Does temporomandibular disorder correlate with menopausal symptoms?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Pain Management
• Oral Medicine

Background:

• Menopausal symptoms and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain can significantly impact women's quality of life.
• Understanding the interplay between menopausal status and TMD pain is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between menopausal symptoms and TMD-induced pain.
• To assess the influence of sociodemographic factors on this association.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 74 women with TMD, categorized by Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10 (STRAW + 10) criteria.
• Data collected on menopausal symptoms (Blatt-Kupperman index) and TMD pain (craniomandibular index).
• Statistical analysis included chi-squared and linear correlation tests.

Main Results:

• TMD pain was more intense in late menopausal transition than late postmenopause.
• Menopausal symptoms significantly correlated with TMD pain intensity, particularly during late menopausal transition.
• Lower educational attainment (schooling < 4 years) was associated with higher symptom scores in early postmenopause.

Conclusions:

• A correlation exists between TMD-induced pain and menopausal symptoms, intensifying during the late menopausal transition.
• Sociodemographic factors, specifically education level, play a role in symptom severity during early postmenopause.
• TMD assessment during the climacteric period is recommended.