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<\/p>\nSINGAPORE \u2013 When Madam Lee Yoke Lan turned 46, she began to have hot flushes and bad mood swings.<\/p>\n
She had to shower four times a day instead of the usual two, and was asked by the sister in the nursing ward where she worked why she was so short-tempered.<\/p>\n
Describing her menopause as \u201ca flash of lightning \u2013 sudden and unexpected\u201d, Madam Lee, who went on to become the director of nursing at KK Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Hospital (KKH) at 50, told reporters that \u201ceven my nursing training did not prepare me for this phase in my life\u201d. <\/p>\n
Given the insufficient medical training, lingering fear from outdated research and social stigma, it may not come as a surprise that a 2025 KKH study of almost 300 primary care doctors found that nine in 10 were not confident about diagnosing and treating menopausal symptoms despite having seen female patients in midlife (those 45 to 65 years of age).<\/p>\n
The doctors cited reasons such as lack of training, knowledge and time, and said the women typically sought help only for well-recognised symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and sleep disturbances.<\/p>\n
To close the gap, Singapore launched on Feb 20 its first set of Guidelines on Management of the Menopause Transition, which provides scientifically backed recommendations for the management of the condition and promotes multidisciplinary collaboration. <\/p>\n
Targeted at healthcare professionals in primary practice who are caring for women in midlife, the guidelines put the necessary systems in place to recognise menopause as a clinical diagnosis.<\/p>\n
It was launched by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann at the opening of the international meeting of the Integrated Platform for Research in Advancing Metabolic Health Outcomes of Women and Children held at KKH.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann (centre) at the launch of Singapore\u2019s first set of Guidelines on the Management of the Menopause Transition.<\/p>\n
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n
In her speech, Ms Sim, who is also adviser to the People\u2019s Association Women\u2019s Integration Network Council, said the guidelines recognise that menopause deserves greater medical attention and that effective treatments exist.<\/p>\n
She cited a 2025 KKH study on about 1,500 women aged 45 to 65, which found that seven in 10 experienced moderate to severe menopausal symptoms, yet 70 per cent of them had not sought medical attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than clinical guidelines, we need a cultural shift… We need to normalise conversation about the full spectrum of menopausal experiences among women, their families, friends (and) communities,\u201d Ms Sim said.<\/p>\n
This set of guidelines will help doctors who deal with midlife women have a consistent set of updated practices for those with menopause symptoms, as many specialities were involved in its development, hence reducing confusion among the different fields.<\/p>\n
Professor Yong Eu Leong, emeritus consultant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the National University Hospital and a member of the work group that came up with the guidelines, said: \u201cWe have attempted to consolidate all the recent updates in the field and localise it to Singapore women.\u201d <\/p>\n