Women's health in midlife: the influence of the menopause, social factors and health in earlier life

摘要: Objective To describe the health symptoms of a large representative sample British women at age 47 years, and to examine influence menopause allowing for social factors in earlier adult life. Design A national prospective birth cohort study. Information on problems, menstrual cycle, use hormone replacement therapy life stress years was collected using postal questionnaire. health, smoking behaviour educational attainment had been previous home visits. Setting England, Scotland Wales. Population general population 1498 women, 84% those sent questionnaire. Main outcome measure Twenty self-reported over 12 months. Results Women who experienced an early natural strongly raised risk vasomotor (hot flushes or night sweats), sexual difficulties (vaginal dryness with intercourse) trouble sleeping. However, there little no excess other somatic psychological symptoms. In contrast, all types were more common among hysterectomy users therapy. least education, stressful lives, history poor physical 36 also reported compared but adjustment these logistic regression model did not affect relations between current menopausal status. For symptoms, postmenopausal adjusted odds ratio 4.7 (95% CI 2.6–8.5) perimenopausal 2.6 1.9–3.5) premenopausal women. Corresponding ratios 3.9 2.1–7.1) 2.2 1.4–3.2), sleeping 3.4 1.9–6.2) 1.5 1.1–2.0). Conclusions Specific clearly associated menopause. More concerns middle life, particularly started taking before they postmenopausal. Appropriate advice support needs be easily accessible.