Dear Members,

Welcome to the last issue of Berita Menopos for 2009! Although it is already our third issue for the year, it feels like just yesterday when the new committee rolled out our first issue in July! As they say, time flies when you’re having fun!
 
Year end is always the time for reflection, and we know it’s no different for each one of you. Our theme for this issue is “The Partner’s Guide to Menopause”, which brings us to face reality that men go through menopause too! Yes, men do pause! I’m not joking.
 
But not many people know this, more so the men themselves.
 
When I attended a dialogue session organized by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development for the NGOs, I happened to be seated beside a kind gentleman
who was invited to recite the doa for the event. On being asked which society I represented, I proudly responded as I chuckled, “Malaysian Menopause Society.”
 
Immediately he laughed out loud and joked “I’m, very fortunately from the Society of Never Pause.” But when he stopped laughing, I had the last laugh seeing the concern on his face when I told him that men go through andropause, the male equivalent of menopause!
 
On a more serious note, it is definitely time both men and women know that we will all experience hormonal changes as we reach mid-life. Just like women suffer changes due to loss of estrogen, men too experience moodiness, loss of energy and other unpleasant symptoms when their testosterone levels gradually but surely dip after forty.
 
Menopause is no longer a taboo word in today’s society — thanks to the Malaysian Menopause Society which looks after the welfare of women. Hope andropause gets equal public attention too!
 
As the first woman president of MMS, amongst my challenges is to break the stigma attached to menopause. I reminisce the day when I was carrying the Malaysian Menopause Society congress bag, and a stranger seeing the label commented “You are so brave carrying this bag”. Now I understand why initially many people refused our congress bags!
My ultimate mission is to let everyone know that menopause and andropause are normal phases of life. It is not the end of life; although it brings about hormone deficiency in both men and women.
 
I hope your New Year resolution is to join us in MMS if you are not already a member. I invite you to visit our website www.menopause.org.my
 
Joie de vivre, menopause with zest! Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.


 
With Best Wishes,
Dr Ho Choon Moy FRCOG
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
President, Malaysian Menopause Society