[Study on climacteric symptoms in relation to ovarian function ageing and psychologic factors]

The present investigation was undertaken to establish the relation between climacteric symptoms, ovarian function, ageing, and psychological factors. The subjects were as follows; 1,270 women who received a screening test for cervical cancer and 247 women following hysterectomy. The methods of investigation were Kupperman menopausal index (K-index), Cornell Medical Index (CMI) and YG character questionnaire (YG test). The following results were obtained: 1) the K-index increased until 39 years of age and was constant after 40 years. Five symptoms (chills, nervousness, melancholia, excitability and vertigo) were not influenced by ageing, and seven symptoms (panting, hypesthesia, insomnia, wakefulness, fatigue, palpitation and formication) increased with age. Hot flushes, perspiration, numbness, shoulder stiffness, lumbago, and headache, occurred at peak frequency in the climacteric period. 2) In hot flushes, perspiration, numbness, hypesthesia, shoulder stiffness, lumbago, and formication, a significant difference was found between the control and those patients who had received bilateral oophorectomy. 3) The K-index and CMI score were significantly correlated, and six symptoms (palpitation, panting, excitability, vertigo, wakefulness and formication) in particular were related to CMI. 4) The K-index was lowest in the patients indicated to be the D type by the YG test, and was highest in the patients of the B.E type. Six symptoms (excitability, palpitation, panting, melanchoria, hypesthesia and formication) were thought to be associated with the character of the patients. Results showed that four symptoms (hot flushes, perspiration, numbness, shoulder stiffness and lumbago) were closely related to ovarian function, and three symptoms (panting, excitability, and palpitation) depended largely on mental factors. The relationship between vasomortor symptoms and gonadotropin was investigated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)