title: [Comparison of the frequency and magnitude of the vasomotor symptoms in premenopausal and postmenopausal women from Mexico City].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decreased ovarian function is associated with several symptoms, being the more frequent the vasomotor and these are associated to several factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the frequency and magnitude of vasomotor symptoms in premenopausal and postmenopausal women from Mexico City.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative, cross-sectional study was carried out from July 2011 to February 2012 in which somatometry was done and a questionnaire was applied to women beginning from 35 years age, evaluating their menopausal status, educational level, occupation, vasomotor symptoms (hot-flushes and sweats), intensity, frequency and the number of days per week with symptoms. Sample size was calculated considering a confidence interval of 99%, a power of 80%, with a frequency of symptoms presentation in premenopausal women of 55% and 85% in those postmenopausal, with a relationship of 1:1, considering 60 patients in each group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparison among the groups was done for continuous variables with Student t test for independent samples and for discontinuous variables with chi2, a p level < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total population (144 women), 65 (45%) had vasomotor symptoms, 38% did physical exercise and 50% had some chronic illness. Of the 79 premenopausal women (Group 1) 49% was symptomatic and of the 65 postmenopausal women, 46% (Group II). Of the symptomatic ones in the Group I, 100% presented hot-flushes and 77% considered their symptoms severe; in Group II 85% had hot-flushes and the symptoms were considered severe by 63%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vasomotor symptoms were only associated to time since menopause.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Reproductiva, Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia Luis Castelazo Ayala, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México, DF. dr.sebastian.carranza.lira@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carranza-Lira
authors.forename: Cinthia Ivel
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Sandoval-Hernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D014504:Urban Health; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology*