Determinants of self rated menopause status

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Women's Health
• Menopause Research

Background:

• The menopausal transition is typically defined by menstrual cycle changes.
• Women undergoing hysterectomy or hormone therapy are often excluded from transition studies.
• Subjective experiences and self-perception are crucial aspects of women's health during menopause.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate self-ratings of menopausal transition stages in women with natural menopause, hormone therapy use, and hysterectomy.
• To compare self-perceptions with traditional menstrually-defined menopausal categories.
• To explore the influence of menopausal symptoms on self-assessment of transition stage.

Main Methods:

• Population-based survey analysis.
• Comparison of self-rated menopausal status across different groups (natural menopause, hormone therapy, hysterectomy).
• Logistic regression modeling to predict self-ratings based on hysterectomy status, hormone therapy use, and hot flush experience.

Main Results:

• Hysterectomized women's self-ratings align with non-hysterectomized women when hormone therapy status is considered.
• Hormone therapy use strongly correlates with self-perception of being at least perimenopausal.
• A significant 29% disagreement exists between self-ratings and menstrually-defined categories in women with natural menopause.
• Logistic regression models accurately predicted self-ratings based on hysterectomy status, hormone therapy, and hot flushes.

Conclusions:

• Subjective experience of symptoms, particularly hot flushes, significantly influences women's self-assessment of menopausal transition.
• Hormone therapy use is a key indicator of perceived menopausal stage.
• Women's subjective evaluations are vital for a comprehensive understanding of the menopausal transition, complementing traditional definitions.