- Why do I need…
Why do I need a specialised GP?
Why do I need a Psychiatrist?
Why do I need an Endocrinologist?
Why do I need a Gynaecologist?
Why do I need a Physiotherapist?
Why do I need an exercise Physiologist?
GPs are the frontline of healthcare for the entire population. The sheer volume of knowledge that they need to do their job, means that most GP’s have areas of medicine that they are more or less confident with. At Ponti Health, our GP’s knowledge and education is focused on women in their mid-life stage - the hormonal aspects, preventative health and the range of physical and mental health issues that can arise.
We have created a support structure for our GPs that gives them more time with each patient and 8 weekly multidisciplinary ‘Peer Reviews’ that create a co-learning environment for them to regularly gather knowledge from different practitioners, which ensures better patient outcomes.
The impact on mental health is one of the unspoken challenges of menopause. Shifts in hormone levels and brain chemistry can affect mood and cognition, resulting in brain fog, anxiety, mood changes and can impact quality of life, even in women without a history of major mental illness.
During perimenopause, fluctuations in oestrogen levels can affect mood, sleep, joints and menstrual cycles. Endocrinologists specialise in conditions related to the endocrine glands and hormones and can prescribe treatments and medication to help ease symptoms.
A lot of women think that once you hit menopause, there’s no more need for a gynaecologist. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Oestrogen deficiency can lead to several gynaecological challenges for women like vaginal atrophy, chronic urinary tract infections, incontinence and postmenopausal bleeding.
Oestrogen plays a major role in bone health and the drop in hormone levels can result in bone density conditions like Osteoporosis. Likewise, urinary frequency or urgency can be linked to weakening of pelvic muscles. Physiotherapists are best placed to diagnose these conditions and to create a management plan to strengthen specific areas.
Exercise is an essential part of your midlife toolkit. However, in order to avoid injury, it’s important to adapt your regime to meet the requirements of your body at this stage. An exercise physiologist specialises in understanding how movement affects the body. They provide specialised guidance on strength training to improve bone health and muscle mass, both vital for preventing osteoporosis and maintaining mobility.