Menstrual status and menopausal age of middle-aged Swedish women. A population study of women in Göteborg 1968--69 and 1974--75

Abstract

A population study of women in Göteborg, Sweden, was carried out in 1968--69. Altogether 1 462 women participated (participation rate 90.1 per cent). Five age strata were studied: 38, 46, 50, 54 and 60 (women born in 1930, 1922, 1918, 1914 and 1908, respectively). The same women were re-studied in 1974--75. At this time 1 302 women participated, corresponding to 89.1 per cent of those studied in 1968--69 and 80.3 per cent of those initially sampled. The vast majority of the women had a natural menopause. The median age at the menopause was found to be about 50. The criteria for definition of menopause are discussed. No support was found for the theory of increased menopausal age with time. Estrogen therapy of postmenopausal women was found to be much more common in 1974--75 than in 1968--69.