Changes over thirty years in an index of gynaecological health

The gynaecological index (GYNDEX) was developed to facilitate observing differences in gynaecological health among and between groups of women. It takes into account menstrual characteristics, premenstrual changes, and gynaecological diagnoses and treatments. The objective of this study is to contribute to knowledge of the changes in gynaecological health at different times in the reproductive life cycles of women and to develop a measurement technique which can be used in future studies in women's health. In this investigation a GYNDEX is determined for each of the first three decades postmenarche in a sample of 54 women who have been followed in a longitudinal study since birth, and the characteristics of the changes in the GYNDEX over time are analysed. There is a significant increase in the GYNDEX (P less than 0.05) in each successive decade. Further studies are being done to determine to what extent factors that occurred in the childhood and adolescence act as predictors of adult gynaecological health. Knowledge of these relationships will provide a rationale for planning health care programmes for women of all ages.