Menopausal experiences and bone density of Mayan women in Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

This cross-sectional study reports on the menopausal transition of Mayan women from Yucatan, Mexico. A total of 228 women completed the study, and 118 women were classified by history as postmenopausal; the others were premenopausal. Demographic information, reproductive history, physical examination, hormone concentrations, radial bone density, food samples, and history of physical activity were obtained. The average age at which menopause occurred by history was 44.3 ± 4.4 years; this is reflected in the distribution of FSH levels by age. None of the women reported symptoms of hot flashes, and none recalled any history of significant symptoms associated with their menopausal transition. Hormone levels were similar to U.S. reference values with elevated FSH (66.6 ± 29.1 mIU/ml), low estradiol (9.4 ± 8.3 pg/ml) and estrone (13.3 ± 7.8 pg/ml), E1 > E2, and normal levels of testosterone and androstenedione. BMD declined with age, and values were lower than reference values for United States women. Clinical evidence of fracture was not detected by history or physical examination even for those who were 20 years postmenopausal. The endocrine characteristics of menopause among Mayan women in Yucatan are similar to hormonal changes reported for women in the United States, but signs, symptoms, and apparent consequences are different in the two populations. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 13:505-511, 2001.

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

“…Unlike other studies among the Maya (Beyene & Martin, 2001;Martin, et al, 1993), the Q'eqchi do seek medical attention during the menopausal transition. Q'eqchi menopausal women are more likely to seek treatment from a midwife or herbalist than a biomedical practitioner.…”

“…Like previous reports among Maya women in Mexico, osteoporosis is uncommon among Q'eqchi women. Other reports from Latin America have attributed the use of lime powder in the corn tortillas (estimated to provide an additional 500 mg of daily calcium to the diet), high calcium levels in the drinking water and lowland lime soils, and habitual weight-bearing activities as reasons for the low incidence of osteoporosis in Latin American women (Beyene & Martin, 2001; Parra-Cabreras, HernandezArila, Tamayo-y-Orozco, Lopez-Carillo, & Meneses-Gonzalez, 1996).…”

Edad de menarquia y ascendencia indígena: Un estudio poblacional en Chile

“…La diferencia en la edad de la menarquia, especialmente entre los grupos sin apellidos indígena y cuatro apellidos indígena, aunque significativa, no es tan marcada como ocurre con otras poblaciones indígenas del continente, por lo que se puede inferir que el grupo local se encuentra en mejores condiciones socioeconómicas que sus congéneres de otros países, lo que les permite el adelanto de la menarquia 27,35 .…”

Menopause, sexuality and culture: is there a universal experience?

“…The most recent and widely quoted cross-cultural study is Yewoubdar Beyene's (2000) comparison of Mayan women in Yucatan Mexico and rural Greek women on the island of Evia. She discovered that there was no word in the Mayan language to describe hot flushes and that the women did not complain of such symptoms.…”