The perimenopausal woman and her use of health services.

This study investigated whether perimenopausal women had higher physician contact rates and a more negative self-assessment of their health than nonmenopausal women in the same 40--50 band. It also examined the relationship between subjective health status, physician contact rates and scores on a set of vasomotor and a set of psychological symptoms. One group of women were more likely to have seen a physician within the previous 2 wk, to report psychological symptoms and to take a negative veiw of their own health. However, perimenopausal women were no more likely to belong to this group than other women. Most perimenopausal women had seen a physician at least once in the preceding 12 mth, but were rarely women with high levels of physician contact.