Special clinic for menopausal women launched at RML Hospital

NEWDELHI: Women from all walks of life on Tuesday landed up at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to get advice on exercise, diet, incontinence and hormone replacement therapy at the brand new special clinic for menopausal women, which will, from now on, be operational every Tuesday between 2pm and 4pm.

The clinic, which is being run by doctors from gynaecology and physiotherapy departments as of now, will also screen women for cervical and breast cancers.

Chandra Kanta, 45, was one of the 10 women who visited the clinic on the first day. She read about the clinic and travelled 22 kms from Dwarka for consultation as she has been unable to sleep properly due to hot flushes for the last six years. “My periods stopped three years ago, but for almost six years now, I get hot flushes. Even in the winters, I am hardly able to sleep with a quilt. I keep all my doors and windows open at night,” she said.

Kanta, who claimed that she has been irritable since her menopause, scored 41 out of 44 on the menopause rating scale.

Menopause Rating Scale is a questionnaire that evaluates women for psychological parameters such as depression and anxiety, physical parameters such as sweating, cardiac problems and pains, and urogenital problems such as vaginal dryness and urinary complaints.

The doctors, meanwhile, said they are in the process of translating the menopause rating scale in Hindi so that patients are able to fill it out themselves.

“Most women think they just have to get through their menopausal problems. Those between the ages of 45 and 55 are vulnerable. Families need to support such women. We are hoping to create awareness about the issue,” said Dr Renuka Malik, who runs the clinic.

“Women lose a lot of their bone density during menopause, so it is important to exercise. We teach women motion and strength training and kegel exercises,” said Mansi Gupta from the physiotherapy department.