Experience of climacteric symptoms among 42-46 and 52-56-year-old women

: Kirsi Jokinen, Päivi Rautava, Juha Mäkinen, Ansa Ojanlatva, Jari Sundell, Hans Helenius

Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI IRELAND LTD

: 2003

: Maturitas

: MATURITAS

: 46

: 3

: 199

: 205

: 7

: 0378-5122

: 1873-4111

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-5122(03)00216-0(external)

Objective: The intensity of climacteric symptoms and their connection with sociodemographic background data were assessed among women who are or will soon be menopausal. Methods: A sample of 55 10 Finnish women who were 4246 or 52-56-years-old was selected to this 'Quality of Life among Middle-aged Women' Study and received a menopause-specific questionnaire. Results: Only 5% of the older and 36% of the younger women were totally asymptomatic. Altogether, 2% of the younger and 11% of the older women had severe climacteric symptoms. In the younger age group, a high symptom intensity was associated with living in town, having a low level of professional education, and being unemployed/laid off, whereas in the older age group, the experience of severe symptoms was associated with those having a couple relationship. Conclusion: Altogether 95% of women in the productive working age (52-56-years-old) surprisingly suffer from mild, moderate, or severe climacteric symptoms. Further even up to 64% of the younger women (42-46-years-old) suffered from similar symptoms. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.