BACKGROUNDMenopausal symptoms and sleep difficulty were physiological processes that were affected by genetic and other factors. This study was to investigate the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and sleep quality in menopausal transition (MT) and postmenopause (PM) women in Taiyuan, Shanxi.

METHODSA community-based survey of women's menopausal symptoms and sleep quality was conducted between July 2012 and May 2013 at six municipal districts of Taiyuan, Shanxi. A sample of 2429 women aged 40-59 years was divided into four groups: early MT, late MT, early PM, and late PM. Sleep quality in the past 2 weeks before the interview was recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0.

RESULTSThe prevalence of menopausal symptoms was 49.8%. Mild, moderate, and severe symptoms were observed in 28.9%, 18.5%, and 2.5% of participants, respectively. The highest prevalence of menopausal symptoms occurred in the early postmenopausal stage; the subsequences were the late postmenopausal stage and the early MT stage. Interestingly, among the 13 items of modified Kupperman index, the five most common symptoms were fatigue, arthralgia and myalgia, decreased libido, insomnia, and nervousness. Meanwhile, 55% perimenopausal women had poor sleep.

CONCLUSIONSMenopausal symptoms are common but mild among women in Taiyuan, Shanxi during MT and PM. In these stages, the prevalence of poor sleep is high.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Menopause ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; physiology ; Sleep

Seventy percentage of perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women will experience menopause symptoms. Primary menopause symptoms in Western countries included hot flashes, insomnia, somatic pain, depression, and fatigue. Hot flashes were most commonly treated. Menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) continues to have a clinical role in the management of vasomotor symptoms, but since 2002 there has been a marked global decline in its use due to concerns about the risks and benefits of HRT; consequently many women with menopause symptoms are now seeking alternatives including acupuncture. Acupuncture has a long tradition of use for the treatment of different menopause symptoms. Its effectiveness has been studied for natural menopause or chemical and surgery induced menopause. Here we provide an update on recent advances in the field for clinicians. The recent systematic reviews on acupuncture in menopausal symptoms suggest that acupuncture is an effective and valuable option for women suffering from menopause. However, the science of acupuncture therapies is still inadequate to sufficiently support the benefits of acupuncture therapies. Finally, we discuss our points of view on clinical trials of acupuncture for menopause symptoms.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Biomedical Research ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; physiology ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

A large number of women will pass through menopause each year. Women in menopausal transition experience a variety of menopausal symptoms. Although hormonal therapy remains the most effective treatment, side effects have been reported by several large studies. An increased number of women seek the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for treating menopausal symptoms. This review analyzes the evidence from systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials and epidemiological studies of using herbal medicine (Black cohosh, Dong quai, St John's wart, Hops, Wild yam, Ginseng, and evening primrose oil) and acupuncture for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of most CAM for relief of menopausal symptoms are limited. Future larger and better controlled studies testing the effectiveness of these treatments are needed.
Complementary Therapies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mind-Body Therapies

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether age influence the precision of dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurement at the hip in middle-aged and elderly women.

METHODSTotally 90 women were randomly selected and divided into three age groups: 45-55 years, 56-65 years, and 66-75 years. Each age group contained 30 women. Each woman was scanned twice at the same day. Bone mineral density (BMD) values of femoral neck, ward's triangle, and trochanter were collected and grouped by calculating the root mean square (RMS). Precision errors were expressed as RMS (standard deviation, SD).

RESULTSFor the femoral neck and trochanter, significant differences of SD of BMD existed among all age groups. For the ward's triangle, significant difference of BMD existed among all age groups except between the 45-55 group and 56-65 age group.

CONCLUSIONAge can influence the precision of DXA measurement at the hip in middle-aged and elderly women.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Bone Density ; Female ; Femur ; physiology ; Femur Neck ; physiology ; Humans ; Menopause ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference among acupuncture smoothing-liver and regulating-spleen method, regulating Governor Vessel method and oral administration of western medicine for menopausal insomnia.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-six cases of menopausal insomnia were randomized into a smoothing-liver and regulating-spleen group (group A), a regulating Governor Vessel group (group B) and a medication group (group C), 52 cases in each one. Acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Daheng (SP 15), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3), etc. was applied in the group A; acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Shenting (GV 24) and Yintang (GV 29), etc. was used in the group B; oral administration of estazolam tablets (1 mg each-day) was adapted in the group C, all once a day for totally 30 days. The each item score and total score in Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were evaluated before and after treatment in each group, also the efficacy in each group was assessed.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the sleeping rate in the group A and B was significantly higher than that in the group C (both P < 0.05); the total effective rate in the Group A and B was also significantly higher than that in the group C [86.5% (45/52) and 82.7% (43/52) vs 63.5% (33/52), both P < 0.05; the total cured rate in the group A was significantly higher than those in the group B and C [48.1% (25/52) vs 23.1% (12/52) and 25.0% (13/52), both P < 0.05]. Each item score and total score of PSQI were all improved after treatment in the group A and B (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), while only sleeping time, sleeping efficiency and total score were improved in the group C (all P < 0.05). The sleeping quality, sleeping time, sleeping difficulty and daytime dysfunction in the group A were all lower than those in the group C (all P < 0.05). The sleeping quality, sleeping time and daytime dysfunction in the goup B were all lower than those in the group C (all P < 0.05). The total score in the group A was significantly lower than that in the group B and C (both P < 05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has better effect for menopausal insomnia than estazolam. Between the two acupuncture methods, the acupuncture method of smoothing-liver and regulating-spleen has a better effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Menopause ; physiology ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Spleen ; physiopathology

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of premenopausal Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) on the function of the remaining ovaries by reviewing the menopausal age in TAH treated patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 510 women who had previously undergone TAH, either with or without unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, due to benign disease at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, between Jan 1989 and Dec 1992. Out of the 510 women, the 94 who were throughly followed up were included in the study, and their menopausal age based on patient symptoms was compared to that of the control group. The mean menopausal age in TAH treated patients was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between age at operation and menopausal age. From this study, we could conclude that TAH accelerated ovarian dysfunction, and that the younger the patient was at the time of operation, the earlier the onset of menopause. It is hence apparent that women treated with TAH are at risk of early menopause and should receive adequate hormone replacement therapy.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Human ; *Hysterectomy ; Menopause ; Middle Age ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary/*physiology ; Sterilization, Tubal

The role of doctors in ancient China was that of Prevention as opposed to curios, and illness was a just cause for execution. Much later, at the time of the French Revolution. Saint-Just evolved a new concept around the idea of happiness. As we can see in modem times, this idea is no longer a fad but a precious right that we humans can cherish and also means the quality and longevity of life. Of course this meaning cannot be the same for all people, and more so as humans are the most complex of all living nature. Even all this stage I feel it is so difficult to discuss the quality of life per so, as we all have different physical, emotional and material needs and modem science still cannot uncover the mystery of life. 4 concept of quality of life already been included in the WHO definition of has health where well-feeling is as necessary as well-being, both being of concern to medical doctors. I personally feel that the role of doctors is not simply to cure diseases but how we can help patients extend their span of life to live more actively and fulfillingly, the quality of life should not only deal with the prevention and cure of illnesses, but touch all aspects of aging. Aging in itself is quite mutual with any kind of disease and disability; the expansion and reduction of our lifespan depends so much on the exposure to disease and how aging affects both sexes diversely is one important factor when considering the quality of life. It could be said that our bodies are always in a state of homeostasis where biological destruction and development arise. This process is naturally called aging. However, passing through every seven year cycle we are dressing up our quality of life against various physical and mental experiences, while maintaining a steady state of homeostasis, and therefor face aging and different environmental changes. As a physician and being in a profession where we can influence ones quality of life. I feel it is imperative to study how aging is related to endocrinology and its disease, and the different outcomes of diseases and symptoms shown by males and females. In my study, I have generally classified our life span into seven crucial stages of aging and dealt with "Aging and gender how its physiology affects the quality of life".
Aging* ; Bandages ; China ; Endocrinology ; Female ; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide ; French Revolution ; Happiness ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Longevity ; Male ; Menopause ; Modems ; Physiology ; Quality of Life*

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Asthma ; therapy ; Female ; Hot Flashes ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Menopause ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Seasons

To explore the relationship between the early or delayed age at natural menopause and metabolic syndrome (MS) in women. A total of 4 734 natural menopausal women who completed the baseline survey from November 2017 to January 2020 in the Guangzhou Middle-aged and Elderly Chronic Disease Prospective Cohort Study were selected in this cross-sectional study. Data on general demographic characteristics, disease history and female physiological health indicators were collected. Logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline curve were used to analyze the relationship between the age at natural menopause and MS. The results showed that the mean age of the subjects was (60±6) years old. The median (Q₁,Q₃) age at natural menopause was 50 (49, 52) years old, and the prevalence of MS was 14.8%(699/4 734). After adjusting for confounders, the age at natural menopause was closely related to MS in an approximate"U"shape. Compared with the group of normal age at natural menopause, the early age at menopause (OR=1.52, 95%CI: 1.12-2.06) and delayed age at menopause (OR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.36-2.30) had a higher risk of MS. In the group with time since menopause ≤6 years and 7-9 years, the risk of MS in the group with delayed age at menopause was 2.40 times (95%CI: 1.54-3.75) and 2.19 times (95%CI: 1.11-4.31) higher than that in the group with normal menopausal age, respectively. In conclusion, the early and delayed age at natural menopause increased the risk of MS. The increased risk of MS in delayed age at natural menopause mainly occurred within 10 years since menopause.
Middle Aged ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Postmenopause ; Metabolic Syndrome/epidemiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Menopause/physiology* ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo introduce Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) into China, and to evaluate the quality of its Chinese Version.

METHODSMENQOL was translated into Chinese language and the reverse translation was done by several specialists. After retest study on 30 cases, validity, reliability and responsiveness were implemented in 409 cases with menopause syndrome in the multicenter study.

RESULTS7 components were extracted in factor analysis, and the total cumulative contribution was 59.476%. By correlation analysis, 7 components were divided into four domains: vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual items, same as in the English Version. The test-retest reliability of four domains were 0.806, 0.804, 0.941, 0.940 respectively. Cronbach alpha of four domains were 0.7258, 0.8234, 0.8475, 0.8641 respectively. There had been significant changes after treatment noticed.

CONCLUSIONThe measurement properties of MENQOL-Chinese Version including effectueness, reliability were met with satisfaction and seemed to be adaptable to Chinese menopause women.

China ; Climacteric ; physiology ; psychology ; Female ; Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Menopause ; physiology ; psychology ; Middle Aged ; Personal Satisfaction ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life ; Women's Health