title: [Climacteric symptoms: intensity, incidence and need for treatment. A study of 716 women between 40 and 70 years of age].
abstract: Is treatment for climacteric complaints more often required because of the intensity or the frequency of problems? Which marked problems-according to the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS)-are considered to be worth treatment by the affected women? This was the topic of a study among more than 700 women aged 40 to 70 years. 1. Covering 10 items of complaint by the MRS there was a tendency towards higher incidence of frequency than incidence of intensity. With 24% respectively 15% severe joint- and muscle problems were mentioned in the first place followed by distinct lack of sexual desire with 16% respectively 10%. 2. The comparison of pre- and postmenopausal women showed differently experiences intensity respectively frequency for only some of the 10 items. 3. With time advancing after menopause (intervals of 5 years) only vaginal dryness was found to be an increasingly serious problem: 9%-15%-27%. 4. 3 out of 10 registered postmenopausal complaints were age-related: flushes/sweating, lack of sexual desire and vaginal dryness. 5. Relief of these complaints by estrogen substitution was exemplary experienced for distinct lack of sexual desire. Postmenopausal patients without estrogen-therapy complained of this problem almost twice as often as those receiving estrogen-therapy: 22% versus 12%. The results of this study facilitate special counselling on climacteric problems. The necessity of treatment for these complaints with regard to particular groups of symptoms is judged quite differently by the patients.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Frauenklinik Ulm.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wenderlein
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clauder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002979:Climacteric / Q000187:drug effects*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
vernacular_title: Klimakterische Beschwerden: Stärke, Häufigkeit und Behandlungs-bedürftigkeit. Studie an 716 Frauen im Alter zwischen 40 und 70 Jahren.