exudates and Hot-Flashes

To compare the effect of micro-dose transdermal estradiol and placebo on the incidence and severity of menopausal symptoms and well-being in postmenopausal Asian women with vasomotor symptoms.. Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.. Of 165 subjects randomized to estradiol 0.014 mg/day or placebo for 12 weeks, 80 per group were included in the analysis. Groups were comparable at baseline, although time since menopause was slightly shorter in the estradiol group. There was a greater reduction in mean weekly hot flushes at week 12 in the estradiol group (55%) than the placebo group (40%; p < 0.01), which was evident by week 4. A similar pattern was seen for moderate and severe hot flushes (-58% vs. -39%, respectively). Reductions were statistically significant at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Vaginal pH fell significantly in the estradiol group by week 4 and then remained stable throughout the treatment period, but there were no significant changes in the placebo group. Vaginal maturation value increased more in the estradiol than the placebo group (p < 0.001). Few subjects had vaginal bleeding or spotting. Quality of life improved similarly in both groups. Urogenital symptoms improved considerably from baseline in both treatment groups, with no significant differences. Eight subjects experienced treatment-related adverse events (seven in the estradiol group).. In Asian women, micro-dose estradiol was significantly superior to placebo in improving vasomotor symptoms. The bleeding profile was comparable with that of placebo. Micro-dose estradiol was safe and well tolerated in Asian women.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Aged; Double-Blind Method; Estradiol; Female; Hong Kong; Hot Flashes; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Philippines; Placebos; Singapore; Thailand; Time Factors; Vagina

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and their associated risk factors among postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy.. Postmenopausal breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy were recruited at three hospitals in Malaysia. Presence and severity of menopausal symptoms were determined using the Menopause Rating Scale. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from medical records.. A total of 192 patients participated in this study. Commonly reported symptoms were musculoskeletal pain (59.9%), physical and mental exhaustion (59.4%), and hot flushes (41.1%). Multivariate analyses indicated that increasing number of years after menopause until the start of endocrine therapy was significantly associated with less likelihood of reporting menopausal symptoms and musculoskeletal pain. Patients with primary or secondary education levels reported significantly less menopausal urogenital symptoms compared to patients with a tertiary education level. Patients using aromatase inhibitors were twice as likely to experience musculoskeletal pain compared to patients using tamoxifen (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-4.50; p < 0.05).. Menopausal symptoms and musculoskeletal pain are common problems encountered by postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy and should be closely monitored for successful treatment.

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Aromatase Inhibitors; Breast Neoplasms; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatigue; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Malaysia; Mental Fatigue; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal Pain; Postmenopause; Tamoxifen

To document the common menopausal symptoms and quality of life in indigenous women of Sarawak in Malaysia.. A face-to-face interview using the Menopause-specific Quality of Life questionnaire was conducted with 276 indigenous Sarawakian women aged 40-65 years to determine the mean age of menopause and common symptoms (divided into vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual domains) associated with menopause.. The mean age at menopause of postmenopausal women was 50.78 +/- 2.47 years (range 47.3-58.2 years). The most common symptoms reported were aching in muscles and joints (82.6%), lack of energy (77.5%) and low backache (77.2%). The typical menopausal symptoms of hot flushes, night sweats, sweating and vaginal dryness were experienced by 42.4%, 34.8%, 29.7% and 49.3%, respectively of the women studied. Perimenopausal women (n = 114) experienced the most physical and psychosocial symptoms, while postmenopausal women (n = 102) experienced most sexual symptoms. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women were reported to suffer more than premenopausal women (p < 0.001) within the four domains of symptoms (vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual).. The menopausal symptoms in this study correspond to those in other studies on Asian women but the prevalence of typical and classical menopausal symptoms was lower compared to studies on Caucasian women. The perimenopausal women had the most significant decrease in quality of life, followed by postmenopausal women and premenopausal women. Vasomotor symptoms had a predominant influence on the quality of life.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Arthralgia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Status; Fatigue; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Low Back Pain; Malaysia; Menopause; Middle Aged; Postmenopause; Quality of Life; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweating

Documentation of self-care actions for vasomotor complaints by some postmenopausal women in Kelantan.. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 326 naturally menopausal women to determine the prevalence and types of self-care actions taken for vasomotor complaints.. Fractionally more women took self-care actions for night sweats than hot flushes. The choice of self-care action depended upon the area of residence and the educational level. The most common action taken for night sweats was to sleep either in an air-conditioned room or under a ceiling fan. About one-quarter of the complainants used hormone replacement therapy, the majority of who were urban-living and with secondary education. Only a small fraction used traditional remedies.. A large proportion of women complaining of vasomotor complaints took self-care actions and the choice of self-care actions depended on the area of residence and educational level. The use of modern remedies and less of the traditional remedies was more common amongst the more affluent and educated women than women in rural areas who either did nothing or resorted to the more simple type of self-care actions. Contrary to our expectations, the use of traditional remedies was low.

Topics: Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Status; Hot Flashes; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Postmenopause; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Self Care; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweating; Vasomotor System; Women's Health

The aim of this study was to document some of the self-care actions taken by women in Kelantan to manage their somatic symptoms associated with menopause.. A verified semi-structured questionnaire in the Malay language was administered to 326 naturally menopaused healthy women (mean age of 57.01+/-6.58 (S.D.) years) residing in Kelantan to determine the prevalence and types of self-care actions taken for their somatic complaints.. Mean age at menopause was 49.4+/-3.4 (S.D.) years and 75% of these women were within the first 10 years of menopause. Of the four somatic symptoms, tiredness was the most prevalent followed by reduced level of mental concentration, musculoskeletal aches and pains, and backache. The prevalence of self-care actions was highest for backache (91%) and the lowest for reduced level of concentration (47.7%), and both prevalence and type of self-care action appear to depend upon the area of residence, and the educational level of the subject. Of those who took self-care actions, majority were from urban areas and with a higher educational level. Although HRT was used for all the four complaints, the use of pain relief tablets and traditional body massage was more commonly used for musculoskeletal aches and pains and backache than HRT. There was also a small fraction of women who had used the traditional herbs like 'akar kayu' and 'jamu' for these two complaints.. It appears that the self-care actions used by postmenopausal women in Kelantan for their somatic complaints ranged from HRT to a combination of conventional, traditional, and alternative remedies. The fraction of women taking self-care action varied from symptom to symptom and the choice of self-care action also depended upon the education level, socio-economic status and place where the respondents were domiciled. There was a tendency for the more affluent and educated women to use more of the modern practices and slightly less of the traditional remedies whereas the rural women did the opposite. This is the first study of its kind in Kelantan documenting the self-care practices of menopausal women for their somatic complaints. Clearly more studies are needed to document these practices and the effectiveness of these self-care remedies.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Complementary Therapies; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Postmenopause; Prevalence; Self Care; Surveys and Questionnaires; Women's Health

The aim of the study was to document the prevalence of 16 symptoms commonly associated with menopause, in women living in Kelantan.. After verification, a semi-structured questionnaire in the Malay language was administered to 326 naturally menopaused healthy women in Kelantan (mean age of 57.1+/-6.58 (S.D.) years) to assess the prevalence of 16 common symptoms, which had been identified through focus group discussions and those that have been repeatedly reported in the literature.. Mean age at menopause was 49.4+/-3.4 (S.D.) years while both the mode and median were 50 years. Of these, 75% were within the first 10 years of menopause and the rest were within the range of 11 to more than 20 years postmenopause. The mode for the number of symptoms complained by each woman was 8 (range 0-16). The prevalence of atypical symptoms was as follows: tiredness (79.1%), reduced level of concentration (77.5%), musculo-skeletal aches (70.6%) and backache (67.7%). Night sweats (53%), headache (49.4%) and hot flushes (44.8%) were the typical vasomotor symptoms, whereas mood swings (51%), sleep problems (45.1%), loneliness (41.1%), anxiety (39.8%) and crying spells (33.4%) were the main psychological symptoms. Uro-genital symptoms such as vaginal discomfort (45.7%), occasional stress incontinence (40%), weak bladder control (24%) and urinary tract infection (19.3%) were also reported.. The symptoms are somewhat similar to those experienced by postmenopausal women elsewhere, albeit at different frequencies. There was a tendency for the women to admit to having more of the atypical symptoms, the prevalence of some which increased with increasing menopausal status, and lesser of the vasomotor and psychological symptoms.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Malaysia; Menopause; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires