13 million (50.7%) Australians are born with ovaries, 14% (~3 million) are currently aged
40-59 yrs, & all such who live to midlife will experience menopause, defined as >12
months without a period. Peri-menopause (peri), typically occurs 5 yrs before menopause
as hormone levels decrease. As with oestrogen, peri symptoms can affect every bodily
system; e.g. depression/anxiety, diminished mental function, irregular periods, hot
flushes, sleep problems, vaginal atrophy & urinary urgency. These symptoms are linked
with lower quality of life & significantly higher work impairment; a third experiencing
symptoms so severe as to impede daily life & increase risk of suicide. Lifetime increased
risks of diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis & dementia are also associated with
menopause, yet it remains disconcertingly poorly studied.
The investigators propose to create a world-first, cutting-edge, consumer-driven, Virtual
peri-/menopause registry of AusTrALia (VITAL). The unique design will enable consumers to
determine VITAL's questions, encourage secure revelation of private data e.g. vaginal &
mental health symptoms, & to direct priorities for research, education, & health service
improvements. VITAL will thus deliver optimal assessments of incidence, prevalence &
impact.
The participating consumers, researchers, clinical specialists, policy makers, & modern
virtual data infrastructure enable this unique & innovative registry design, future
translation to improved community health, & promote awareness & collaborative synergies.
Leveraging the investigators' critical range of expertise & ongoing feedback
opportunities for both participants & stakeholder partnerships, the investigators will
create a ground-breaking platform that:
empowers the consumer voice and priorities,
enables peri-/menopause research to extend beyond existing niche focuses,
evidences the true impact of peri-/menopause across the nation,
evolves healthcare services and outcomes, &
educates community, clinicians, & policy-makers. After Australian registry
establishment, the investigators will expand VITAL to mirror it in other nations
while still protecting individual's data the right way, but so all can learn & apply
the best aspects of care from across the world.