{ Reproductive Health & AIDS }
Recommence
Johanna Saenz Santibañez “Suddenly you find - at the age of 50 - that a whole new life has opened before you.” - Agatha Christie Ageing is the biological progression of changes in structure and function that takes place with the passage of time. Even though it affects the entire body, it is often most obvious because of its effect on the reproductive s ystem. In women, this is evidenced by the progressive deficit of estrogen production in the ovaries that culminates in menopause [1, 3]. This change occurs gradually as a process called menopausal transition (strictly defined as the years leading up to a woman’s last period) [2]. Taking into consideration that 50 is the average age for natural menopause, and that the global life expectancy for females is estimated to be around 80 years, it can be stated that on average, more than one-third of a woman’s life will be lived in the postmenopause phase [1, 4]. In sociodemographic terms, the global p opulation of postmenopausal women is expected to increase from 477 million to 1.1 billion in 2025 [1]. This fact is particularly important because estrogen deficiency is associated with specific physical symptoms in up to 85% of women that can lead to a decrease in their quality of life [3]. In addition to this, it is important to note that psychological and social changes will also take place. The menopausal transition is a complex b iopsychosocial process, and
so medical student involvement is critical, since we can promote lifestyle c hanges that may help women maximize the quality of their future years [2]. “Recommence” is a project endorsed by IFMSAMexico and ASCEMCOL-Colombia that aims to optimize women’s health and well-being during the menopausal transition through implementing a woman-centered a pproach in providing healthcare to patients. Our project was designed with one main priority in mind: to make healthcare to perimenopausal women both comprehensive and humanistic. With training, medical students will be capable of implementing the campaign through three different interventions. The first and second focus on middleaged women, providing them with individualized screening, counseling and health promotion sessions on topics such as disease prevention [5]. The third intervention targets local communities, aiming to increase awareness about menopause in order to help eradicate social and cultural life stressors for women. In summary, “Recommence” offers an alternative strategy to fight for the health of an increasingly large population group that requires our attention and commitment. This project ensures that women in menopausal transition have the possibility of a healthy and fulfilling ageing process that leads to the complete enjoyment of life.
References 1. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. AACE medical guidelines for clinical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of menopause. Endocr Pract. 2011; 17 (Suppl 6): 1-25. 2. World Health Organization. World Health Statistics 2012. 2012. Available from: http://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/2012/en/ 3. Hoffman B, Schorge J, Schaffer J, Halvorson L, Bradshaw K, Cunningham F. Menopausal transition. In: Williams Gynecology. New York: McGrawHill; 2012. p. 468-489. 4. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Women’s health and menopause: A comprehensive approach. Best clinical practices. 2002. p. 1-26. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/other/wm_menop.pdf 5. National Institute of Aging. Menopause: Time for a change. Bethesda, Maryland: National Institutes of Health; 2010. p. 1-37.
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Johanna is a fourth-year medical student at the Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila in Saltillo, Mexico. She serves as the Projects Coordinator for the SCORA committee of IFMSA-Mexico. She may be contacted at: JLSS_2662@hotmail.com