Menopause symptom study finds similar urogenital burden across ages
Researchers found psychological and urogenital symptoms were similar in women with average-age menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
2 min read
Women who enter menopause around the average age and those with premature ovarian insufficiency report similar levels of psychological and urogenital symptoms, according to a new study published in Menopause. The findings point to a need for symptom screening and care that includes sexual, vaginal and urinary health regardless of when menopause begins, The Menopause Society said.
The study compared women experiencing menopause at about the average age of 51 with women who had premature ovarian insufficiency, or loss of ovarian function before age 40. The research, involving more than 500 women, examined how common and severe menopause symptoms were in the two groups, according to The Menopause Society.
Researchers found that the overall symptom burden was higher among women going through menopause at the average age. But scores for psychological symptoms and urogenital symptoms did not differ significantly between the groups, The Menopause Society said.
Urogenital symptoms were the most frequently reported symptom category in both groups, according to the society. That category included sexual problems, bladder problems such as incontinence, vaginal dryness or burning, and pain during sex.
Premature ovarian insufficiency can bring menopause symptoms much earlier than expected and is also linked with longer-term health effects, The Menopause Society said. The society said symptoms associated with menopause can include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and itching, urinary urgency or frequency, recurrent urinary tract infections, joint pain, mood changes, memory lapses, changes to hair and skin, and sexual dysfunction.
The Menopause Society said these symptoms can affect quality of life, whether they occur alone or together. It also noted that falling estrogen levels during the menopause transition can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
Previous research has shown lower health-related quality-of-life scores among women with premature ovarian insufficiency, according to The Menopause Society. The society said fewer studies have directly compared symptom patterns between women with premature ovarian insufficiency and those experiencing menopause at the average age.
The new findings led researchers to conclude that menopause symptoms are common and often severe in both groups, according to The Menopause Society. While women in average-age menopause had a higher total symptom burden, psychological and urogenital symptoms were comparable between the groups.
Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, said the results show the symptom burden faced by younger patients with premature ovarian insufficiency and support proactive, broad screening for women in perimenopause or menopause.
The study, titled “Menopausal symptoms in average-age menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency,” was published in the journal Menopause. The paper lists Rehona Zamani and colleagues as authors and carries the DOI 10.1097/GME.0000000000000002815.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.