Incidencia y factores relacionados con el síndrome climatérico en una población de mujeres Mexicanas

Abstract

Objective: To determine the characteristics of the family environment and the attitude to menopause and its influence on the climateric syndrome. Methods: It was a comparative study on menopausal women who were attended to the Family Medicine Units in Querétaro, México, from July 2004 to February 2005. Two groups were formed: one with and one without climateric symptoms. The results were analyzed with Chi Square and Odds Ratio with an alpha value 0.05. Results: Of 140 women interview, 94 (67%) mentioned some climateric-related symptom. The factors associated with climateric with a significant statistical difference (p< 0.05) were: dysfunctional couple (OR: 4.69), low self-esteem (OR: 4.52), negative attitude to climateric (OR: 3.4), history of oral contraceptive use (OR: 2.69), dysfunctional family (OR: 2.48). Residence, education, occupation, history of childbirth, being in an active sexual relationship, body mass, exercise, nicotine addiction, alcoholism, family typology and family cohesion had no significant association. The most common symptoms were fatigue (69%), hot rashes (67%), dry skin (47%), headache (46%), irritability (43%), insomnia (39%), anxiety (39%), reduction in libido (36%), depression (34%), loss of concentration and/or memory (30%), arthralgia (29%), vaginal dryness (24%). Conclusions: The family and conjugal environment and a negative predisposition to menopause are more likely to cause climateric symptoms, for which reason an integral and interdisciplinary handling of the climateric period is very important.