A prospective population-based study of menopausal symptoms

To identify symptoms that change in prevalence and severity during midlife and evaluate their relationships to menopausal status, hormonal levels, and other factors. In a longitudinal, population-based study of 438 Australian-born women observed for 7 years with an 89% retention rate, 172 advanced f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 96; no. 3; p. 351
Main Authors: Dennerstein, L, Dudley, E C, Hopper, J L, Guthrie, J R, Burger, H G
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 01.09.2000
Subjects:
Adult
Climacteric - blood
Cross-Sectional Studies
Estradiol - blood
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood
Health Surveys
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Victoria
Victoria
ISSN:0029-7844
Online Access:Get more information
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:To identify symptoms that change in prevalence and severity during midlife and evaluate their relationships to menopausal status, hormonal levels, and other factors. In a longitudinal, population-based study of 438 Australian-born women observed for 7 years with an 89% retention rate, 172 advanced from premenopause to perimenopause or postmenopause. Annual measures included a 33-item symptom check list; psychosocial, lifestyle, and health-related factors; menstrual status; hormone usage; and blood levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol (E2). Increasing from early to late perimenopause were the number of women who reported five or more symptoms (+14%), hot flushes (+27%), night sweats (+17%) and vaginal dryness (+17%) (all P <.05). Breast soreness-tenderness decreased with the menopausal transition (-21%). Trouble sleeping increased by +6%. The major change in prevalence was from early to late perimenopause, except for insomnia, which showed a gradual increase. Those variables most related to onset of hot flushes were number of symptoms at early perimenopause (P <.05), having an unskilled or no occupation (P <.05), more than 10 pack-years of smoking (P <.01), and decreased E2 (P <.01). The onset of night sweats increased with the change in E2 (P <.05). The onset of vaginal dryness decreased with more years of education (P <.05). Trouble sleeping was predicted by prior lower well-being (P <.01), belief at baseline that women with many interests hardly notice menopause (P <.01), and hot flushes (P <.01). Although middle-aged women are highly symptomatic, the symptoms that appear to be specifically related to hormonal changes of menopausal transition are vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness, and breast tenderness. Insomnia reflected bothersome hot flushes and psychosocial factors.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0029-7844
DOI:10.1016/S0029-7844(00)00930-3