Characteristics of menopausal women seeking assistance

Using a questionnaire approach, we have determined the demographic, social, and clinical characteristics of the first 100 participants attending our menopause clinic. Of the respondents, 79% reported onset of significant physical symptoms and 63% significant emotional symptoms during the menopause. Among the participants, 65% had varying degrees of depression as determined by the Zung self-rating depression scale. This seemed to be more prevalent in patients with previous pelvic operations. Only half the women were on a regimen of estrogen replacement therapy, and most were receiving estrogen in an unopposed fashion. In our menopause clinic, more than half the women were over their ideal body weight, which is in contrast to the popular misconception that only thin women develop menopausal symptoms. Data from our patients suggest the need for multidisciplinary menopause clinics to adequately address the physical and emotional problems of menopausal women.