Clinic treats menopausal symptoms<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Here is a good news for middle aged women
\ncurrently being trapped in serious menopausal miseries.<\/p>\n
A special clinic promises to give new hope for these women to
\nhelp them enter their midlife transition smoothly.<\/p>\n
Called Menox clinic, a joint venture between an Indonesian
\ncompany and the Austrian-based Menox, offers various hormonal
\n(estrogen) replacement therapies, medical check-up,
\nconsultation, and other medical facilities.<\/p>\n
Established in l995, the clinic is the only private
\ninstitution in the country which provides such therapies for mid-
\naged women. The other clinic belongs to the University of
\nIndonesia's Medical School on Jl. Salemba Raya, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The presence of such clinics has shown that people's awareness
\non menopausal symptoms has started to increase.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ali Baziad, gynecologist and oncologist at the University
\nof Indonesia, explained that up to the present Indonesian people
\nstill regard menopause as a minor health problem that doesn't
\nrequire any medical intervention.<\/p>\n
If our mothers or wives of 50s, for example, experienced
\nsevere headaches, we may almost likely suggest them to take
\nparasetamol tablet to ease her pain, the doctor said. Another
\nhealth problem complained by many old women is rheumatism.<\/p>\n
"Most women do not realize that they are going through
\nmenopause. All of their complaints are likely caused by the
\ndecline of estrogen in their bodies. Their medicinal intake do
\nnot cure their core problems," the doctor said.<\/p>\n
Baziad added menopause is critical matter. It deals with the
\nlives of thousands or maybe millions of Indonesian women.<\/p>\n
Women of their 40s and 50s pose serious risks of heart attack,
\nhigh blood pressure, osteoporosis, migraines, temporary memory
\nloss, kidney problem and others if they do not receive proper
\nmedical treatment, he said.<\/p>\n
In the past, life expectancy of Indonesian women reached about
\n55 years old. Today, it increases between 65 and 70 years old.<\/p>\n
"How can these women lead their lives in the next 20 years
\nafter they entered menopause. They may experience various health
\nproblems which can burden their families, society and the
\nnation," the doctor said.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, when women try to find a doctor who can help
\nthem make their midlife transition, they often can't get the
\ninformation they need.<\/p>\n
"Only a few doctors understand menopausal problems and ways to
\nsolve them," he admitted.<\/p>\n
But now, more and more women, the middle-upper society in
\nparticular, are aware about menopause. Many of them seek medical
\ntreatment abroad.<\/p>\n
He cited an example, Yolanda Hussein (not her real name), is
\n72 year old, but her body tells different story. "She has a good
\ngeneral muscle tone, her skin has less wrinkles. She has almost
\nno menopausal complaints like those experienced by women of her
\nage. It is almost unbelievable that she still drives her car,"
\nsaid the doctor commenting on one of his patient.<\/p>\n
Estrogen replacement theraphy is her secret of her youthful
\nappearance. "She has been on hormonal therapy since 20 years ago
\nwhen she still lived in the United States. Now she continues her
\nhormonal therapy in our clinic," the doctor said.<\/p>\n
The clinic targets to net this market--middle to upper class
\nmiddle age women who don't have to worry about money to stay
\nhealthy and to feel young.<\/p>\n
Before a woman gets hormonal therapy, she has to undergo a
\nthorough medical check-up which will cost between Rp 400,000 and
\nRp 500,000.<\/p>\n
"If she has other health problems which are not linked to
\nmenopausal symptoms, we will recommend her to specialists. If she
\nexperiences the symptoms, we will give her hormonal treatment,"
\nhe said. The estrogen replacement is given through tablet or
\nextraderm.<\/p>\n
In the first months, every patient should get therapy once in
\na month. This is the adjustment period. After passing this
\nperiod, she can have treatment twice a year.<\/p>\n
Each patient has to pay around Rp 50,000 for medical
\nconsultation.<\/p>\n
The doctor admitted that the cost for hormonal replacement
\ntherapy, which should continues at least 10 to 15 years, is quite
\nhigh.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, until now, the most effective treatment for all
\nthe woes of menopause is hormone (estrogen) replacement therapy,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The therapy may likely ease hot flashes, soothles vaginal
\ndryness, improves bladder problems, even out mood swings and
\nclear short-term memory loss. It also combats the more serious
\neffect of estrogen deficiency, osteoporosis and elevated risk of
\nheart attacks.<\/p>\n
Estrogen is also effective to the thinning of bones that makes
\nolder women so vulnerable to fractures, the doctor said.<\/p>\n
He added estrogen improves memory of post menopausal women. A
\nstudy also found that hormonal therapy enhanced the mental
\nfunction of women with mild to moderate symptoms of Alzheimer's
\ndisease.<\/p>\n
In addition, hormonal therapy seems to help preserve skin
\nelasticity.<\/p>\n
As research reveals the pros and the cons of estrogen, the
\ntherapy popularity has flowed and ebbed. Previous researchers
\nshowed the link between estrogen and the increase risk of uterine
\nand breast cancer.<\/p>\n
"Many women fear estrogen will increase the risk of developing
\nbreast cancer. But research is still going on," he said.<\/p>\n
In a recent medical seminar in Sydney, Australia, doctors
\nstill recommend hormonal replacement therapy which is found to
\nbe the best way to cure menopausal symptoms and to prevent or
\nslow the aging process.<\/p>\n
The doctor, however, was concern that the therapy is only
\navailable for rich women.<\/p>\n
He suggests the government include menopause problems in its
\nfamily planning campaign. The government can train medical
\nofficers at public health center to provide necessary information
\nand medication for women of menopausal age, he said.<\/p>\n
"Poor women completely ignore all menopausal problems because
\nof a lack of information and money to go to a nearest public
\nhealth center," he said.<\/p>\n
It is true that menopause strikes all women, but money says
\ndifferent thing. (raw)<\/p>",
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