The ‘So Hot Right Now’ Conference at the Sydney Opera House on March 2nd and 3rd brought together leading experts in women’s health to address critical issues surrounding menopause care. With sessions tailored for both the general public and medical practitioners, the event offered valuable insights into the latest best practices in menopause management.
Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Simran Chadha, attended the practitioners’ discussions which featured presenters including Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Dr. Ceri Cashell, Dr. Vonda Wright, Dr. Talat Uppal, Dr. Louise Newson, Dr. Kelly Casperson, Prof. Odette Best and Dr. Angela Kwong.
Holistic Solutions Take Centre Stage
Simran was particularly struck by the healthcare community’s growing emphasis on holistic approaches to women’s health that extends beyond medication alone. Experts emphasised that effective menopause management requires a multifaceted approach that includes:
- Hormone therapy alongside nutrition, exercise, and stress management
- Personalised treatment plans that acknowledge each woman’s unique experience
- Integration of allied health professionals including nutritionists
This holistic perspective aligns perfectly with Emsee’s long-standing approach to menopause care. For years, we’ve championed personalised treatment plans that address the whole person, not just symptoms. It’s validating to see the broader medical community embracing these principles!
Key Insights That Resonate with Our Experience
Several findings presented at the medical practitioner’s session which echo what we’ve observed in our experience supporting women:
Understanding Perimenopause & Menopause
Dr. Mary Claire Haver redefined menopause as “sex hormone deprivation,” highlighting its impact across all body systems—not just reproductive health. Perimenopause was described as involving chaotic hormonal fluctuations (the “zone of chaos”) rather than the gentle decline previously assumed, which explains why women often experience such varied and unpredictable symptoms.
Mental Health Connections
The conference highlighted that 39% of patients utilising hormone therapy were able to reduce or discontinue antidepressants, with one study showing 68% depression remission with estradiol versus 20% with placebo.
Metabolic Management
Presentations on weight management during menopause revealed that metabolic changes during this transition lead to increased central adiposity and insulin resistance. Findings include that women’s protein requirements increase during perimenopause/menopause (approximately 0.8-1.2g/kg) and that brief “exercise snacks” throughout the day can help manage metabolic health.
Moving Forward Together
The ‘So Hot Right Now’ Conference highlighted some concerning statistics about women going through menopause and women’s health in general. For example:
- Women aged 65+ experience four times the rate of chronic disease compared to men
- Menopausal women face elevated risks of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, dementia metabolic disorders, and
- One hip fracture after age 65 carries up to 30% mortality risk even with surgery
All this reinforces the need for more awareness and investment into menopause care, and the future lies in:
- Developing improved diagnostic tools for perimenopause identification
- Integrating menopause care into mental health treatment protocols
- Creating personalised digital health tools to support menopause management
At Emsee, we’re proud to be ahead of the curve in implementing these approaches. The conference’s emphasis on empowering women through knowledge and personalised care perfectly mirrors our mission to help women navigate their menopause journey with confidence and improved wellbeing.
