[The involutional age from the viewpoint of the gynecologist]

Besides the normal aging processes, which affect all human beings, regardless of their gender the involutional years of women have a number of special characteristics. These are based on the fact, that one group of organs-the reproductive system - hold their function earlier than the others. Because of this fact the involution of women ist basically different from that of men. During these years she often require therapeutic help by a physician not only for drug therapy but also psychologically. The drug-therapy seems to be relatively simple: balance of the oestrogen deficit. But today the oestrogen therapy became more difficult and has to be adjusted individually. The decision has to be made in regard to the type of hormone, the dose, the time sequence, the question of the gestagen component, the risk for malignancy, the effect on clothing and vessels etc. Old and new types of therapy including diet, tea, climate and bathing cures, tranquilizers, drugs for the autonomic nervous system, homeopathic therapy, acupuncture etc. also have their place. We will discuss these questions in the afternoon session extensively since the involutional years of women from the view of the gynaecologists are a very interesting and important field of medicine still for therapy and research.