Community Health (Women's Health), Fatemezahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Midwifery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Menopause. 2011 Nov;18(11):1213-8. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e31821a7a3a.
The aim of the present study was to determine age at menopause and the prevalence of menopausal symptoms among women in a community in Babol, Iran, and then identify the factors associated with these symptoms and age.
A retrospective, descriptive, epidemiological study was conducted on the characteristics of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. A total of 1,397 individuals aged 45 to 63 years were selected using a standard cluster sampling technique. The questionnaire used included menopausal symptoms, menopause status, causes of menopause, use of hormones, reproductive history, and sociodemographic factors. A standard questionnaire named Symptom ScoreCard was used to assess the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms. The data were analyzed by χ2 analysis, t test, analysis of variance, and adjusted odds ratios with their 95% CIs.
Recalled mean ± SD age at natural menopause was 47.7 ± 4.9 years. No significant difference by age at menopause was observed in sociodemographic data, smoking status, reproductive history, and oral contraceptive use. The most prevalent symptoms were irritability (72.1%), joint pain (70.6%), and depression (59.7%) during the previous 2 weeks. An increase in the percentage of occurrence and severity of some symptoms with transition to menopause was observed. The total score for menopausal symptoms was 13.0 ± 7.7. High economic situation (odds ratio, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.37-2.58) was a factor significantly associated with a total menopausal score of higher than 15.
This study shows a high prevalence of menopausal symptoms and an earlier mean age at menopause (47.7 y) for women in a community in Babol, Iran. It would be beneficial to establish a menopausal clinic in primary healthcare centers for the clinical staff to monitor postmenopausal women.
本研究旨在确定伊朗博尔巴卜社区女性的绝经年龄和绝经症状发生率，并确定与这些症状和年龄相关的因素。
采用回顾性、描述性、流行病学研究方法，对围绝经期和绝经后妇女的特征进行研究。采用标准聚类抽样技术，共选取 1397 名年龄在 45 至 63 岁的个体。使用的问卷包括绝经症状、绝经状态、绝经原因、激素使用情况、生育史和社会人口学因素。使用标准问卷 Symptom ScoreCard 评估绝经症状的频率和严重程度。采用卡方检验、t 检验、方差分析和调整后的比值比及其 95%置信区间进行数据分析。
自然绝经时的 recalled 平均年龄±SD 为 47.7±4.9 岁。按绝经年龄分组，社会人口学资料、吸烟状况、生育史和口服避孕药使用情况无显著差异。绝经前 2 周最常见的症状为易怒（72.1%）、关节痛（70.6%）和抑郁（59.7%）。随着向绝经的过渡，一些症状的发生率和严重程度呈增加趋势。绝经症状总分为 13.0±7.7。高经济状况（比值比，1.89；95%可信区间，1.37-2.58）是绝经症状总分高于 15 的一个显著相关因素。
本研究表明，伊朗博尔巴卜社区女性的绝经症状发生率较高，绝经年龄较早（47.7 岁）。在初级保健中心设立一个更年期诊所，让临床医务人员对绝经后妇女进行监测，将是有益的。
