Elizabeth Nedstrand

Treatment of menopausal symptoms with applied relaxation: a pilot study.

Applied relaxation (AR) was tested in a series of six women with postmenopausal hot flushes. The AR program consisted of group instructions 1 hour per week over a 12 week duration. The number of flushes were registered from 1 month before to 6 months after training AR. Menopausal symptoms (Kupperman Index), psychological well-being (Symptom Checklist), and mood (MOOD Scale) were measured at various moments during the study. For the six patients the number of flushes decreased from the baseline period to 6 months follow-up with 59, 61, 62, 67, 89 and 100% respectively, in mean 73%. While the scores on the Kupperman Index and the Symptom Checklist followed the pattern of the flushes, a similar trend was not seen for the scores on the MOOD Scale.

Vasomotor symptoms and quality of life in previously sedentary postmenopausal women randomised to physical activity or estrogen therapy

OBJECTIVE To assess if regular physical exercise or oral oestradiol therapy decreased vasomotor symptoms and increased quality of life in previously sedentary postmenopausal women. SETTING A prospective, randomised trial at a University Hospital. METHODS 75 postmenopausal, sedentary women with vasomotor symptoms were randomised to: exercise three-times weekly over 12 weeks (15 women), oral oestradiol therapy for 12 weeks (15 women) and 45 women to three other treatment arms. Results from the exercise and oestradiol groups are presented here. The effects on vasomotor symptoms and wellbeing were assessed with logbooks and validated questionnaires. RESULTS Ten women fulfilled 12 weeks of exercise. The number of flushes was rather unchanged in five women and decreased to 28% (range 18-42%) of baseline in the other five women. Five of the ten women continued to exercise another 24 weeks, thus in all 36 weeks. The mean number of flushes decreased by about 50% in these five women (from 6.2/24 to 3.2 flushes/24 h at 36 weeks). In the same group a score made as the product of reduction in number and severity of flushes decreased by 92% at 12 weeks, 75% at 24 weeks and 72% at 36 weeks compared with baseline. In the estrogen group flushes decreased from 8.4 to 0.8 (P<0.001) after 12 weeks of therapy and remained at this level after 36 weeks. Well-being according to different measurements improved significantly in both groups, albeit more markedly in the estrogen group. CONCLUSIONS Apart from many other health benefits regular physical exercise may decrease vasomotor symptoms and increase quality of life in postmenopausal women, but this has to be further evaluated scientifically. Exercise should be introduced gradually to ensure compliance.

Psychological well-being improves in women with breast cancer after treatment with applied relaxation or electro-acupuncture for vasomotor symptom.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of applied relaxation and electro-acupuncture (EA) on psychological well-being in breast cancer-treated women with vasomotor symptoms. Thirty-eight breast cancer-treated postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms were included in the study. They were randomized to either treatment with electro-acupuncture (EA) (n = 19, three of them with tamoxifen) or applied relaxation (AR) (n = 19, five of them with tamoxifen) over a 12-week study period with six months follow-up. Vasomotor symptoms were registered daily. A visual analog scale was used to assess climacteric symptom, estimation of general well-being was made using the Symptom Checklist, and mood using the Mood Scale. These were applied during treatment and at follow-up. In total 31 women completed 12 weeks of treatment and six months of follow-up. Hot flushes were reduced by more than 50%. Climacteric symptoms significantly decreased during treatment and remained so six months after treatment in both groups. Psychological well-being significantly improved during therapy and at follow-up visits in both groups. Mood improved significantly in the electro-acupuncture treated group. In conclusion psychological well-being improved in women with breast cancer randomized to treatment with either AR or EA for vasomotor symptoms and we therefore suggest that further studies should be performed in order to evaluate and develop these alternative therapies.

Hormone replacement therapy and previous use of oral contraceptives among Swedish women

OBJECTIVES To assess the current and previous use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and alternative remedies in a postmenopausal population and to relate HRT use to previous use of oral contraceptives. MATERIAL AND METHODS All 1323 women living in Linköping of 55 or 56 years old during 1995 were sent a questionnaire asking for data with relation to health and climacteric symptoms as well as to previous and current use of HRT, oral contraceptives and alternative remedies. RESULTS Current use of HRT was more common among women who previously used oral contraceptives (41.3%) than among women who had never used oral contraceptives (23.1%). HRT users were also more often physically active, had undergone hysterectomy and had lighter occupation than non-users. Of all women 35% were current users of HRT, half of them for at least 2 years, whereas only 5% had tried HRT and abandoned therapy. Alternative remedies were used by 5% of the women as therapy for climacteric complaints, and about four times as many women had tried such therapy but abandoned it. The only characteristic about use of alternative medicines was that they were used less often by women who had been hysterectomized. No women treated for breast cancer used HRT and only few of them used alternative remedies. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of HRT use, as well as compliance, was high. Previous use of oral contraceptives probably affected the attitude towards using HRT.

The relationship between stress-coping and vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE The objective was to assess whether menopausal women with vasomotor symptoms had a lower stress-coping than menopausal women without symptoms and if stress-coping changed when vasomotor symptoms had been effectively treated with estrogens. The objective was also to assess whether menopausal women, effectively treated for vasomotor symptoms, had a higher neuroticism score than women without such symptoms. METHODS Two groups of physically and mentally healthy postmenopausal women were recruited from the outpatient clinic at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Linköping, Sweden. Sixteen women with vasomotor symptoms (target group) were treated with oral 17 beta-estradiol, 2 mg/day during 3 months. A comparison group was formed comprising 17 women without vasomotor symptoms. The Kupperman Index was used to cover menopausal characteristics in all women at baseline as well as at the second visit after 3 months. Stress-coping was measured by means of the Stress Coping Inventory, which is an instrument developed to measure of the individuals appraisal of having adaptive resources for handling stressful situations. At the second visit all women were also asked to complete the Eysenck Personality Inventory. RESULTS Women in the target group had a significantly lower stress-coping than women in the comparison group at baseline as well as after 3 months. Stress-coping did not change after estrogen therapy, although the vasomotor symptoms had virtually disappeared. Women in the target group successfully treated for vasomotor symptoms, had a significantly higher neuroticism score compared to the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS Differences in behaviour patterns and personality are probably two reasons why some women report or seek advice due to vasomotor symptoms and some women do not. Stress-coping in women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms is unaffected by estrogens.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation among alternatives for fertility preservation in the Nordic countries - compilation of 20 years of multicenter experience.

The aim of this study is to report the current status of ovarian tissue cryopreservation among alternatives for fertility preservation in the Nordic countries.

Climacteric symptoms in a postmenopausal Czech population

OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence of climacteric symptoms and the use of hormone replacement therapy in a former eastern European country. All 55-, 57-, 59- and 61-year-old women in Kladno in the Czech Republic were asked to participate in the study. METHOD In 1993, 1505 women in Kladno of the Czech Republic were sent a postal questionnaire concerning age at menopause and their climacteric symptoms. RESULTS Answers were received from 799 women (53%); 98% were postmenopausal. The median age at spontaneous menopause was 50 years, 49.5 years among women smoking at least 5 cigarettes/day and 51.0 years among non-smokers (P < 0.05). About every fifth woman smoked. Totally 22% of the women had undergone hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy and 3% had been treated for a gynaecological malignancy. The majority of the women (58%) reported ongoing vasomotor symptoms; half of them had moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms. In all, 79% of the women reported ever having vasomotor symptoms. Only 3% of the women had ever tried hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and one woman had current treatment. Dysuria was reported by 22% and 4% had recurrent urinary tract infections; 70% of the women had a partner and 50% were sexually active. Reasons for not being sexually active were mostly lack of a partner, loss of sexual desire or partners disease or impotence. CONCLUSION Climacteric symptoms including vasomotor and urogenital symptoms had the same prevalence in the Czech Republic as previously reported in other Western Countries. Only a few women had tried HRT. Smokers had a slightly earlier menopause.

Effects of applied relaxation on vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThis work aimed to study the efficacy of group therapy with applied relaxation on vasomotor symptoms and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women. MethodsIn this open, randomized controlled trial, 60 healthy postmenopausal women with at least seven moderate to severe hot flashes per 24 hours were randomized to either group therapy with applied relaxation (n = 33) or untreated control group (n = 27) for 12 weeks. A follow-up visit was scheduled 3 months after the end of therapy or participation in the control group. Salivary cortisol was measured three times during a 6-month period. Hot flashes were recorded in self-registered diaries, and health-related quality of life was assessed with the Women’s Health Questionnaire. ResultsThe number of hot flashes decreased by 5.0 per 24 hours in the applied relaxation group compared with 1.9 in the control group on the 12th week (P < 0.001) and still remained at the same level at the 3-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Health-related quality of life for vasomotor symptoms, sleep, and memory improved significantly on the 12th week measurement in the applied relaxation group compared with the control group. Salivary cortisol concentration was lowered markedly in the applied relaxation group on a single measurement but was otherwise mainly stable in both groups. ConclusionsApplied relaxation can be used to treat vasomotor symptoms in healthy postmenopausal women.

The climacteric among South-American women, who immigrated to Sweden and age-matched Swedish women

Forty-nine immigrated South-American (SA) and 48 Swedish women, aged 42-67 years, were studied in a comparative semi-structured interview survey, concerning the climacteric and its treatment. The mean age at natural menopause was 47 for the South-American women and 50 for the Swedish women. The prevalence of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms at the time of the survey did not differ significantly between the non-treated, non-operated, postmenopausal South-American and Swedish women (36% and 21%; N.S.). One reason for the trend towards a higher prevalence among South-American women could be that a greater number of Swedish women used hormone replacement treatment compared to South-American women (11 vs. 4). The general attitude to hormone replacement therapy was more positive among South-American women, although they did not use hormone therapy, as could be expected from their symptoms. These results are probably an illustration of the difficulties in getting access to treatment for the immigrated SA women.

the Effects of Physical Activity on Menopausal Symptoms and Metabolic Changes around Menopause

&NA; Perimenopausal women experience symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats, dyspareunia and urethritis, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. Furthermore, the decreasing ovarian steroid hormone production, including both l7p‐estradiol and progesterone, affects several metabolic systems such as the turnover of bone tissue, lipoprotein metabolism, and also the direct estrogen effects on the vessel walls. Estrogen substitution treatment has been proven to counteract many of these symptoms and metabolic changes, but some women have medical contraindications for estrogen treatment while some other women prefer to avoid such treatment. There is thus a need for alternative treatment. Regular physical exercise counteracts some of the changes due to menopause. Thus, exercise protects against bone loss, changes in lipoprotein metabolism, hypertension, and may even decrease vasomotor symptoms. Exercise also has a positive impact on mental health. This article reviews data concerning the effects of exercise in peri‐ and postmenopausal women. Exercise may cause the same magnitude of change as that induced by estrogen therapy. Positive effects of exercise are influenced by other factors such as general awareness of lifestyle, diet, smoking habits. There is a need for long‐term prospective, randomized studies before definitive conclusions can be drawn as to the benefits of exercise on well‐being and various menopause and other age‐related health factors.