Urogenital and vasomotor symptoms in relation to menopausal status and the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in healthy women during transition to menopause.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between climacteric status, hormonal levels, vasomotor symptoms, vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence in a cohort of healthy women during transition to menopause, and further to evaluate the effects of hormone replacement therapy on these symptoms.


METHODS
A total of 147 women were followed for 4 years during transition to menopause. They were all 49 years old when entering the study. Each annual visit included a general health screening, gynecological examination and blood sampling. The subjects were questioned about sociodemographic background, obstetric and gynecological history and they kept bleeding diary cards.


RESULTS
Urinary incontinence was reported by 57% at the first visit and decreased to 34% at the last visit. No correlation to hormonal levels or to the use of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) was seen, but parity was significantly (P = 0.05) correlated to urinary incontinence. Vaginal dryness occurred in 37% at the first visit. Vaginal dryness was experienced by 1/3 of the premenopausal women. Vasomotor symptoms were reported by 56% at the first visit and were associated with high levels of FSH and LH (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). One third of premenopausal women reported on vasomotor symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy did not relieve hot flushes in these women.


CONCLUSIONS
Urogenital and vasomotor symptoms experienced by premenopausal women do not seem to be relieved by hormone replacement therapy.
Larson
B
B
Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Collins
A
A
Landgren
B M
BM
D015331:Cohort Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*