Is it pathological to be female? Oestrogen deficiency symptoms in 847 women aged 15 to 69 years.

A survey of 847 clients of women's health clinics in New South Wales was undertaken to investigate the relationship between age and the incidence of symptoms attributed to menopause. The effect of hormone replacement therapy on symptoms experienced by women aged 45 to 69 years was also examined. The study found that 32% of women aged 15 to 19 years, 46% of women aged 15 to 39 years and 47% of all respondents reported symptoms of the severity that is considered to be indicative of oestrogen deficiency. Women 45 years and over who were not taking replacement hormones were significantly less likely to experience severe oestrogen deficiency symptoms than women taking these hormones, even when the latter women had been on hormone replacement therapy for one year or longer. The implications of these results for nurses and clients are discussed.