Ethnography of the menopause-related hot flash

Kay, Margarita; Voda, Ann M.; Olivas, Guadalupe; Rios, F.J. Mesa; Imle, Margaret A.

doi:10.1016/0378-5122(82)90051-2

Cited by 19 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…There were no significant associations between hot flashes and the other reproductive factors examined" including nulliparity (OR = 1.7; CI95% = 0.7-4.2), number of pregnancies carried to term 1-2 (reference group 1.0), 3-4 (OR = 1.3; CI95% = 0.7-2.5), 5+ (OR = 1.3; CI95% = 0.6-3.0), self-reported history of PMS (OR = 1.3; CI95% = 0.7-2.4), menarche at age 9-12 (reference group OR = 1.0), [13][14] (OR = 1.5; CI95% = 0.8-2.8), 15+ (OR = 1.0;CI95% = 0.4-2.1), age at first pregnancy [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] (reference group 1.0), 21-28 (OR = 1.0; CI95% = 0.5-1.9), 29+ (OR = 0.6; CI95% = 0.2-1.7), age at last pregnancy [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] (reference group OR = 1.0), [28][29][30][31][32][33] (OR = 0.5; CI95% = 0.3-1.7), [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] (OR = 0.6; CI95% = 0.2-1.3), or age at last menses 2145 (reference group OR = 1.0), 46-49 (OR = 1.2; CI95% = 0.6-2.4), 50-59 (OR = 1.0; CI95% = 0.5-2.1). In addition, BMI was not significantly associated with menopausal hot flashes in this population (Table 3).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Menopausal Hot Flashes

Staropoli¹,

Flaws²,

Bush³

et al. 1998

Journal of Women's Health

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There are limited data on the factors associated with menopausal hot flashes, a common and potentially morbid condition. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of menopausal hot flashes. To meet this objective, 233 naturally perimenopausal or post-menopausal women (ages 45-65) attending a large urban hospital center primary care clinic, mammography unit, or women's health practice were enrolled. The women responded to a self-administered questionnaire assessing selected demographic factors, reproductive history, and behavioral factors. Sixty-seven percent of respondents experienced hot flashes, with 63% reporting frequent hot flashes (at least one hot flash per day) and 60% with hot flashes describing the hot flashes as severe. Women with hot flashes were significantly more likely to have mothers who experienced hot flashes (OR = 4.4, CI = 2.0-10.0) or to be smokers (OR = 2.0, CI = 1.2-3.5). There were no statistically significant associations between hot flashes and other selected demographic, reproductive, or behavior characteristics. These results reveal that menopausal hot flashes are associated with a maternal history of hot flashes as well as with cigarette smoking. These results may help physicians to counsel their patients about smoking cessation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of Menopausal Hot Flashes

Staropoli¹,

Flaws²,

Bush³

et al. 1998

Journal of Women's Health

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“…Common BDS for the treatment of menopausal symptoms used among U.S. women include dong quai (Angelica sinensis L., Apiaceae), ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Herbal teas, diet, vitamins and exercise were frequently mentioned as treatment alternatives, while other Hispanic women let the symptoms subside on their own [43][44][45]. : Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt.…”

Section: Attitudes Symptoms and Treatment Of Menopause In The Unitedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Menopause, A Universal Female Experience: Lessons from Mexico and Central America

Mahady

Locklear

Doyle

et al. 2008

CWHR

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In Mexico and Central America, women typically experience menopause up to 10 years earlier than their U.S. counterparts. This may be due in part to numerous pregnancies, long periods of lactation, poor nutrition, extreme environment, and the heavy workload of the Maya women. Unlike Western culture, there is no stigma associated with aging and the menopausal period in the Mayan culture. In fact, menopause is considered to be a welcome natural phenomenon in Central America that all Maya women, who come of age, will experience. Anxiety, negative attitudes, health concerns and stress for the Maya woman are all events that are commonly associated with pregnancy and childbearing, not with menopause. Maya women perceive the menopausal period very positively, as they are no longer burdened with menstrual bleeding and child bearing, and are more relaxed about sexual activities.Thus, compared with their U.S. counterparts, Maya women have a better overall perceptions and attitudes toward the menopausal transition, have symptoms that appear to be short-lived, do not generally use HRT and appear to have a lower prevalence of osteoporosis. Besides genetics, diet and life-style may play a significant role in the overall impact of menopause in these women, as their diet is primarily plant-based, they get plenty of exercise over a lifetime, and they use primarily plant-based medicines and massage to control menopausal symptoms. Thus, the impact of culture and attitude on the menopausal transition in Mexico and Central America appears to be a positive one. Future research should focus on why the prevalence of osteoporosis is low in Maya women and how women in the U.S. might benefit from this information. In addition, collections of data on cognition, as well as cardiovascular and cancer risk between these groups would be of benefit, considering that Maya women do not generally use HRT.

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“…In one study, only five nonsurgical peri-and postmenopausal women of the 130 Mexican-American women interviewed were using conventional hormone therapy, and in another U.S. study, only three of 20 MexicanAmerican women had ever tried HT (Bell, 1995;Kay, Voda, Olivas, Rios, & Imle, 1982). Herbal teas were frequently mentioned as treatment alternatives, whereas other women let the symptoms subside on their own (Bell, 1995;Kay, et al, 1982;Mahady, et al, 2003). Another study exploring the use of non-allopathic healing methods among 281 menopausal Latina women in the US found that 38.1% of respondents used herbal home remedies, the most common of which were orange leaf (Citrus sp., Rutaceae) and star anise (Laws, et al, 2003).…”

Section: Treatment Options For Menopausementioning

confidence: 99%

Symptoms, attitudes and treatment choices surrounding menopause among the Q’eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala

Michel

Mahady

Veliz

et al. 2006

Social Science & Medicine

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The present study explored symptoms, attitudes and treatments surrounding women's health and menopause among the Q'eqchi Maya of the eastern tropical lowlands of Guatemala. Data were obtained through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and plant walks with 50 Q'eqchi community members from the state of Izabal, Municipality of Livingston, including 5 midwives, 5 traditional male healers and 8 postmenopausal women. Results indicate that the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston possess their own cultural perceptions of women's health which affect attitudes, symptoms and treatment choices during the menopausal transition. Since discussions of menstruation and menopause are considered cultural taboos among the Q'eqchi, many women mentioned experiencing excessive preoccupation when unanticipated and unfamiliar symptoms occurred. Furthermore, many women suffered from additional hardship when their spouse misinterpreted menopausal symptoms (vaginal dryness, sexual disinterest) as infidelity. Seven of the eight postmenopausal women interviewed indicated experiencing one or more symptoms during the menopausal transition, including headaches, anxiety, muscular pain, depression, and hot flashes. These results differ from the lack of symptomatology reported in previous studies in Mexico, but are in line with the result of menopausal research conducted among other Maya groups from the highlands of Guatemala. Although the Q'eqchi did not use a specific term for "hot flash", three Q'eqchi women used the expression "baja presion" or a "lowering of blood pressure" to explain symptoms of profuse sweating followed by chills, heart palpitations, and emotional instability. The Q'eqchi Maya mentioned a number of herbal remedies to treat menopausal symptoms. Further research on these botanical treatments is needed in order to ascertain their safety and efficacy for continued use.

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Ethnography of the menopause-related hot flash

Cited by 19 publications

References 3 publications

Predictors of Menopausal Hot Flashes

Predictors of Menopausal Hot Flashes

Menopause, A Universal Female Experience: Lessons from Mexico and Central America

Symptoms, attitudes and treatment choices surrounding menopause among the Q’eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala

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