04/08/2025

MONDAY | AUG 4, 2025

26

HEALTH

Helping women stay in workforce

L IM Ai Jing feels like she has been a bad daughter. When her 54-year-old mother called her to complain that she was not sleeping well, Lim dismissed her concerns, thinking they were normal gripes. “And initially, I took it lightly. But then now, when I read through everything, it is like, oh my god, this can be quite serious,” Lim, 29, said. The “everything” she was referring to is her research on perimenopause, the transition phase when estrogen levels in women start declining, and menopause, characterised by the end of the menstrual cycle for good, and their long-term effects on women’s health. Long considered a natural process that did not require any intervention, experts are now calling for a paradigm shift: recognising early menopause care not just as a matter of individual well-being but as a crucial strategy to prevent non-communicable diseases and save Malaysia and its people significant money and misery. Malaysian Menopause Society president Dr Ho Choon Moy said too many people in the country are unaware of how serious untreated menopause can be for women and only addressing it after they have developed issues such as diabetes. “There is zero budget for menopause. Most of the budget (go to conditions) such as diabetes, big budget, you know? I mean, they are like treating the fire, they are putting out the fire but (not) the root cause (which is menopause),” she said on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Menopause Federation 10th Scientific Meeting recently. o Treating menopause can avoid loss of talent

What is menopause? Menopause marks not only the end of a woman’s reproductive years but also her increased vulnerability to developing various diseases. The average age of menopause in Malaysia is 50.7 years, though women may start the transition process (perimenopause) 10 years earlier. In the foreword of the Health Ministry (MOH) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Menopause, then-health minister Khairy Jamaluddin wrote: “Menopause, a natural biological process that is accompanied by estrogen deficiency, will affect every woman. As the average age of menopause in Malaysia is around 50 years, one-third of the lives of women are going to be without the hormone estrogen, making them susceptible to a multitude of problems, ranging from social to medical issues such as coronary heart disease, non-communicable diseases, osteoporosis and cancers.” Ho said providing early menopause care, such as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), is a worthwhile investment as it will prevent many diseases and complications later on. “MHT has long-term benefits. We are talking about preventing diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis and fractures,” she said. “When you treat all these women who are having symptoms now, it is cardiac protective. It actually protects the heart, you know.” According to the 2013-2019 National Diabetes Registry, published by MOH, women constitute the majority of diabetic cases in Malaysia at 57.1%. The report did not specify at what age the women were diagnosed with diabetes, whether they were receiving MHT or whether they outnumbered men due to their longer life expectancy. Studies on hip fractures among elderly patients admitted to teaching hospitals in Malaysia found that most of the patients were women due to

flashes, menopausal symptom, can lead to embarrassment and discomfort in professional settings, while chronic fatigue from sleep disturbances erodes overall well-being and focus. These symptoms have a carry-over effect. Striking women between the ages of 45 and 55, some of the symptoms have been severe enough for many women to report reduced productivity, leading them to decline promotions, reduce their working hours and resign early, according to studies conducted in the UK and Ireland. This translates to a significant loss of experienced talent, invaluable institutional knowledge and leadership potential, particularly among women aged 45 to 60, who are often at the prime of their professional lives. “You know, they have a lot of experience (by then). If they go, it is really a waste of resources,” said Ho. “(When we treat women’s menopause symptoms) because they are healthy, they can continue working. They do not have to retire (early). And this will boost the economy of the country, the female workforce.” Malaysia’s female labour participation rate (FLPR) was 56.4% as of May this year, an increase from 56.2% in 2023, according to the Statistics Department. Singapore had 62.6% FLPR and Thailand 60.6% FLPR in 2023. There is scant data in the Asia-Pacific region on whether menopausal symptoms are a significant factor for women exiting the workforce. Menopause also increases the chance of developing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, while other physical symptoms such as vaginal dryness, which makes sexual intercourse painful, may exacerbate the anxiety and depression. Mood swings and irritability may also affect family and social relationships, and cause them to break down. – Bernama another

Experts say providing early menopausal treatment can fuel economic growth by helping some women stay longer in the workforce. – 123RFPIC

symptoms on Malaysian women in the workforce is a profound, yet largely unacknowledged reality. As a recent study led by prominent obstetrician-gynaecologist and menopause advocate Dr Premitha Damodaran highlighted, common menopausal symptoms among multiethnic working women in Malaysia include joint pain, sleep disturbances, brain fog, mood swings and digestive issues. Lim, who works as a clinical psychologist at Sunway Medical Centre Velocity, said many of the symptoms can be debilitating, regardless of whether the women are working or not. “The most destructive symptom (is) sleep disturbance, and also the most important one that we cannot ignore is the cognitive problem, that is concentration issues (or brain fog),” she said. Brain fog can make it difficult to concentrate, remember crucial information or make quick decisions, impacting productivity in roles that require sharp cognitive function. Hot

their lower bone density from osteoporosis. The average stay at the hospital was five days. “Give, like, free menopause hormone therapy in the government clinic. Okay, that will cut down (the government’s) health expenses 10 to 20 years down the road,” Ho added. Economic benefits On top of healthcare savings, experts argue that providing early menopausal treatment can fuel economic growth by helping some women stay longer in the workforce. In several international studies, issues surrounding menopause have been cited as a significant cause of women exiting the workforce during middle age. While Malaysia has announced strategies, ranging from childcare or eldercare assistance to three-month paid maternity leave, to keep women in the labour force, menopausal symptoms have not made much headway in penetrating mainstream consciousness. The impact of menopausal

Introducing new treatments for prostate, liver, pancreatic cancers PROSTATE, pancreatic and liver cancers remain among the most pressing health challenges in Malaysia, with late-stage diagnoses continuing to impact patient outcomes. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting Malaysian men, with many cases detected only at advanced stages. Liver cancer is also one of the most common cancers among Malaysians, while pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest due to late detection and limited treatment options. concerns men face – maintaining quality of life while seeking effective care,” said consultant urologist Datuk Dr Loh Chit Sin. IRE utilises high-voltage electrical pulses to destroy cancer cells without the use of heat. This method allows treatment near delicate structures, such as nerves, ducts and blood vessels, making it suitable for tumours in the prostate as well as liver, pancreas and kidneys. It reflects a more personalised approach to cancer care that supports survival and post-treatment well-being.

Hospital Picaso in Petaling Jaya is offering irreversible electroporation (IRE), a non-thermal ablation technique that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, which is an advancement in prostate cancer care, giving patients more precise options with fewer long-term complications. “This technique gives us a targeted way to treat prostate cancer, while reducing damage to surrounding structures. This treatment can help patients to retain urinary continence and preserve erectile function. These outcomes address two of the biggest

The hospital is also introducing electrochemotherapy (ECT), further expanding its interventional oncology capabilities. ECT combines short electrical pulses with localised chemotherapy to enhance drug absorption directly into tumour cells. It is particularly effective for difficult-to-access or previously unresponsive tumours in the liver and pancreas. By concentrating treatment where it is needed most while limiting systemic side effects, ECT offers new hope to patients with limited options.

Doctors showcasing a minimally invasive therapy for patients with prostate cancer. New technologies are expanding what is possible, but early detection is still key to better outcomes. “When we detect prostate, pancreatic or liver cancer early, we are able to offer options that are less invasive and more targeted. With techniques such as IRE and

electrochemotherapy, we are not just treating the disease – we are giving patients more control over their treatment journey,” said Loh.