Every woman will experience menopause*
At SkinBox®, our team of Specialist GPs approach the perimenopause and post-menopause eras in a holistic manner. We understand how experiencing poor sleep, feeling anxious, weight gain, dry skin, vaginal issues and loss of libido all can really impact your confidence. We want you to feel good inside and out.
We can support you with a full program that is not just about hormone replacement but also weight & body composition, advice on exercise and nutrition, as well as managing the skin, facial and vaginal changes that all become evident at this age and stage.
Our management strategy begins with a thorough consultation and full assessment. We focus on fully listening to your concerns and undertaking a shared decision-making model using the latest evidence-based information.
How we can help
Your comprehensive initial consultation will include a full medical history review and utilisation of assessment tools like sleep, mood, and sexual wellness evaluations. This enables us to understand your current symptoms, other medical conditions and personal overall risk profile. We understand that women want someone with education, experience, and sensitivity when it comes to handling menopause. We prioritise taking the time to understand your needs and choosing a specific treatment plan based on your unique situation.
Treatments may include Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT, also known as HRT), non-hormonal menopausal therapy, medication and non-prescription options for vaginal and urinary symptoms, and prescriptive lifestyle recommendations.
Managing the perimenopause is not just about adding hormones – we will also consider your weight, body composition, and risk factors for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. If required, we will facilitate necessary tests, and can refer to allied health professionals or other Specialists for additional support where needed.
At SkinBox®, we prescribe MHT in the form of body-identical hormones, backed by scientific evidence. MHT can help with a variety of issues, but it is not always appropriate for everyone. This is a journey we will embark on together to discover what is best for YOU.
Expect approximately 1 hour for your initial appointment, with follow-ups lasting around 15-20 minutes.
We will email you a comprehensive form that should be completed and returned (ideally online) before your initial visit. This allows your doctor to receive a complete picture of your present health situation, so please take the time to complete this out -it should take about 20minutes.
Follow-up
Navigating the menopause is an ongoing process that begins in midlife, and it can take some time to get things perfect. Timely follow-up is essential to ensure that you are taking the correct amounts of MHT or other medication and are not suffering unwanted side effects.
At SkinBox® we want to work collaboratively with your own GP, so you have the best all round care possible. Your primary GP is the coordinator of your general health, and prompt communication from all clinicians involved in your treatment is important.
Understanding the lingo: click on the terms below for more info
Perimenopause
The perimenopause is the phase in a woman’s life occurring before the final menstrual period (FMP), or menopause. Perimenopause technically starts when there are persistent differences in cycle length of seven or more days between consecutive cycles and continues until 12 months after the last menstrual period.
It can be hard to tell whether these criteria apply when you are using hormonal contraception, have had an endometrial ablation or a hysterectomy. In these women perimenopause is heralded by typical menopausal symptoms. For women less than 45 years of age, a diagnostic blood test can be recommended, but for women older than 45 diagnostic blood tests are not necessary.
Perimenopause is also a time when risk factors for chronic disease change. These include:
- acceleration of bone loss;
- increase in cardiovascular risk factors including central adiposity (fat gathering around your mid-section);
- adverse changes in lipids & altered glucose metabolism.
There is an increased incidence of mood disorders, especially for those women who have a history of hormone related mood symptoms.
Perimenopause is a great time to ensure you are up to date with cancer screening programs for bowel, breast, and cervical cancer.
It is possible to still be ovulating during the perimenopause era and therefore you may need to consider contraception! For women under 50 years of age, contraception is required for 2 years after their last menstrual period. For women over 50 years of age this is reduced to 1 year.
Menopause
This is the time of a woman’s final menstrual period. It is a retrospective, clinical diagnosis, when there has been 12 months since your last period. The average age of menopause varies between 45 and 55, the average age in Australia is 51. No blood tests are necessary for diagnosis unless you are below the age of 45, as the indications for intervention are clinical.
If you have taken Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) since she was peri-menopausal, it may not be possible to assess the exact age at which you hit menopause. However, if you have required peri-menopausal MHT for symptom control, it is generally accepted that you would be considered post-menopausal after 4-5 years. This may also impact on the advice provided about perimenopausal contraception.
Post-menopause
This era starts when a woman has not had a period for 12 months. It can be loosely separated into an Early Phase, when vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats are most common, and a Late Phase, when urogenitary symptoms tend to predominate.
Surgical Menopause
This is due to bilateral oophorectomy before the expected age of menopause. These women can develop rapid onset of menopausal symptoms and will likely need MHT (if there are no contraindications) until the average age of expected menopause.
Early Menopause
Is said to occur when ovarian function is lost between the ages 40-45 (10% of women).
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
POI is when menopause occurs under the age of 40 (4% of women). The cause is unknown in the majority of these cases. Known causes can be due to genetic, autoimmune, as a consequence of chemo/ radiotherapy or bilateral oophorectomy. Most cases of POI are idiopathic (ie no cause is ever found).
Fees
Please note, SkinBox® is a privately-billing clinic and all consultations must be paid for on the day.
| Service | Fee | Medicare Rebate (if applicable) | Gap (out of pocket cost) |
| Initial Menopause Consultation | $380 | $122.15 | $257.85 |
| General Menopause Review | $215 | $82.90 | $132.10 |
| Quick Menopause Review | $135 | $42.85 | $92.15 |
| Script or referral fee (out of consultation) | $35 | n/a | n/a |
What we don’t do
At SkinBox® we do not have the resources to be your main GP. If you are seeking advice regarding health issues (e.g. for vaccinations, injuries, viral illnesses, care plans etc) other than to do with perimenopausal symptoms, we ask that you see your regular GP. Emergency presentations, including those which are gynaecological/women’s related problems should present to urgent care clinics or your local emergency department.
Our Doctors
Our team of female Doctors are all Specialist General Practitioners with extended interests in women’s health and aesthetic medicine. Find out more about us here.
How to Book
You can make an initial appointment online or by calling the clinic directly on (08) 62158898
*At SkinBox, we acknowledge and appreciate gender diversity. The term “woman” is used to include all humans born with ovaries. We welcome all individuals who are experiencing symptoms of perimenopause.
