By Dr Narsimha K R Vuthpala (Dr Kal), Principal GP with a postgraduate diploma in diabetes and endocrinology at Carrara Family Practice
World Menopause Day falls on 18 October, led internationally by the International Menopause Society and supported here by the Australasian Menopause Society. Menopause is reached twelve months after a final period, at an average age of around 51 in Australia. The symptoms usually start well before that, during perimenopause, often in a woman’s forties and sometimes while periods are still perfectly regular.
According to the Australian Government Department of Health, one in five Australian women will have menopausal symptoms severe enough to interfere with their daily life.
Something changed, and most people haven’t heard about it yet
A Senate inquiry into menopause and perimenopause reported in 2024 that Australian women were often managing this stage of life without structured medical support. The government response included a $64.5 million package, and part of that was practical.
From 1 July 2025, Medicare introduced a dedicated menopause and perimenopause health assessment. It is available once every twelve months. There is no age restriction. It is a longer appointment built specifically for this stage of life rather than a standard consultation that runs out of time.
What that appointment actually covers
It is a structured consultation, which means there is room to work through the whole picture rather than one symptom at a time:
- Your symptoms, and how they are affecting sleep, mood, concentration, work and day-to-day function
- Bone health and fracture risk
- Cardiovascular and metabolic health, both of which shift after menopause
- Your current medicines and medical history
- Preventive health, including nutrition, physical activity and the screening you are due for
A plan, and a follow-up
You can have this assessment if you are experiencing perimenopause, menopause, early menopause, premature ovarian insufficiency, or if you are already being treated for related symptoms.
Midlife is also when several screening programs overlap
Menopause tends to arrive around the same age as a cluster of routine checks.
Go to BreastScreen Australia which actively invites women aged 50 to 74 for a free mammogram every two years. Cervical screening continues to age 74. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and bone density all become more relevant from this point onward.
A menopause health assessment is a sensible moment to check that none of these have quietly lapsed.
Worth raising, even if it feels minor
Hot flushes and night sweats are the best known symptoms, but they are not the whole picture. Changes to sleep, mood, memory and concentration, joint aches, vaginal dryness, bladder symptoms and a drop in energy are all common, and all worth bringing up. There are options for managing symptoms. What suits you depends on your symptoms, your medical history and your own preferences, which is a conversation to have with your GP rather than one to settle online.
One thing to flag clearly: any vaginal bleeding that occurs after you have gone twelve months without a period should be assessed by a GP. There is usually a straightforward explanation, but it should not be assumed to be part of menopause.
Mark the day, or book the check
This World Menopause Day, if you have been putting up with symptoms and assuming nothing can be done, that assumption is worth testing.
Go to Book a women’s health appointment with Carrara Family Practice. Call (07) 5594 4118 or book online. Bulk billing available. Ask our team about billing when you book.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Please speak with a GP at Carrara Family Practice about your individual circumstances.
About the author: Dr Narsimha K R Vuthpala, known to patients as Dr Kal, is the Principal General Practitioner at Carrara Family Practice, holding MBBS, MRCGP, FRACGP and a Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes and Endocrinology. His areas of clinical interest include diabetes, endocrine health, chronic condition management and preventive care.