OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS, Mirena(R)) on the mammographic density, mammographic findings and breast ultrasonographic findings in Korean premenopausal women. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of 639 premenopausal women, who inserted LNG-IUS in our department from 2000-2011. Among these, 46 women, who underwent regular mammography (MMG) or breast ultrasonography (USG) examination in radiology department before and after insertion of the LNG-IUS after establishment of picture archiving and communication system (PACS) system in our hospital were finally included in this analysis. We compared the findings of MMG and breast USG between pre- and post-insertion of LNG-IUS. We also checked the pathologic results of any breast biopsy performed in these study participants. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to investigate the changes pre- and post-insertion of LNG-IUS. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 42.3 +/- 4.9 years and the mean interval period for MMG and US follow-up (FU) was 25.5 +/- 10.8 months and 25.2 +/- 11.5 months, respectively. The density of MMG before insertion of LNG-IUS correlated well with the FU MMG density. The findings of MMG and US also correlated well before and after insertion of LNG-IUS. There was no case of breast cancer among women who were supposed to undergo breast biopsy because of abnormal findings in MMG and US. CONCLUSION: The use of LNG-IUS did not cause any changes in MMG density, findings of MMG, and findings of breast USG in healthy premenopausal Korean women.
Biopsy ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Levonorgestrel ; Mammary Glands, Human ; Mammography ; Medical Records ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to estimate the relative risk for breast cancer using the Gail model and to observe the relationship between mammographic density and the 5-year risk of breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 600 women who visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chung-Ang University Yongsan Hospital were screened using the Gail model to estimate their relative risk for breast cancer. The correlation between the 5-year risk of breast cancer and the mammographic density of 462 women who had performed mammography within 1 year of the study was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 56.7 +/- 8.2 years. The estimated mean values for the 5-year risk and lifetime risk for breast cancer were 1.23 +/- 0.46% and 7.90 +/- 2.76% respectively in all study subjects. The estimated mean value of the 5-year risk for breast cancer increased with age. Otherwise, the estimated lifetime risk for breast cancer decreased with age. Ninety-two women (15.3%) were classified as high-risk because their estimated 5-year risk was over 1.67% or their lifetime risk was over 20%. High risk percentages according to age were 10.5% in the thirties, 0.84% in the forties, 7.2% in the fifties, 32.7% in the sixties, and 35.7% in the seventies. Among the high risk postmenopausal women, 52.2% were taking hormone therapy. Mammographic density was not significantly correlated with the estimated 5-year risk for breast cancer. CONCLUSION: About fifteen percent of study subjects were at high risk for breast cancer according to the estimated 5-year risk or lifetime risk for breast cancer using Gail model. Mammographic density was not correlated with the 5-year risk for breast cancer.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Mammary Glands, Human ; Mammography ; Obstetrics ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVES: Hormone therapy is generally chosen to treat women who are experiencing menopausal symptoms. Knowing the overlapping symptoms between menopause and thyroid diseases as well as their increasing trend, it is crucial to differentially diagnose among the two types of diseases. The study is focused on the thyroid function test (TFT) and its significance. It also reflects those who are in the menopausal transition state, suffering from premenopausal symptoms, and therefore, want to be treated with hormone therapy. METHODS: Endocrinologic diagnosis for menopause was performed in 139 patients who complained of menopausal symptoms and irregular menstruation within the past year and hence, visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee University Hospital in order to obtain consultation from January 2007 to March 2011. We made observations using the retrograde method. Among these women, 43 patients tested for TFT for their atypical menopausal symptoms. RESULTS: Among the 43 patients who tested for TFT, 10 patients showed abnormal TFT and 3 patients who did not take TFT at our department were found to have the thyroid disease later by other clinics. CONCLUSION: In order to differentiate thyroid disease, practical guidelines should be prepared for the management of women with menopausal transition.
Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Menopause ; Menstruation ; Obstetrics ; Perimenopause ; Stress, Psychological ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland

OBJECTIVES: Isoflavone is a plant-derived compound, abundant in soy food, and its character is mixed estrogenic and antiestrogenic action, so it is highlighted as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study is to establish a foundation for isoflavone study in the future, by estimating isoflavone intake in postmenopausal women and by recommending proper isoflavone intake. METHODS: Isoflavone intake was estimated in a total of 189 Korean postmenopausal women over 50 years old, by using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Data were statistically analyzed by t-test, and one-way ANOVA with Turkey's test. RESULTS: The daily average isoflavone intake level was 21.94 +/- 19.96 mg. There is no significant difference in isoflavone intake according to age. About 60 percentile of postmenopausal women intake isoflavone under 20 mg a day, and 2 percentile of postmenopausal women intake about 80 mg isoflavone. CONCLUSION: There was no definite precise amount of isoflavone for reliving postmenopausal symptom and health. But through this study, most postmenopausal women did not intake enough isoflavone, so they have to intake more isoflavone.
Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Estrogens ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; Phytoestrogens ; Postmenopause ; Soy Foods ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic and endocrinologic alterations is developed at menopausal transition of women and these alterations can have an effect on prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and differences of components as menopausal status of women who visited our health screening clinic. METHODS: We surveyed body sizes, blood pressures and other several blood tests from January 2006 to December 2010 in Pusan National University Hospital by retrospectively reviewing medical records. These results were compared as presence of metabolic syndrome and menopausal status. Differences of the components of metabolic syndrome as the menopausal status and occurrences of metabolic syndrome as the age and the menopausal status are investigated. RESULTS: In premenopausal and postmenopausal women, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome were 8.69% and 21.85%, respectively. More body weight, high body mass index and cholesterol were checked in women who have metabolic syndrome irrespective of menopausal status. Low high density lipoprotein was most prominent component of metabolic syndrome irrespective of menopausal status. Hypertension and high blood sugar were showed meaningful proportions in postmenopausal women. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was unrelated to the menopausal status by regressively analyze, but meaningfully increased related to aging. CONCLUSION: Menopausal alterations restrictively effect on occurrence of metabolic syndrome and aging is more effect on it. But more detailed and additional studies are needed about determining the relation of metabolic syndrome in women who surgically menopaused and receiving hormone therapy.
Aging ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Body Size ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lipoproteins ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Menopause ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are one of the most annoying symptoms experienced by postmenopausal women. Generally, 75% of women over 50 years of age experience VMS. This study is an epidemiologic survey of menopausal symptoms and VMS in Korean menopausal women. METHODS: Survey participants were recruited from Korean provinces based on the Korean population study conducted in 2010 and using multi-level stratification by age and geographic location, and random sampling. Healthy perimenopausal and menopausal Korean women aged between 40 to 60 years and who participated in the interview survey were included in the study. The Korean version of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the Korean version of Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) was used to investigate the prevalence of menopausal related symptoms and to assess quality of life. RESULTS: Among the 1,500 women, 66% were classified as perimenopause, 28% as menopause, and 7% had undergone hysterectomy. Typically, 41.6% of women in perimenopause reported having experienced VMS in recent six months. About 53.1% of women in early menopause and 36.5% of women in late menopause had experienced VMS in the past six months. Whereas, 30.6% of women with hot flashes, and 27.9% of women with sweating stated that these symptoms were not related to menopause. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of VMS in Korean women seems to be less than women of Western countries. Overall subjective experience of menopause was perceived as increasingly positive with age. Awareness of menopausal symptoms appeared lower than expected. Perimenopausal and menopausal women in Korea rarely sought medical care.
Aged ; Female ; Hot Flashes ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Korea ; Menopause ; Perimenopause ; Prevalence ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Women's Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cytotoxic effects of lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), an active component of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL), on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS: VSMCs were derived from rat aorta. Cell death was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, and DNA fragmentation assay. Apoptosis was quantified by propidium iodide staining and fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, and intracellular free radical production was determined using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA). In addition, the changes in caspases, bcl-2 and bax proteins were evaluated by western blot analysis. RESULTS: LysoPC over 25 microM induced more than 50% of the cell death at 10 hours on MTT assay with no change in the level of LDH. The DNA ladder pattern showed that cell death induced by lysoPC was caused by apoptosis, which was associated with increased free radical production. Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant and caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE), an inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), blocked apoptosis. The casepase-3 precursor decreased and the active form of caspase-8 increased. Total bcl-2 and bax proteins did not change with lysoPC treatment, but translocation of bax from cytosole to the mitochondria membrane was observed. CONCLUSION: LysoPC induces apoptosis in VSMCs via an oxidant mechanism, dependent on NF-kappaB.
Animals ; Aorta ; Apoptosis ; Atherosclerosis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Blotting, Western ; Caffeic Acids ; Caspase 8 ; Caspases ; Cell Death ; Cytosol ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fluoresceins ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; Membranes ; Mitochondria ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; NF-kappa B ; Oxidoreductases ; Propidium ; Rats ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

There was controversy about decrease in mortality as the eventual result of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The reduction of mortality was known in large observational-cohort studies in women with HRT compared with non-HRT after correction of confounding factors. The second analysis of Women's Health Initiative (WHI) results revealed that the 30% decrease in mortality was observed in HRT users. These findings resemble with the results of past observational studies. The meta-analysis including the second analysis of WHI results showed that HRT use in young menopausal women decrease the mortality. Although there was a chaos about the risk and benefit of HRT since the first announcement of WHI study in 2002, HRT in young menopausal women could decrease the morbidity and mortality related to coronary heart disease and stroke.
Coronary Disease ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Menopause ; Stroke ; Women's Health

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to understand what peri-menopausal women know in order to enhance perimenopausal management. METHODS: Data collection was performed in December 2010. A total of 211 peri-menopausal women in Seoul and City S, Gyeonggido were surveyed using a convenience sample. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: We found that 86% of peri-menopausal women had not received any health education on menopause and 92% of perimenopausal women wanted more education about menopause. Women who acquired relevant information from a hospital (or medical staff) had high levels of knowledge and care of their menopause. Also, it was found that there was a high correlation between postmenopausal women's knowledge and menopause management (r = 0.75, P = 0.01). A regression model of the factors that affect menopausal management consisted of menopausal knowledge, menopausal status and menopausal education, with these factors explaining 20.5% of variance. CONCLUSION: Systematic efforts and education are necessary to empower menopausal women in the management of their menopause.
Data Collection ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics of postmenopausal women who were admitted to the emergency room. METHODS: This study was conducted at a university hospital. The retrospective study of medical records comprised 26 patients who were admitted to the emergency room, between September 2010 and August 2011. RESULTS: The age of the twenty-six patients was 51-90 years. Abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding were the main complaints. The final diagnoses were 6 cases of postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis, 6 cases of ovarian cyst, 5 cases of pelvic inflammation disease, 3 cases of post-conization bleeding, 1 case of menopausal symptoms, 1 case of atrophic endometrium, 1 case of uterine prolapse, 1 case of pyometra, and acute pyeolonephritis with stone. Among the 6 cases of ovarian cyst, 5 cases performed an operation. Pathologic findings revealed 2 cases of simple cyst, 1 case of paratubal cyst, 1 case of teratoma, and 1 case of granulosa cell tumor. CONCLUSION: The incidence of post-menopausal distress in women is increasing, and the numbers of post-menopausal women being admitted to the emergency room are also increasing, so attention needs to be paid to the case of postmenopausal women in the future.
Abdominal Pain ; Atrophic Vaginitis ; Emergencies ; Endometrium ; Female ; Granulosa Cells ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Medical Records ; Menopause ; Ovarian Cysts ; Parovarian Cyst ; Pyometra ; Retrospective Studies ; Teratoma ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterine Prolapse