[Menopause and quality of life]

Menopause represents a relatively long period in a women's life going along with alterations derived from ovarial decline and with corresponding changes of psychosomatic, psychic and behavioural pattern. Like pregnancy it should not be considered as a disease but as an evolutive phase in a woman's life in biological as well as in psychologic respect. Hundred years ago European women entered menopause at an age of about 40 years and their life expectancy was about 6 years and after menopause. Today, onset of menopause reaches 55 years, life expectancy, however, has expanded to the 80s, even 83 in Switzerland. It is therefore important and justified to provide all medical and psychological measures that may ameliorate quality of life for all women expecting a prolonged life.