osteoporosis, heart disease

job loss or time out of the workforce

marriage/partnership breakdown

loss of family connection

social isolation/loss of friendships

loss of community involvement

suicidal ideation (If you ever suffer from suicidal ideation, please see your doctor asap or call Lifeline on 13 11 14)

loss of participation in hobbies

none

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* 5. Please tick all that apply to you:

My regular GP knew how to diagnose and treat my menopause

My regular GP referred me to a specialist or another GP when I asked for treatment of my menopausal symptoms

My regular GP encouraged me to make an informed decision about the treatment of my menopausal symptoms

My regular GP provided a midlife consultation where I was encouraged to keep up to date with routine health screening and gave me advice on lifestyle factors to reduce my risk of chronic diseases

My regular GP was reluctant to prescribe me menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for my symptoms

My regular GP described the benefits and risks of MHT

I have felt unheard and misunderstood when visiting my GP to discuss my menopausal symptoms

My regular GP asked me if I was experiencing any symptoms of menopause

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* 6. How many medical professionals did you see before you found one who was up to date with menopause and evidence-based treatment options?

more than 3

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* 7. In order of preference, where do you go for Australian based, up to date, evidence-based information on perimenopause and menopause? (With 1 being your most preferred option)

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* 8. Please rate how much the following would have benefited you in navigating your peri- and/or post-menopausal journey

	No benefit	Some benefit	Great benefit	N/A
That my doctor used a shared-decision making approach to manage my menopausal symptoms	That my doctor used a shared-decision making approach to manage my menopausal symptoms No benefit	That my doctor used a shared-decision making approach to manage my menopausal symptoms Some benefit	That my doctor used a shared-decision making approach to manage my menopausal symptoms Great benefit	That my doctor used a shared-decision making approach to manage my menopausal symptoms N/A
Doctors being adequately trained in diagnosing and treating menopausal symptoms	Doctors being adequately trained in diagnosing and treating menopausal symptoms No benefit	Doctors being adequately trained in diagnosing and treating menopausal symptoms Some benefit	Doctors being adequately trained in diagnosing and treating menopausal symptoms Great benefit	Doctors being adequately trained in diagnosing and treating menopausal symptoms N/A
Government support for professional organisations to develop and disseminate evidence-based information	Government support for professional organisations to develop and disseminate evidence-based information No benefit	Government support for professional organisations to develop and disseminate evidence-based information Some benefit	Government support for professional organisations to develop and disseminate evidence-based information Great benefit	Government support for professional organisations to develop and disseminate evidence-based information N/A
A central point of independent, up-to-date evidence-based information on menopause for doctors and women	A central point of independent, up-to-date evidence-based information on menopause for doctors and women No benefit	A central point of independent, up-to-date evidence-based information on menopause for doctors and women Some benefit	A central point of independent, up-to-date evidence-based information on menopause for doctors and women Great benefit	A central point of independent, up-to-date evidence-based information on menopause for doctors and women N/A
More research and evidence around mental health symptoms of menopause	More research and evidence around mental health symptoms of menopause No benefit	More research and evidence around mental health symptoms of menopause Some benefit	More research and evidence around mental health symptoms of menopause Great benefit	More research and evidence around mental health symptoms of menopause N/A
More hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options available in Australia	More hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options available in Australia No benefit	More hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options available in Australia Some benefit	More hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options available in Australia Great benefit	More hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options available in Australia N/A
Health professionals initiating discussions about menopause	Health professionals initiating discussions about menopause No benefit	Health professionals initiating discussions about menopause Some benefit	Health professionals initiating discussions about menopause Great benefit	Health professionals initiating discussions about menopause N/A
Better research and cross discipline approach to managing menopause with or after cancer	Better research and cross discipline approach to managing menopause with or after cancer No benefit	Better research and cross discipline approach to managing menopause with or after cancer Some benefit	Better research and cross discipline approach to managing menopause with or after cancer Great benefit	Better research and cross discipline approach to managing menopause with or after cancer N/A
Menopause peer support, through telephone hotline and/or online support	Menopause peer support, through telephone hotline and/or online support No benefit	Menopause peer support, through telephone hotline and/or online support Some benefit	Menopause peer support, through telephone hotline and/or online support Great benefit	Menopause peer support, through telephone hotline and/or online support N/A
Knowing what symptoms to watch out for	Knowing what symptoms to watch out for No benefit	Knowing what symptoms to watch out for Some benefit	Knowing what symptoms to watch out for Great benefit	Knowing what symptoms to watch out for N/A
Affordable and accessible access to doctors specialising in menopause including telehealth services for rural and remote people	Affordable and accessible access to doctors specialising in menopause including telehealth services for rural and remote people No benefit	Affordable and accessible access to doctors specialising in menopause including telehealth services for rural and remote people Some benefit	Affordable and accessible access to doctors specialising in menopause including telehealth services for rural and remote people Great benefit	Affordable and accessible access to doctors specialising in menopause including telehealth services for rural and remote people N/A
Affordable access to a range of menopausal hormone therapies	Affordable access to a range of menopausal hormone therapies No benefit	Affordable access to a range of menopausal hormone therapies Some benefit	Affordable access to a range of menopausal hormone therapies Great benefit	Affordable access to a range of menopausal hormone therapies N/A
Affordable access to long GP consultations	Affordable access to long GP consultations No benefit	Affordable access to long GP consultations Some benefit	Affordable access to long GP consultations Great benefit	Affordable access to long GP consultations N/A

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* 9. When your menopausal symptoms were at their worst, how did they impact on your participation in the workforce? Please rate on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being not able to work at all and 10 not impacting on your ability to participate meaningfully in the workforce.

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 10. If your menopausal symptoms impacted on your ability to participate meaningfully in the workplace, what strategies would have assisted you at work? Pick the top 3 strategies only.

Menopause incorporated into broader health and wellbeing initiatives

Health recognition days such as World Menopause Day, International Woman’s Day and R U OK?

Feeling comfortable to discuss menopause and my symptoms with my manager

N/A

Having options for flexible working arrangements, including working from home

Menopause friendly uniforms

Campaigns to raise awareness of life stage experiences

HR contact appointed for menopause-related policy and procedure questions

Menopause leave

Being able to change work spaces as required

Information about the menopausal transition through the organisation’s online and hard copy resources

Gendered ageism referred to in diversity and inclusion policies and statements

None of the above