Symptoms of menopause in relation to the timing of reproductive events and past menstrual experience

Abstract

The framework of the lifespan approach is used to examine the frequency of symptoms associated with menopause. Symptom frequencies are examined in relation to past menstrual symptom experience and the timing of reproductive events. Data were drawn from a cross‐sectional community survey carried out in Greene County, New York. The symptoms most often reported were hot flashes, irritability, mood changes, sweating, and headaches. Frequencies of vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, sweating) were highly correlated. Frequencies of psychological symptoms (irritability, mood change) were also highly correlated. Neither vasomotor nor psychological symptoms were associated with parity, age at menarche, or ages at first and last childbirth. Frequency of hot flashes was significantly associated with post‐menopause status, later age at natural menopause, and fewer years of education. In contrast, frequency of psychological symptoms was not related to menopause status, age at natural menopause, or years of education. Menstrual abdominal cramps and leg cramping were associated with hot flash frequency at menopause, but not frequency of menopausal mood change. In contrast, menstrual bloating and mood changes were associated with menopausal irritability and mood change. Self‐reported vasomotor and psychological symptoms demonstrated dissimilar relationships to lifespan events. It is difficult to determine, however, which dimension of the lifespan (biological, sociocultural, or psychological) is involved in determining differences in menopansal symptom frequencies. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Age at menarche and risk of vasomotor menopausal symptoms: a pooled analysis of six studies

“…However, two studies found that earlier menarche was associated with decreased prevalence of hot flushes (<12 versus ≥12 years) or reduced odds of hot flushes (<13 versus ≥13 years), 8,9 and other studies reported no association. [10][11][12][13][14] To date, only ALSWH has examined the association with night sweats, in which 'sometimes' and 'often' categories were combined, but did not find any association. 10 There are a number of possible reasons why the results have been inconsistent, including that study participants had different racial, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and that the measure of VMS varied from a single question to a more detailed history.…”

“…8,9 A few studies have reported no associations. [10][11][12][13][14] Early menarche [15][16][17] and VMS [18][19][20] have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and breast cancer in later life. Adult obesity may be part of the mechanism linking early menarche with these disease risks.…”

Effect of exclusion: Rates of hysterectomy and comparisons of age at natural menopause

“…Data were drawn from a study of variation in age at menopause carried out in Greene County, New York (1989, primarily among European-American women. The study sample is an opportunity sample in that participants were recruited from community organizations, school districts, health care institutions, or county offices (Leidy, 1991(Leidy, , 1996. The sample includes 376 women, 85 of whom underwent a hysterectomy.…”

Menopause as a measure of population health: An overview

“…Similarly, the correlates of menopausal symptoms are variable. Symptoms of menopause have been associated with smoking habits (Dennerstein et al, 1993), socioeconomic status (Wilbur et al, 1998), education level (Avis et al, 1997), parity (Beyene, 1989), prolonged lactation (Lancaster and King, 1992), history of premenstrual symptoms (Leidy, 1996;Skarsgard et al, 1996), phytoestrogens in the diet (Aldercreutz et al, 1992;Knight et al, 1996), the medicalization of menopause (Obermeyer, 2000), stressful life events (Hunter, 1993), and attitudes toward menstruation, menopause, and aging (Avis and McKinlay, 1991;Lock, 1993). Such variability may argue against the use of the symptoms of menopause as a measure of population health, particularly for comparisons of health across populations, but also indicates the need for comprehensive, biocultural approaches to the study of menopause.…”