Age and symptomatology of menopause in Karachi, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Menopause depicts end of woman's reproductive life usually occurring between ages 45 and 55. Many studies have been carried out to determine the mean age at menopause in different countries. In Pakistan, the greatest hurdle is ascertainment of correct age of women causing difficulty in determining the correct age at menopause. The objective of this study was to overcome this hurdle and to determine the mean age at menopause and occurrence of different symptoms at menopause in Pakistan. An observational cross sectional study was carried out in which the correct ages of 212 women from different hospitals, workplaces and housewives were estimated using Matriculation Certificates and/or National Identification Cards between February-November 2004. Age at menopause and associated symptoms were recorded. Menopausal age of the subjects' mothers was also documented. Epi Info Version 3.3 was used for data analysis. Mean age at menopause was determined to be 44.5 years [ +/- 0.8 years] ranging from 32-62 years. The predominant symptom experienced was hot flashes [82%]. There was no significant negative impact of menopause on libido in our subjects [p>0.05]. A significant similarity was observed between menopausal ages of 110 women and their mothers [p<0.001]. Mean age at menopause in Karachi, Pakistan is significantly lower than in West, which highlights need for studying social, economic and cultural basis of this difference. However, strong conclusions about menopausal age can only be made by large scale population-based studies. The symptoms experienced are similar as elsewhere in the world, although occurring with varying frequencies. There is a familial pattern to the onset of menopause