Influences of natural menopause on psychological characteristics and symptoms of middle-aged healthy women.
We investigated the psychological and symptom consequences of the natural menopause in a longitudinal study of 541 initially premenopausal healthy women. All women were given an extensive evaluation at baseline. After 3 years of follow-up, 69 women ceased cycling for 12 months; another 32 women had ceased cycling and had taken hormone replacement therapy for a total of 12 months. These women were reevaluated in a clinic examination identical with the baseline examination, as were 101 age-matched premenopausal control women. Comparison among groups at the baseline and follow-up examination showed that natural menopause led to few changes in psychological characteristics, with only a decline in introspectiveness and an increase in reports of hot flashes being apparent. We conclude that natural menopause did not have negative mental health consequences for the majority of middle-aged healthy women.
Matthews
K A
KA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
Wing
R R
RR
Kuller
L H
LH
Meilahn
E N
EN
Kelsey
S F
SF
Costello
E J
EJ
Caggiula
A W
AW
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002979:Climacteric / Q000523:psychology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests