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. 2014 Apr;20(1):7-13.
doi: 10.6118/jmm.2014.20.1.7. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Awareness and experience of menopausal symptom and hormone therapy in korean postmenopausal women

Hee Dong Chae  1 , Sun Young Choi  1 , Eun Ji Cho  1 , Yoo Mi Cho  1 , Sa Ra Lee  2 , Eun Sil Lee  3 , Hyoung Moo Park  4
Affiliations

Awareness and experience of menopausal symptom and hormone therapy in korean postmenopausal women

Hee Dong Chae et al. J Menopausal Med. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate awareness and experience of menopausal symptom and hormone therapy in Korean postmenopausal women.

Methods: A total of 570 postmenopausal women were accepted our survey. The women filled out the questionnaires composed of medical and surgical history, menopausal age and symptom, demand of treatment on menopausal symptom, and personal method for overcoming the symptom. Also, we make inquiries about experience of hormone therapy, concern about hormone therapy, improvement of menopausal symptom after therapy, adverse effect, and cause of cease the therapy.

Results: According to the survey, 80% (456/570) of the women experienced menopausal symptom. When they felt the symptom at first, 47% (213/570) of women was 46-50 years old. The most common menopausal symptom was hot flushes (141/570). A number of Korean women regarded that menopause was a natural process of ageing (69%). Eighty two % of women thought to need to have treatment on menopausal symptom. However, only half (43%) visited doctor. The most concerned disease after menopause they had answered was osteoporosis (60%) but only 22% of women were taken regular check-up of bone mineral density. The common causes were unwilling to do treatment were concern about adverse effect (51%) and indefinite fear of cancer (32%). Moreover, many women got diverse information about menopause from the mass media than professional advice.

Conclusion: Only a minority of Korean postmenopausal women with menopausal symptoms had taken a hormone therapy. We should provide appropriate education and counsel to Korean peri-menopause women.

Keywords: Awareness; Experience; Hormone therapy; Korean postmenopausal women; Menopausal symptom.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Age of menopause.
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Age of menopausal symptom.
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Proportions of bone mineral density check after menopause.
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Proportions of mammography check after menopause.
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Fig. 5
Experiences of hormone therapy.
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Fig. 6
Motivation of hormone therapy.
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Fig. 7
Experienced side effects during hormone therapy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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