Thousands of Polish women can struggle with similar problems. Memory problems with sleep, anxiety, muscle aches, fatigue – all these can be symptoms of menopause. As it turns out, knowledge about what menopause is, however, is very small among us, but it happens that doctors do not immediately make the right diagnosis. How to fix it?
It was an endless journey around the doctor's offices. – I was at the gynecologist, at an ENT specialist, at a dermatologist – says Karolina Chmielewska, our interlocutor. She was looking for the answer to the question of what was happening to her. – Difficulties with memory, remembering, such shaky moods – he mentions.
In addition, dry skin. These are problems that he has been struggling with for three years. No doctor told her that it could be a perimenopause. This is a period from the first symptoms of the upcoming menopause up to 12 months after the last menstrual period.
– There is no protection or care. There is no interview at all – notes Karolina Chmielewska.
– My dentist suggested the possibility of menopause – says Emilia Pobiedzińska, menopausal educator. It happened after assessing the condition of the gums. Emilia Pobiedzińska is 10 years after menopause. He has been educating others professionally for two years.
– I was 38 at the time, then 39, when the most difficult things really began, i.e. a very big loss of balance, noise in my head – indicates Emilia Pobiedzińska.
Many patients have bad health care experiences. We asked Poles where the problem isMarek Nowicki/Fakty TVN
The stories of Karolina or Emilia are not alone.
– In Poland, unlike, for example, to Great Britain, primary care doctors pay little attention to menopause symptoms. Patients with menopause a bit as if they wander around the healthcare system – notes prof. Michał Ciebiera, director of the Warsaw Institute of Women's Health.
Read also: “Years of neglect in our health education”. A project has started to conjure up menopause
93 percent of Polish women cannot indicate the definition of menopause
In addition, up to 93 percent of Polish women cannot indicate the correct definition of menopause. We suggest: this is the last period, but that she was the last, we know only a year after her.
– Today we will change through all cases the word “menopause” – says Ewa Malinowska -Grupińska, chairwoman of the Warsaw Council.
It has just been announced that Warsaw will provide a survey for patients and doctors in municipal clinics. All this to help in diagnostics and treatment in the perimenopausal period.
– This survey helps a woman to see at what stage of life she is, and helps the doctor, because as if accelerating the collection of this interview. (…) so that he can offer her some kind of medical procedure – indicates Dr. Małgorzata Bińkowska from the Warsaw Institute of Women's Health.
Dr. Bińkowska was in the international team of experts who was developed by a questionnaire. Forms for a patient and a doctor can also be found on the Internet. You can use them regardless of where you live.
See also: Questionnaire for use in the diagnosis and treatment of women during menopause – external link
– This is a really fantastic message, because many women can bring great relief to life – says Emilia Pobiedzińska.
Source of the main photo: Tvn24