As at June 2016, 89% of registered nurses and midwives were female, and 11% were male.
The average age of a registered nurse or midwife in Australia is 44 years of age, with 37% of registrants aged between 45 and 60 years.
Menopause naturally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 years of age, with the average age of onset occurring at 50 years.
Perimenopause, which is also referred to as menopausal transition, may occur over five to 10 years before the final menstrual period. Perimenopausal signs and symptoms may include irregular periods, or a change in flow, hot flushes, night sweats, body aches and painful breasts. A woman is considered to be post-menopausal when she has had no periods for 12 months.
Early menopause occurs between 40 to 45 years of age. This can occur due to a natural loss of ovarian function, surgical removal of ovaries and some cancer treatments.
The symptoms outlined below will not occur for every woman, and not all symptoms may be experienced. Research suggests that 60% of women report experiencing mild symptoms usually lasting four to eight years. A further 20% report no symptoms, and 20% of women report severe symptoms (Col et al., 2009).
The physical and psychological symptoms of perimenopause and menopause may include:
Lower levels of oestrogen also reduce or lower the level of serotonin. Serotonin is an important neurochemical that regulates mood, emotions and sleep. Symptoms include:
You may want to know about menopause and managing it. The Australian Menopause Society has a range of information sheets that can get you started.
Looking after your general health can help offset some of the effects of menopause, so why not read some of our articles on staying healthy:
Our service provides free and confidential support 24/7, to nurses, midwives and students Australia wide. If you would like to speak to someone call 1800 667 877, or you can request support via email.
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Col, N. F., Guthrie, J. R., Politi, M., & Dennerstein, L. (2009). Duration of vasomotor symptoms in middle-aged women: a longitudinal study. Menopause, 16(3), 453-457.