MORE THAN 200 women of all ages recently made a beeline to the Sunway Resort Hotel to celebrate World Menopause Day 2015, an annual occasion to celebrate a woman’s new phase of life.

Organised by the Malaysian Menopause Society (MMS), the event themed “Redefining Womanhood” provided new perspectives on menopause, marking it as a cause of celebration instead of sadness at the ending of a woman’s reproductive life.

Menopause is medically defined as a period when a woman has not had her menstrual period for more than a year.

Women approaching their 50th birthday often bear the brunt of jokes regarding menopause, particularly when they become more temperamental, forgetful or easily irritable.

“Every woman has a different menopause experience. Some women may breeze through this phrase in life without any problems, while others may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flushes, difficulty sleeping, fatigue and mood changes,” said MMS president Dr Ho Choon Moy.

These symptoms, however, can be treated with the right combination of medications and a healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise, a balanced diet and a positive mindset, she assured the audience.

“Also, not everybody will need medication; some women get through menopause well simply with lifestyle changes and self-empowerment.”

Describing menopause as a woman’s “second spring”, the consultant gynaecologist conducted several educational talks on how women should enjoy this new phrase of their lives, the latest medical recommendations on menopause treatment and genitourinary symptoms in menopause.

She also addressed the common scares on Hormone Replacement Therapy and urged women to seek medical advice for their menopausal symptoms instead of suffering in silence.

Consultant gynaecologist Dr Wong Kim Lei concurred with Dr Ho that menopause was a new beginning, not an end.

“The problem with menopause is that the ovaries stop producing estrogen, popularly known as the ‘female hormone’. When this happens, many women feel they have lost their femininity because they start losing their curvy shapes, lack interest in sex and even start growing more facial hair.”

Various treatments are available to help women feel feminine again, said Dr Wong.

The full-day event picked up speed after the talks, with a pulsating belly dance performance by Jolly Belly, a demonstration on Nordic Walking by MMS member Mrs Jagjeet Singh, and a Magic Show by Rev Angel.

More excitement were in store after lunch, with 50 early birds trooping off to an exciting 8 Gems Treasure Hunt in which they had to hunt for eight fruits around the premises of Sunway Resort Hotel.

While the adventurous lot were busy treasure-hunting, the rest of the audience were given an empowering session on self-actualisation by Anthony Dass and Tanalacksemy from personal development trainers Achievers’ Platform.

The sessions brought many women to tears, as they explored their personal inhibitions and learnt ways to break free from self-damaging thoughts and perceptions.

“Very often, a woman’s worse enemy is her own self. Most women put others such as their husbands, children, families and friends before themselves.

“Although there is nothing wrong with that, women must always maintain their own set of friends and interests, otherwise they might encounter something of a culture shock when they reach menopausal age and their children have left the family home,” noted Dr Ho.

Except from The Star – http://www.thestar.com.my/Metro/Community/2015/11/06/Celebrating-their-second-spring-Society-organises-special-event-in-conjunction-with-World-Menopause/