-
The Medical Clinics of North America May 2015Women generally spend the last third of their lifetime in menopause, after their reproductive years have ended. During menopause, women experience a variety of... (Review)
Review
Women generally spend the last third of their lifetime in menopause, after their reproductive years have ended. During menopause, women experience a variety of predictable symptoms and conditions related to changes in sex hormone levels and aging. The menopausal transition precedes menopause by several years and is usually characterized by irregularity of the menstrual cycle and by hot flashes and night sweats. After menopause, genitourinary symptoms predominate, including vulvovaginal atrophy and dryness and lower urinary tract symptoms, including urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturia. Hormonal treatment is effective for vasomotor and genitourinary symptoms, but the understanding of its impact on cardiovascular disease, cognitive dysfunction, and depression continues to evolve.
Topics: Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Female Urogenital Diseases; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause
PubMed: 25841598
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.006 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of... Sep 2019Although American women spend approximately 30% to 40% of their lives in menopause, a state defined by the cessation of estrogen production by the ovaries, obstetricians... (Review)
Review
Although American women spend approximately 30% to 40% of their lives in menopause, a state defined by the cessation of estrogen production by the ovaries, obstetricians and gynecologists in North America receive little formal education about menopausal health. Hormonal therapy has been available for more than 75 years; however, controversies surrounding its use have impacted training of care providers in all specialties. This article offers updates on care for menopausal women, focusing on symptomatology and health issues that arise related to the decline in all reproductive hormones. Lifestyle adaptations and nonmedical approaches, and nonhormonal and hormonal medications are discussed.
Topics: Adult; Cardiovascular Diseases; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Healthy Aging; Hot Flashes; Humans; Libido; Life Style; Menopause; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; Women's Health
PubMed: 31378291
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2019.04.008 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... May 2022With life expectancy for women on the rise, most women will experience menopausal transition and spend a significant number of years of their life in the menopausal... (Review)
Review
With life expectancy for women on the rise, most women will experience menopausal transition and spend a significant number of years of their life in the menopausal phase. Menopausal transition involves a myriad of physical, endocrine, and psychological changes which are influenced by ethnic, psychological, and socio-cultural factors. Every woman's experience of the menopausal transition is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach to the management of symptoms does not work. An understanding of the pathophysiology and severity of menopausal symptoms and the benefits and risks associated with both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments is important when individualising treatment options for menopausal symptoms.
Topics: Female; Humans; Menopause
PubMed: 35382992
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2022.03.003 -
Journal of Evidence-based Integrative... 2019Menopause is associated with problematic symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep problems, mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and declines in cognitive... (Review)
Review
Menopause is associated with problematic symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep problems, mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and declines in cognitive functioning. Many women seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for symptom management. This article critically reviews the existing literature on CAM treatments most commonly used for menopausal symptoms. Electronic searches were conducted to identify relevant, English-language literature published through March 2017. Results indicate that mind and body practices may be of benefit in reducing stress and bothersomeness of some menopausal symptoms. In particular, hypnosis is a mind-body intervention that has consistently shown to have a clinically significant effect on reducing hot flashes. Evidence is mixed in regard to the efficacy of natural products and there are some safety concerns. Health care providers should consider the evidence on CAM in providing an integrative health approach to menopausal symptom management.
Topics: Complementary Therapies; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Mind-Body Therapies
PubMed: 30868921
DOI: 10.1177/2515690X19829380 -
Lancet (London, England) Mar 2008Menopause is the time of life when menstrual cycles cease, and is caused by reduced secretion of the ovarian hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Although menopause is a... (Review)
Review
Menopause is the time of life when menstrual cycles cease, and is caused by reduced secretion of the ovarian hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Although menopause is a normal event for women, individual experiences vary, and some women seek medical advice for the management of symptoms. Many symptoms have been attributed to menopause, but only vasomotor dysfunction and vaginal dryness are consistently associated with this time of life in epidemiological studies. Other common symptoms such as mood changes, sleep disturbances, urinary incontinence, cognitive changes, somatic complaints, sexual dysfunction, and reduced quality of life may be secondary to other symptoms, or related to other causes. Trials of therapies for vasomotor dysfunction have shown improvements with oestrogen, gabapentin, paroxetine, and clonidine, but little or no benefit with other agents; adverse effects of these treatments must also be considered. Many questions about menopausal transition and its effects on health have not been adequately addressed.
Topics: Adult; Aging; Amines; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Gabapentin; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 18313505
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60346-3 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of... Dec 2018Although more than 80% of women experience some degree of psychological or physical symptoms around menopause, both women and clinicians have misconceptions about how... (Review)
Review
Although more than 80% of women experience some degree of psychological or physical symptoms around menopause, both women and clinicians have misconceptions about how hormonal changes relate to menopausal symptoms and psychological conditions. Recently, several large-scale, longitudinal studies have been conducted to better characterize symptoms and changes that occur around menopause. This article offers current evidence for symptoms that occur in the early menopause transition, including vasomotor symptoms, mood changes, sleep problems, and changes in sexual functioning.
Topics: Affect; Aging; Depression; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Menopause; Reproductive Health; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sleep Wake Disorders; Women's Health
PubMed: 30401544
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2018.07.002 -
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology Sep 2021Perimenopause and menopause are a time of great transition for women-physically, mentally, and emotionally. Symptoms of the menopause transition and beyond impact women... (Review)
Review
Perimenopause and menopause are a time of great transition for women-physically, mentally, and emotionally. Symptoms of the menopause transition and beyond impact women worldwide. Unfortunately, physician knowledge and comfort with addressing menopausal concerns vary greatly, limiting the support physicians provide to women in need. This review aims to increase physician understanding of the epidemiology, physiology, symptomology, and treatment options available for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Our goal is to empower physicians to educate and treat their patients to reduce the negative impact of perimenopausal changes and enhance overall well-being for women.
Topics: Female; Humans; Menopause; Perimenopause
PubMed: 34323232
DOI: 10.1097/GRF.0000000000000639 -
Maturitas Apr 2014Menopausal symptoms in women can be severe and disruptive to overall quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy, is known to be effective in ameliorating symptoms,... (Review)
Review
Menopausal symptoms in women can be severe and disruptive to overall quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy, is known to be effective in ameliorating symptoms, however, reporting of side effects has resulted in alternative treatment options. Exercise has been assessed as an alternative treatment option for alleviating menopausal symptoms, including, psychological, vasomotor, somatic and sexual symptoms. Here we report the effects of physical activity and exercise on menopause symptoms in menopausal women.
Topics: Exercise; Female; Humans; Menopause; Quality of Life
PubMed: 24548848
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.01.006 -
Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of... Sep 2015Sexuality is an important component in the lives of menopausal women. Despite the importance of sexual function in menopausal women, sexual dysfunction increases with... (Review)
Review
Sexuality is an important component in the lives of menopausal women. Despite the importance of sexual function in menopausal women, sexual dysfunction increases with age. Age-related decline in sexual function may significantly reduce quality of life, making recognition of sexual dysfunction by physicians important for getting menopausal women effective care. Sexual dysfunction can result from multiple etiologies including psychosocial factors, medication side effects, vulvovaginal atrophy, chronic illness, or hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Discovering the etiology and identifying modifiable factors of the sexual function will help define appropriate treatment.
Topics: Female; Humans; Menopause; Quality of Life; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sexuality
PubMed: 26316248
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.009 -
JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and... Sep 2015Evidence shows than an estimated one billion women have experienced menopause worldwide. The experience of menopause is influenced by beliefs and values prevalent in the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Evidence shows than an estimated one billion women have experienced menopause worldwide. The experience of menopause is influenced by beliefs and values prevalent in the sociocultural setting, the background of the women, and the ways in which the women approach changes in this phase of life. Independently of the circumstances involved, women experiencing menopause need to have their care needs and corresponding support identified based on their personal and contextual perspectives. Although it is essential to provide appropriate support to women experiencing menopause, no systematic reviews have so far been conducted that focus on menopause experienced by women worldwide.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this review is to identify the best available evidence related to how women experience menopause worldwide.
TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS
This review considered studies that included menopausal women aged between 40 and 65 years, who have lived the transition from reproductive years through menopause and beyond. This review included only studies whose participants have lived the experience of natural menopause. Women who have had induced menopause, or with premature menopause were excluded from this review. TYPES OF INTERVENTION(S)/PHENOMENA OF INTEREST: This review considered studies that investigate women's experiences of natural menopause under the scope of different social and cultural settings. TYPES OF STUDIES: This review considered studies that have a descriptive and interpretive approach, conducted using qualitative methodology. Qualitative studies that focus on program evaluation were excluded from this review. Qualitative data including, but not limited to, study designs such as phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, action research and feminist research were considered for inclusion in this review. TYPES OF OUTCOMES: This review considered studies that include the following outcome measures: all aspects related both directly and indirectly to the experience of menopause, as concretely lived by women and according to their own point of view.
SEARCH STRATEGY
The search strategy aimed to find both published and unpublished studies. Studies published in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish were considered for inclusion in this review, without any restriction in terms of year of publication. This decision was made to permit the inclusion of all of research related to women's lived experiences of menopause worldwide since the inception of this type of research. The databases searched included CINAHL, Medline and Pubmed, PsycINFO, Lilacs, Scielo, Scopus, Dissertation Abstracts International and the University of São Paulo Dissertations and Thesis.
METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY
Each primary study was assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological quality. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Appraisal and Review Instrument Data Extraction Form for Interpretive and Critical Research was used to appraise the methodological quality of all papers.
DATA COLLECTION
Qualitative data was extracted from papers included in the review using standardized data extraction tools developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Qualitative research findings were synthesized using The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Appraisal and Review Instrument.
RESULTS
From the 24 included studies, 108 findings were extracted. These findings were aggregated into 17 categories, and then into six synthesized findings. The six synthesized findings are: (i) Menopause is a natural event in a woman’s life that is closely associated with psychosocial events of midlife and the aging process; (ii) The physical and emotional changes of menopause strongly affect the women; (iii) The women perceive menopause as a time characterized by gains and losses; (iv) Resilience is improved at the time of menopause and coping strategies are adopted to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing; (v) Health issues, family and marital relations, sociocultural background and meaning attributed to the women’s sex life determine if the sexual experiences during menopause are pleasant or not; and (vi) The women should be prepared and have their needs supported according to their perspectives.
CONCLUSIONS
The systematic review shows that menopause is a stage of life experienced in different ways. The experience of menopause is characterized by personal challenges and changes in personal roles within the family and society. Hot flushes and night sweats are the strongest symptoms of those reported by women affected by the changes experienced during menopause. The positive or negative ways in which each woman approaches the changes during menopause are influenced by their personal, family and sociocultural background. Health care providers pay little attention to women´s perceptions regarding menopause. Considering menopause is a time when women feel vulnerable, personal and tailored healthcare according to individual needs, preferences and expectations should be provided. Coping strategies regarding the effects of menopause should be determined in creative and dynamic ways through the identification and consideration of the complex issues involved. These measures are essential to ensuring effective support for menopausal women.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Anthropology, Cultural; Cultural Characteristics; Female; Global Health; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Postmenopause; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 26455946
DOI: 10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1948