McAllister M
College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Boston 02125, USA.
Lippincotts Prim Care Pract. 1998 May-Jun;2(3):256-70.
Knowledge and research on the physiological changes associated with menopause is steadily expanding. A partnership between women and health care providers can contribute to the quality of women's life expectancy which is estimated to be 79.1 years (United States Bureau of Census, 1993). Menopause is a normal phenomena of aging and women experiencing menopause must have access to comprehensive care, including a complete history, thorough physical exam, risk factor and age-appropriate screening, and patient education. Studies confirm women's lack of knowledge concerning menopause and the need for education on bodily changes and approaches to self-care during transition. Decline in the ovarian production of estrogen and the feedback effect of gondatropins leads to an increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) of 40 mlU/mL. Vasomotor flushing, night sweats, vaginal dryness, shortening of the menstrual cycle with heavy flow progressing to longer cycles and scant flow and eventual cessation of menses for a period of 12 consecutive months confirms menopause. A program of screening and education for self-care can enhance women's quality of life.
与更年期相关的生理变化的知识和研究正在稳步扩展。女性与医疗保健提供者之间的合作关系有助于提高女性的预期寿命质量，据估计美国女性的预期寿命为79.1岁（美国人口普查局，1993年）。更年期是衰老的正常现象，经历更年期的女性必须能够获得全面的护理，包括完整的病史、全面的身体检查、风险因素评估和适合年龄的筛查，以及患者教育。研究证实，女性对更年期缺乏了解，在过渡期间需要接受有关身体变化和自我护理方法的教育。卵巢雌激素分泌减少以及促性腺激素的反馈作用导致促卵泡激素（FSH）升高至40 mIU/mL。血管舒缩性潮红、盗汗、阴道干燥、月经周期缩短伴经量增多，随后发展为周期延长、经量减少，最终连续12个月停经，这些表现可确诊更年期。自我护理的筛查和教育计划可以提高女性的生活质量。
