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Even Melinda Gates had to see three doctors to diagnose perimenopause! Women’s health can be complex and multiple conditions can mimic perimenopause so a careful history and work up is required as not everything is down to female hormones! It’s important not to miss thyroid disorders, diabetes, heart conditions, or micronutrient deficiencies. At Elara Women’s Health our new patient appointments are all 30 minutes to allow sufficient time to take a full history, review all previous tests done to date and formulate the appropriate working diagnosis and come to shared decision making. It also enables us to discuss what a woman can do to stay healthy for the long term with a review of nutrition, sleep, movement, mental health, screening and immunisations. It’s worth investing time and expertise in women’s health to get better outcomes.
💗 We’d love your feedback! 💗 We’re exploring the possibility of opening a new women's health clinic south of the river in the Victoria Park area. Our aim would be to make high-quality, multidisciplinary women’s health care more accessible for women who may find travelling north of the river difficult or inconvenient. Before we take the next steps, we’d love to hear from our community: Would a women’s health clinic in Vic Park be valuable to you? 🟣 Yes — I’d love to have a clinic closer to me 🟣 Yes — I know someone who would benefit 🟣 Maybe — it depends on the services offered 🟣 No — I’m happy with my current options We’d also love to know: ✨ What women’s health services would you most like to see available locally? ✨ What would make a new clinic genuinely helpful for you? Thank you for helping us understand the needs of our community 💕
Taking care of yourself is a non-negotiable. As women we frequently put other people’s needs ahead of our own and we can feel guilty about ‘saying no’ or taking time for ourselves. It’s so important to realise though that this is a path that can lead to feeling tired, stressed and overwhelmed. Take some time out each day for yourself to do something you enjoy, even if it’s just 30 minutes and this will help you to stay energised and on track! #womenshealth
https://youtu.be/mNpD1F48PwU?si=KYggcIyTaVPhMufo This is an excellent webinar based on the findings of the SWAN study - Study of Women's Health Across the Nation - a US study that went for 20 years from 1994 and studied bone health in perimenopausal women as one of the parameters. Important study findings: There is accelerated bone loss in the 1-2 years before the final menstrual period and for 3-4 years after. On average women lose 10.6% bone loss over the menopausal transition. If a woman starts menopause with borderline bone density (a T score of -1 on DEXA) she only needs to lose 18% of her bone density to reach osteoporosis on average by the age of 64 yrs. The impact: Osteoporosis leads to fracture risk and potential disability/loss of independence/chronic pain. Standard treatments for osteoporosis do not repair damaged bone micro-architecture - that needs anabolic treatments. Therefore fracture risk remains even with treatment. Prevention is better than cure: We know menopause hormone therapy, vitamin D, calcium, resistance exercise all improve bone health and reduce risk of osteoporosis and fracture risk. A DEXA scan accurately diagnoses osteopenia (bone thinning that occurs before osteoporosis develops). Getting a DEXA scan done in late perimenopause/early menopause and diagnosing osteopenia means there is time to take action and prevent osteoporosis occurring. Talk to our doctors to organise a bone density scan (DEXA). Phone 6500 0560 or book online www.elaraperth.com.au #WomensHealth #osteoporosis #healthybonesaustralia
Introducing our amazing Clinical Naturopath Tracy Gaibisso who commences consultations at Elara Women's Health this week! Tracy Gaibisso has been in practice since 2002, with a deep and long-standing passion for supporting women through their reproductive years, into menopause and beyond. She has a special interest in endometriosis, fertility, and menopausal health, and previously served on the Clinical Advisory Committee of Endometriosis Australia. She has completed postgraduate studies in Fertility Management, Wellness, and Teaching & Learning, and in 2018 graduated with a Master of Reproductive Medicine from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Her clinical work focuses on walking alongside each client, helping them understand their body, their hormones, and their unique path toward healing. In practice, Tracy meets her clients exactly where they are. She supports individuals navigating endometriosis, fertility challenges, perimenopause, menopause, and complex hormonal concerns with compassion and clarity. When she is not consulting, reading, researching, or travelling, Tracy can often be found cold-water dipping — a practice she incorporates into her own longevity and health rituals. Qualifications Masters Reproductive medicine Graduate Certificate in Wellness Graduate Certificate Teaching & Learning Advanced Diploma Naturopathy Diploma Nutrition Diploma of Remedial Massage To book with Tracy ring Jess or Dianne on our front desk on (08) 6500 0560
There are some great stories on the Healthy Bones Australia from women who unexpectedly discovered they had osteoporosis. One woman got a DEXA scan because of a family history of fractures, another developed osteoporosis and spinal fractures following pregnancy and another had back pain which was due to spinal fractures/osteoporosis. There is also a great community video and it highlights again how common osteoporosis is in women over the age of 50 yrs. https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/osteoporosis-you/meet-the-experts/ https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/osteoporosis-you/personal-stories/
In Japan menopause means ‘the renewal years’ - I love this because it represents the opportunities that this phase of life can bring when navigated well. It’s a time of reflecting back on life, thinking about what is meaningful and deciding how you want to spend this next phase! Many women in this life stage start new businesses and this was me! I really wanted to bring a dedicated multidisciplinary women’s health service to Perth’s northern suburbs for women of all ages and with a special focus on menopause and endometriosis. These are often complex and need more time and team based care. I also wanted to develop services for women in regional areas where access to specialised women’s health care can be patchy. I also wanted to use the latest in audiovisual technology and case conferencing capabilities to enable team based care with specialists and GP’s particularly those in rural and remote areas who may need advice on how to manage complex women’s health cases. We women can be complex at times as my husband reminds me! The journey starting a new business can be nerve wracking at times but I’m so glad I did this and I would encourage anyone in midlife to embrace this season - dream big and step out in faith! #womenshealth #renewalyears
An unplanned pregnancy can surprisingly happen during the perimenopause even when periods have become few and far between! Important contraceptive advice: If you’re under 50 yrs you need to use contraception for 2 years after your last menstrual period and if you’re over 50 yrs for 1 year. The good news is there are hormonal options that tackle both perimenopause, POI and contraceptive needs. Our Women's Health Specialist General Practitioners can help with contraception advice and hormonal balance. 😊😊 #womenshealth #perimenopause
Today I had my pre Onero programme functional assessment - a series of balance, speed and strength tests to get my baseline before starting the group sessions next week. Onero is an evidence based exercise programme designed to improve bone density. I think it’s going to make me much stronger. Marli is great - very thorough and pays great attention to detail. #womenshealth #onero #osteopenia
Dr Aye Kyaw and Dr Sharon Vasey are the Elara Women's Health Specialist General Practitioners. We both share a passion for supporting women through every stage of life - from adolescence to pregnancy planning, perimenopause, menopause and healthy ageing. Elara is a GP led multidisciplinary service focused entirely on women's health offering: Longer appointments, giving you the time to be heard Doctors with a special interest and advanced skills in women's health and menopause Personalised, evidence-based care tailored to your health goals A collaborative team, working alongside allied health professionals to support your wellbeing We know that many women's health concerns are complex and can't always be addressed in a standard consultation. Our aim is to provide the time, expertise and coordinated care to help you feel informed, supported and confident in your health decisions. To make a booking phone our friendly receptionists Jess and Dianne on (08) 6500 0560 or book online at www.elaraperth.com.au
Talking today about all things bone health with our amazing dietitian Mel Raybould and the role of menopause hormone therapy. (MHT) The good news is that MHT is proven and supported by international guidelines to prevent and treat early osteoporosis. Getting a DEXA scan in perimenopause is so important because low bone density is surprisingly common (myself case in point!). Early diagnosis and management means less hip fractures down the track which is so important! https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3476072/menopause-toolkit-update.pdf https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Clinical%20Resources/Guidelines/Joint%20replacement/Osteoporosis-flowchart.pdf #womenshealth #osteoporosis #hormonetherapy
Will be signing up for the Onero programme myself! Evidence based for stronger bones 🦴 https://www.mobius.net.au/onero
Pre menstrual Dysphoric Disorder causes intense mood related symptoms like extreme anxiety, depressed mood and irritability in the week before menstruation and these resolve after the period starts. These symptoms can be aggravated by perimenopausal hormone changes. The good news is there are some great hormonal medications with body identical estrogens that can help stabilise hormone levels and mood symptoms. For personalised care for PMS, PMDD or perimenopause book via our Elara front desk 6500 0560 or online www.elaraperth.com.au #womenshealth #pmdd #perimenopause
Great chat with Mel our dietitian about the GLP 1 weight loss injections. We think these are a great tool with what we prefer to call ‘health gains’ but it’s so important that to maximise benefits and minimise the risks of losing muscle due to protein deficit it’s so important to get the balance of nutrition right. The medication is great for calming ‘food noise’ and enabling increased movement, but weight regain is common post treatment, and so it’s important to have made the lifestyle changes to maintain those health gains. If you would like personalised advice on optimising your weight and nutrition including whether medication would be beneficial our team at Elara are ready to help. https://elaraperth.com.au #womenshealth #GLP1 #weightloss
We’re all busy people and at Elara we get that! If you need a repeat script, routine referral letter for the specialist you see every year or a medical certificate when you’re at home with cold and flu 🤒 and it would be best that you keep germs 🦠 to yourself, our friends at HotDoc have enabled Routine Requests that you can make from home without an appointment. Skip the trip Quick turnaround Your trusted doctor Simply click the Appointments tab on our Home Page https://elaraperth.com.au
Introducing Marli our women's health exercise physiologist. We are delighted to introduce Marli Rabe, an accredited Exercise Physiologist with a strong clinical focus on women’s health and a special interest in endometriosis. She is also an ONERO accredited provider. ONERO is a clinically proven programme to build bone strength in women with osteoporosis and osteopenia (increased bone fragility). Marli will also be presenting at our first community workshop 'Staying Unbreakable Strong Bones for Life' on Wednesday 22nd July at 6 pm along with Women's Health Specialist GP Dr Sharon Vasey, Hormone Naturopath Tracy Gaibisso, Accredited Practising Dietitian Mel Raybould and Accredited Exercise Physiologist Dan Meaden. Contact our front desk at [email protected] to reserve your complimentary spot in the Elara community - be quick as spaces are limited and filling up fast! https://elaraperth.com.au/news/marli-rabe-exercise-physiologist/
Introducing Dr Aye who commences consultations at Elara Menopause & Women's Health Clinic this week. Dr Aye is an Australian-trained Specialist General Practitioner with a strong focus on women’s health providing high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centred healthcare. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and holds a Diploma from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), as well as a Certificate in Child Health. Dr Aye has worked across both hospital and general practice settings for more than a decade, offering comprehensive care for patients at all stages of life. Dr Aye has a particular interest in Perimenopause and Menopause Management, driven by her passion for supporting women through this important life stage. She helps women understand and manage menopausal symptoms with both hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options, while addressing long-term health considerations. As a member of the Australasian Menopause Society, she continues to update her knowledge on the latest research and clinical guidelines to ensure patients receive clear, evidence-based advice. Her women’s health services encompass the management of chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, antenatal care, contraception counselling and a range of procedures such as Implanon and intrauterine device (IUD) insertion and removal. She places a strong emphasis on patient comfort and safety. Dr Aye practices a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, working with allied health professionals and specialists to deliver coordinated and holistic care. Known for her compassion, she prioritises patient education and shared decision-making to support confident, personalised healthcare choices. Qualifications Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Diploma Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Practise Location Dr Aye Kinzanar Kyaw sees patients at Elara Women's Health, Joondalup. To book with Dr Aye please contact our friendly reception team on 6500 0560 during office hours or book online via our website: https://elaraperth.com.au/
We are holding our first community workshop at Elara Menopause & Women’s Health on Wednesday 22nd July at 6 pm. This is our ‘Staying Unbreakable Strong Bones for Life Workshop’ and we will have some of our amazing allied health team on the panel. Dan and Marli exercise physiologists on what exercise is evidence based to build bone strength - how heavy do you need to lift and how do you do that without injuring yourself. Mel accredited practising dietitian - nutrition for strong 💪 bones Tracy naturopath - how to get enough vitamin D Sharon - women’s health specialist GP - what is osteoporosis, how it’s diagnosed, DEXA scans and when to get one done and the role of hormone therapy in prevention and treatment. This workshop will be useful for anyone wanting to know how to stay strong and avoid fractures in later life. It is a free event but reservations are essential. Email: [email protected] to RSVP
We all want to use the safest and most effective hormone treatment on the market right? As doctors we prefer the transdermal oestrogen products as these have the best safety profiles but there are differences between these too and patches may be better for some women who have trouble remembering a daily gel or have brain fog or mood disorders as the hormone in the patch is better at going across the blood brain barrier. That being said there are sometimes supply issues with patches, trouble with patch allergies or differences between brands! I have my favourite and I’m hoping supplies stay plentiful! Tablets are also a good option for women with no cardiovascular risk factors and can be great if you’re a poor absorber through skin. Bottom line. It’s best to have your treatment individualised and monitored carefully. Good to get your mammogram and bone density checked too! #womenshealth #menopausedoctor
We had our first big team meeting last night and we have an awesome team of health care professionals who we know and trust. Mel our dietitian Tracy our naturopath Aye our other women’s health GP Dan and Marli our exercise physiologists Isabel our psychologist Kate and Sarah our pelvic floor physios Bo our pharmacist Chantelle our PT We have full case conferencing facilities which we will use with our allied health, regional GP’s and gynaecologists and pain specialists. We know we achieve better health outcomes for patients with team based care so we’re excited about the next chapter in women’s healthcare in WA! #womenshealth
Introducing our amazing Elara personal trainer Chantelle who specialises in supporting women through midlife, menopause and beyond. With over 25 years in the fitness industry Chantelle brings a wealth of expertise, passion and lived experience to every client she works with. Having personally navigated early menopause and the many physical and emotional challenges this can bring, Chantelle understands firsthand how overwhelming this stage of life can be. She turned her personal journey into purpose by completing a range of specialised menopause fitness courses to equip herself with the knowledge and skills to truely make a difference. She is now dedicated to empowering menopausal women to feel like themselves again using evidence informed strategies. She aims to help women rebuild strength, confidence and vitality. Chantelle comments in her bio that so many women put others first, often at the cost of their own wellbeing. Women deserve and require that same self-love to enable them to lead a life of vitality and wellness. #womenshealth #fitnesstrainer
Just finished day 3 at Elara Menopause & Women’s Health and our busiest yet! We had our first regional Telehealth call with a patient in Margaret River. We are keen to break down any geographical barriers to accessing women’s healthcare so that was great! We are getting lots of emails and calls asking about our scope of practice. We offer the full scope of women’s health services including contraception, cervical screening, endometriosis, PMOS, fertility, mental health, eating disorders and with a special interest in menopause and pelvic pain. Billing - we are a private billing clinic so that we can offer high quality care. However we do not wish for finances to be a barrier and can bulk bill in financial hardship and for GP Chronic Condition Management Plans. #WomensHealth
Catching up with our exercise physiologist Dan Meaden today for a tour of the clinic and to discuss the Onero programme he is running with Marli his new women’s health exercise physiologist. He is offering zero gap for patients on a care plan for July and August and we are planning our community workshop “Staying Unbreakable Beyond the Perimenopause” in conjunction with our dietitian Mel and naturopath Tracy. Stay tuned for more details! #womenshealth #bonehealthawareness #perimenopause
Day 2 at Elara Menopause & Women’s Health and feeling more relaxed and organised now we are used to new IT systems. We plan to run regular community workshops starting with our “Staying unbreakable beyond perimenopause” next month with our exercise physiologist, dietitian and naturopath. Bone loss during and after menopause transition is significant and can be surprising even for women in their 40’s and 50’s who are regular gym goers. We recommend getting a baseline bone density scan done during perimenopause and then if low bone density/thin bones is diagnosed you have time to improve bone strength with calcium/exercise/vitamin D/sometimes HRT and avoid a hip/spinal or wrist fracture in later life. #womenshealth #perimenopause #bonehealthawareness
Introducing our lovely Monday receptionist Jess who has 12 years of medical receptionist experience. Jess places a high value on a streamlined patient experience and building relationships with patients. She likes organisation and our email inbox is already looking much tidier! Thank you Jess!
We are thrilled to be officially opening our doors today Monday 22nd June! It has been a hectic two weeks getting the clinic ready to open but we are now open for bookings. We will be running a limited service for the first few weeks whilst we find our feet 👣 opening Mondays and Thursdays and from 6th July we will be open every weekday. 🙌 Our lovely receptionist Jess will be answering the phone today and online booking is also available. A warm welcome awaits! T: 6500 0560 https://elaraperth.com.au
My last day at Woodvale Park MC and excited to be starting the next chapter at Elara on Monday! Many people have been asking what services we offer at Elara. We are experienced Specialist General Practitioners and therefore offer the full scope of women’s healthcare. That being said, we are passionate about menopausal health and helping women to navigate this stage of life and beyond with confidence. On site we have our amazing dietitian Mel Raybould who has a special interest in menopause and metabolic health and our naturopath Tracy who has a special interest in menopause, endometriosis and fertility. We also have my women’s health GP colleague Dr Aye. We have both attained additional women’s health qualifications and are members of the Australasian Menopause Society. We also work in close partnership and will be case conferencing with our off site allied health team: Dan Meaden exercise physiology Mobius Sarah Kenagy pelvic floor physio Healthy Pelvis Kate Fosdike pelvic floor physio Lift Isabel Fernandez (special interest endometriosis) Fernandez Psychology Bo Youn Kim pharmacist Check out our website: https://elaraperth.com.au
HRT after breast cancer is a controversial area. It is considered an absolute contraindication ie a ‘hard no’ by international guidelines. However the research is unclear with many studies indicating no risk of recurrence. The study that lead to the recommendation was done two decades ago and had its flaws. Additionally modern HRT products are arguably safer. So it’s unclear. What is clear though is that it warrants a careful discussion about the risks and benefits with shared decision making and should not be a ‘blanket no’ #womenshealth #breastcancersurvivors #perimenopause#menopause
I’ve always been taught that breast cancer is an absolute contraindication for HRT and this remains the position of international guidelines. However the background to this recommendation is interesting and is based on one study done two decades ago that showed a significant risk. What is less well publicised is this was only one out of 24 other studies that have not demonstrated risk and this single study was by no means perfect. It’s a confusing area as we do know that removing ovaries does seem to prevent breast cancer in BRCA gene carriers. So, it’s not a straightforward issue. What is clear is that breast cancer survivors need to be given all the facts regarding safety data and that HRT can be considered in certain cases. More on this next week! https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35594465/
Great conversation with Nadia, Claire and Laura on the Change Your Opinion Podcast about the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy, when to start and stop, peri rage, their lived experiences as perimenopausal women and how to access the right care for this stage of life. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1XA8oaM9eYQQaxD72oinbz?si=5BWUVTttTyWSpEs_3wzPvA
It’s super important to get your bone density checked even when you’re in the perimenopause as 10% of bone density is lost in that time. We did a bone density scan on a 55 yrs old patient who was having regular periods 4 years ago and were surprised to find she was already in the early stages of osteoporosis. This could lead to an increased risk of hip/spine/wrist fracture as she gets older. Now we know we can take steps to protect her bone including ruling out any underlying cause, discussing hormone replacement therapy and ensuring she has an appropriate and effective exercise programme with adequate calcium and vitamin D. Early diagnosis is key to staying fit and well! #perimenopause #womenshealth#osteoporosis
Discovered this great book 📕 written by Australian 🇦🇺 journalist Shelly Horton about her own perimenopause journey which included Armageddon menstrual bleeding, peri depression and a spell on ITU following gynae surgery. She’s doing much better these days and this is a great read - funny but with a serious message about how bad things can get with hormonal chaos and the way out. #womenshealth #perimenopause #menopause
So good to hear about the Federal Government’s upcoming Campaign for Perimenopause and Menopause! So many women (including health care professionals) talk about being blindsided by perimenopause symptoms and partly this is lack of recognition that early symptoms such as insomnia, brain fog and mood changes have a hormonal cause but also because traditionally menopause is something that just wasn’t talked about. At worst symptoms have been dismissed and this was compounded by doctors’ safety concerns surrounding menopause hormone therapy. These days we have much better understanding of symptoms and available treatments. We still have a long way to go with evolving research but the future is looking much better for women navigating this stage of life! https://www.health.gov.au/perimenopause #perimenopause #womenshealth#menopause
POTS is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The commonest symptom is dizziness and a rapid heart rate when standing. It particularly affects women 14-50 years and although there seems to be a genetic predisposition there is often an environmental trigger eg viral illness, neck trauma, hormonal change such as pregnancy and an association with other conditions eg endometriosis, autoimmune conditions or Ehlers Danlos. It can be diagnosed by a GP but often a specialist eg cardiologist will be involved to confirm. There are treatments available and the great POTS Foundation has a wealth of resources available. #pots, #australianpotsfoundation, #womenshealth
Pelvic pain affects 1 in 5 women and is often misunderstood partly because it doesn’t always appear on scans or during surgery. It can be really hard for women who think they have endometriosis to be told that nothing was seen at laparoscopy! However not all pelvic pain is endometriosis and there are good solutions. It really helps to have a multidisciplinary team approach as sometimes it’s helpful to have input from a pelvic floor physiotherapist or a clinical psychologist. Low mood or anxiety makes pain worse. Equally an unregulated and tight pelvic floor can be a strong pain contributor. There will also be times when a pain specialist can help with Botox to help relax the pelvic floor. It can be complex but a structured and thorough approach is key. Also amazing resources for pelvic pain from the Pelvic Pain Foundation. https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/for-women #Pelvic pain #endometriosis #womenshealth
Awesome app with loads of helpful resources and patient stories.
4% of women go through premature ovarian insufficiency and this can impact on fertility and long term brain 🧠, heart ❤️ and bone 🦴 health. The Daisy Network has great resources. https://daisynetwork.org/downloadable-resources/ Take home message: if you’re under 40 yrs with irregular or missing periods for 4 months see your GP for a hormone test. #Premature ovarian insufficiency
I frequently find women are not taking their prescribed hormone therapy correctly because they think the progesterone dose of 2 tablets 12 days of the month seems odd and so they adjust the dose themselves. In fact the sequential dosing of 2 tablets 12 days of the month is the correct dose for the majority of women who are still having periods in the last year. It’s important to take progesterone correctly as it protects the lining of the womb from abnormal thickening caused by oestrogen. Balance is important! Check with your prescribing doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure about any prescribed medication. #menopausedoctor #menopause,#perimenopause,#womenshealth
