No abstract

Forty postmenopausal women, referred for hormone replacement therapy and all of whom reported a significant concern about a decline in their sexual interest, were randomly allocated to one of two hormone implant treatment groups: either oestradiol (50 mg) alone, or oestradiol (50 mg) and testosterone (100 mg). Comparison between the two groups as a whole revealed no significant differences on any measure,

Summary:A sample of women attending a gynaecological outpatient clinic were examined for symptoms and objective signs of fluid retention. Patients completed a questionnaire on symptoms suggesting fluid retention and recorded daily weight and abdominal girth variation. Daily weight variation varied from 0-9 pounds (mode 2 pounds) with no discernable difference between premenstrual and intermenstrual variation. Daily girth variation varied from 0-6 inches (mode 1 inch). Symptoms of breast swelling were more common premenstruafly, finger/hand and ankle swelling intermenstrually and abdominal swelling occurred with equal frequency in both periods. No correlation between symptoms and weight variation was seen although abdominal swelling and girth variation were associated (P < 0.04).The results indicate that symptoms of mild fluid retention and of diurnal weight and abdominal girth variation are part of the everyday experience of our study population. There is no clear-cut separation between 'normal' and 'abnormal' fluid retention (idiopathic oedema, periodic oedema, fluid retention syndrome); the latter may be an exaggeration of normal fluid-retaining mechanisms common to most women or may represent a pathological state. An approach which evaluates individual risk factors and the severity of fluid retention in each patient is recommended.

1. Serum, urinary and erythrocyte magnesium concentrations were measured in groups of premenopausal, postmenopausal and oophorectomized women. 2. Serum and urinary magnesium were both significantly higher in postmenopausal and oophorectomized women than in the premenopausal group. 3. Oestrogen therapy reduced both serum and urinary magnesium values in oophorectomized women to premenopausal concentrations. 4. Erythrocyte magnesium concentrations were not affected by menstrual status or oestrogen therapy.