There are wide geographical differences in the prevalence of menopausal symptomatology and some differences in the age of onset of menopause. Both in Asia and Latin America, women of poorer socioeconomic status have significantly earlier onset of menopause. Within a geographical region, there are ethnic differences in menopause symptoms. Given differences in study methodologies, firm conclusions are not possible. However, regional differences in age at menopause and in climacteric symptoms are important to acknowledge and lay the foundation for an informed approach to the management of menopause and an understanding of its impact on women's health in the different regions of the world.

No abstract

The levels of FSH, LH and particularly of E2 differ substantially among ethnic groups of postmenopausal Asian women. The clinical significance, if any, of these differences remains to be investigated. The inverse correlation of E2 and FSH levels suggests that E2 at the postmenopausal state still affects pituitary FSH output.

No abstract

This review aims to draw a clearer clinical picture of postmenopausal endometriosis. Based on limited literature, postmenopausal endometriosis emerges as an infrequent entity but with a clinical picture significantly unlike that of premenopausal endometriosis. In contrast to the premenopausal disease, postmenopausal endometriosis occurs in a state of ovarian estrogen deficiency, appears to have a greater predisposition to malignant change, may have a greater tendency to spread to extragonadal organs and develop into constrictive and/or obstructive lesions, and is preferably treated surgically. The need to use hormone therapy for the management of menopausal symptoms that may concomitantly affect women with postmenopausal endometriosis is an unresolved therapeutic dilemma. This is mainly because the relationships of menopausal hormone therapy to recurrence of endometriosis and, more importantly, to increased risk of malignant degeneration, remain unclear.