RURAL WOMEN HAVE THEIR SAY
For every woman the experience of menopause is different. This is a snapshot of rural women's responses relating to their feelings about menopause.
When a trip to the local store could be as much as a three hour drive away, finding accessible, up to date, non-biased and accurate health information becomes a challenge. While the Internet has provided a world link for people who are isolated, it is sometimes difficult to access appropriate and accurate health care information quickly.
 Over a year ago The Jean Hailes Foundation established a Victorian Rural Steering Committee, comprising 12 health care workers, to advise on the needs of women living in rural and remote areas of Victoria. In this way The Foundation was going directly to the source - women in rural and remote areas.
The committee conducted over a dozen focus groups, with more than 100 women in total being consulted in rural and remote parts of Victoria and found that:
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As women are part of an ageing population health services will need to be shaped to meet their needs and encourage their active participation.
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Information on menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), natural therapies, weight management, sexuality, depression and stress management are the main priorities of the 40 - 60 year old women in these rural areas.
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Women wanted up to date interactive information which could be used in a group or on their own.
It was these rural women who suggested a CD Rom as their preferred method of gaining information.
A CD Rom entitled Midlife: Choices for Health and Wellbeing, which includes up to date and interactive health information based on a decision-making model, is currently being produced as a direct result of these focus groups.
Focus Group Output
Have you had any other signs and symptoms that you believed were associated with your menopause?
Women's Responses:
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Sexual desire |
Itchy/dry skin |
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Dry/brittle hair |
Bladder control |
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Disturbance Insomnia/Sleep |
Anxiety level |
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Change of body shape |
Out of control |
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Depression |
Indecision |
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Only able to concentrate on one thing at a time |
Bloated |
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Emotional, sensitive, upset cries easily |
Weight gain |
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Sore breasts |
Relationship stress |
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Acne |
Changes in menstrual cycle |
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Feeling cool |
Feeling like 'killing' someone |
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Confusion |
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For some women signs and symptoms are predominantly physical and for others emotional or psychological. How and when did you work out that your symptoms were to do with the process of menopause?
Women's Responses:
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An allergist told me it was menopause
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Talking to friends
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I started having symptoms when I was 33, now I'm 68.
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It was only when I got a really obvious sign, a 'hot flush', that I realised that I was going through menopause
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Reading about menopause; the Internet
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Signs and symptoms experienced by some women are minor, for others severe. How did the signs and symptoms of menopause affect you physically/emotionally/psychologically in relation to family, primary relationship, sexual relationship, friends, work and recreation?
Women's Responses:
Family/Primary Relationship
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Grumpy
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Family withdrawing
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Ability to cope with grown up children
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Family ready to 'commit' her
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Felt like I could kill anyone in the family on certain days
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My husband was the top of my 'hit' list
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Sexual Relationship
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Very dry, uncomfortable
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Not the same excitement
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Friends
Work
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Work colleagues all younger and thought it was funny
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Same age work colleagues understood and we could talk together
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I felt less tolerant at work
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I was more controlled at work (than at home) but still felt impacted
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Recreation
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Hard to enjoy when having hot flushes all the time
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When grumpy not many people want to be around you
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My level of activity revolved around how much sleep I'd had
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"I am still okay, I can have fun and get on with life"
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
The Steering Committee looked at what aspects of the women's Health Care Providers care was positive and supportive as opposed to that which was unsupportive and negative.
Women's Responses:
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My doctor encouraged me to go on HRT but was happy for me to try alternatives first
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I found difficulty in accessing caring women doctor's in rural area
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Going to a women's health doctor helped me for specifically women's and mental health issues
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Finding a female GP who would take the time to listen to my issues was great
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My GPs attitude was poor and I wouldn't ask about this issue again
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The GPs attitude was 'you're okay, nothing to worry about' or 'don't worry about hot flushes, it's a woman's thing'
THE MEANING OF MENOPAUSE
The 'meaning' menopause is given within a culture can vary. For some it is a valued time, a coming of age and wisdom, something that is to be celebrated. For others it is closely aligned with the negative stereotypes of ageing and is something that is unacknowledged, shameful and silenced.
As you come into your menopausal years what feelings, thoughts and beliefs did you have during this time of transition?
Women's Responses:
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Glad when it's over |
Fearful, anxious |
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I worry that because I've had lots of gynaecological problems and haven't had kids that I'll get symptoms earlier or worse |
Positive about periods finishing; thought that because I was fit and healthy that I wouldn't get the symptoms so when they came I was quite shocked |
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You are going to have a tough time because mum did |
Parents never talked about it
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Felt a sense of freedom |
A new chapter of life |
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No more wolf whistles |
Hair, wrinkles, fat tummy - physical appearance |
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Invisible as a female; Men aren't going to look at me and find me attractive |
Being prepared, anticipating possible symptoms means that it is not as bad as if I wasn't prepared |
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I am still okay, I can have fun and get on with life |
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Did this change for you throughout the process? In what way?
Women's Responses:
If you are now postmenopausal have your feelings/thoughts/beliefs about menopause changed?
Women's Responses:
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Yes, thoughts and beliefs have definitely changed mainly because I found a very sympathetic woman GP to listen to about me
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I found out I did not have to go through this on my own
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Were you able to freely discuss these issues with anyone? If so, with whom? If not, for what reasons?
General Responses:
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Many women felt that they had been able to freely discuss their feelings with someone once they had found someone who could understand where they were coming from and what they were on about
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Some women found benefit from attending women's groups
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Female GPs were found to be supportive
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Friends going through the same thing were also supportive
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Husbands or partners may feel that the answer is to go on HRT
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WORKING TOGETHER
We would like to thank our steering committee for their effort and dedication in getting this project off the ground and for the time they put in to set up the focus groups in their areas and collate the results.
We would also like to thank all of the rural women who took part in the focus groups. Your contribution will make a difference to the health information available to all women living in rural and remote parts of Australia.
VICTORIAN RURAL STEERING COMMITTEE
Dr Kaye Birks School of Rural Health,
Jenny Davidson Glenview Community Care Inc,
Tessa Davies Delatite Community Health Service,
Sue Fletcher Mitchell Community Health Services,
Andrea Green East Grampians Health Service,
Kristine Hogg Robinvale District Health Service,
Pauline McGee Moyne Health Services,
Robin Northey Primary Care Division Swan Hill District Hospital,
Alma Ries Gippsland Women's Health Service,
Carolyn Ripper Lakes Entrance Community Health,
Karen Templeton Central Gippsland Health Service,
Mary Paula Williamson Northern District Community Health Service
The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended that The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health professional. The Jean Hailes Foundation does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of information or advice) which is provided in this magazine or incorporated into it by reference. Information is provided on the basis that all persons reading the magazine undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.
© The Jean Hailes Foundation. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under copyright legislation, no part may be reproduced or reused for any commercial purposes.
Note: This article is an archive. Whilst the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has made every effort to ensure this information was accurate at the time of publication, the article content has not been updated since the date listed below.
Content updated June, 2002
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