Menopause-quantifying the cost of symptoms

摘要

Although menopause is a process that women universally experience, there has been little definitive research on the impact that it may have on the individual woman and particularly on society in general. Vasomotor instability and muscu-loskeletal aches are common symptoms and may be severe in up to a quarter of women. It is intuitive that disrupted sleep, fatigue and mood or cognitive disturbances will have a negative impact on quality of life. The symptoms may be worse in a woman who has experienced a sudden onset of symptoms, such as following surgical or cancer treatment, and there may be issues related to the cancer diagnosis that color a woman's response. In addition, the ethnic background, socioeconomic status and health status of the woman will alter the impact of hormonal changes.