绝经后雌激素补充治疗对阴道微生态的影响

目的探讨绝经后激素补充治疗(MHT)对绝经女性阴道微生态的影响。方法选择妇科门诊就诊的绝经女性322例,按绝经时间分为≤5年组、5年且11年组和≥11年组;按照MHT使用与否分为使用MHT组(n=104)与未使用MHT组(n=218);取阴道分泌物进行微生态检测,比较各组阴道微生态的数据。结果细菌性阴道病在不同绝经时间组中的发病率最高,在≤5年组为21.1%、5年且11年组为19.3%、≥11年组为16.0%;使用MHT组菌群/功能异常的阳性率明显低于未使用MHT组(P0.05);使用MHT组菌群正常率显著高于未使用MHT组(P0.01)。结论细菌性阴道病是绝经女性常见的阴道感染性疾病之一。MHT有助于阴道微生态的改善。     

Options for the treatment of menopausal symptoms

Many women experience unpleasant symptoms about the time of the menopause and after, for which a range of treatments is available. This article discusses their efficacy and safety.     

Integrated healthcare: herbal remedies for menopausal symptoms

Women approaching the menopause frequently resort to complementary therapies and natural remedies, especially herbal medicines. Nurses working with mature women, both in the community and in hospital, may find themselves drawn into a debate about these remedies, yet may feel unable to answer women's questions, or be unsure where to find information. However, with the increased use of complementary therapies generally, it is imperative that nurses recognize the parameters of their personal practice and appreciate the possible problems which may arise from ill-informed use of natural remedies, such as herb-drug interactions. This article provides an overview of herbal remedies popularly self-administered by women in the peri-menopausal period. The effects and safety of several remedies are explored to facilitate nurses to offer accurate, comprehensive and evidence-based information to patients. The issue of integration of herbal medicine into mainstream management of menopausal symptoms is also debated as a means of providing optimum and safe care to women at this time.     

The experience of providing support about menopausal symptoms to women with breast cancer

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to describe the experiences and expectations of both women with breast cancer and the health professionals who care for them, in relation to the management of menopausal symptoms.MethodA qualitative, exploratory study using a combination of focus groups and in depth individual interviews was carried out to collect data from women with breast cancer (14) and Health Professionals (15).Key resultsA number of categories arose including breast cancer experience, menopausal symptoms, seeking support, taking control; with a number of contributory factors.ConclusionThe findings illustrated the complexity of supporting women experiencing menopausal symptoms following their breast cancer diagnosis. They also captured the difficulty women have in isolating these symptoms from their experiences of breast cancer and associated management from diagnosis and beyond. The results indicate that health professionals are working and reacting to individual requests for support in isolation of the team. There is a need to assess and manage women both individually and within a multidisciplinary context. This would allow complex issues that span across the pre, peri, or post-menopausal stages, to be identified and resolved effectively.     

Influence of hormone replacement therapy on blood antioxidant enzymes in menopausal women

BACKGROUND: Natural loss of estrogen occurring in menopausal process may contribute to various health problems many of them possibly related to oxidative stress. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most common treatment to attenuate menopausal disturbances. This study was aimed at evaluating the influence of HRT on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; and glutathione peroxidase, GPx) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) in menopausal women. METHODS: Blood antioxidant enzyme activities were determined in premenopausal (n=18) and in postmenopausal healthy women without (n=21) or with (n=19) HRT (mean ages: 47, 59, and 57 years, respectively). RESULTS: TBARS, CAT, and GPx activity were not significantly different among the groups of study. However, SOD activity was significantly lower in postmenopausal women without HRT (0.68+/-0.04 U/mg Hb) when compared both to premenopausal women (0.91+/-0.04 U/mg Hb) and to postmenopausal women with HRT (0.89+/-0.07 U/mg Hb). SOD activity was positively correlated to the duration of HRT in the postmenopausal groups (r=0.33, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HRT antagonizes the decrease of SOD activity that occurs after menopause, suggesting that HRT may play a beneficial role in the protection against oxidative stress.     

Designer estrogen vs. hormone replacement therapy: the menopausal woman's dilemma

Although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has many proven health benefits for postmenopausal women, relatively few women are taking advantage of this option. A major reason for this is lack of understanding by women of the benefits and risks of using HRT. Additionally, many women are uninformed about "designer estrogens," more correctly known as Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs), as an alternative approach to the use of esrogen. One of the major challenges of contemporary nursing is to help women maintain optimum health and enjoy a high quality of life after menopause. One aspect of managing menopausal health is an understanding of the hormonal options available to women. The purpose of this article is to present a synthesis of information comparing HRT and SERMs so that the reader can help his/her clients make informed choices about replacement therapy.     

Aromatherapy for outpatients with menopausal symptoms in obstetrics and gynecology

OBJECTIVE: To introduce Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) into a hospital department of obstetrics and gynecology with the goal of achieving integrative medicine, the authors investigated the effectiveness of aromatherapy for outpatients with menopausal symptoms. LOCATION: The department of obstetrics and gynecology, St. Marianna University Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan. DESIGN: Participants in the aromatherapy trial received a 30 minute aromatherapy session performed by an aromatherapist that included a consultation, massage, and home care guidance. After they carried out approximately 1 month of home care, they received a second aromatherapy session. The patients' physical and mental health status was measured at the start and endpoint of the trial by use of the Kupperman index (KI), the self-rating depression scale, and consultation. SUBJECTS: Fifteen (15) outpatients (mean age, 54.3 +/- 7.4 years) with menopausal symptoms in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of St. Marianna University Hospital. RESULTS: The mean value of the KI score was significantly lowered after the aromatherapy trial from 31.4 +/- 6.8 to 22.9 +/- 6.1 (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This investigation shows that aromatherapy could be effective as a CAM method for menopausal symptoms in the setting of a hospital obstetrics and gynecology department.     

更年期妇女症状与生存质量及激素水平相关性研究

<正>更年期妇女处于社会、家庭、工作、生活的多重压力中,不良环境和行为因素影响其生存质量。为了提高更年期妇女保健意识,改善其生存质量,本研究调查邯郸市10个社区557例更年期女性症状及生存质量,现报道如下。1对象与方法1.1对象采用分层随机抽样的方法,选择邯郸市10个居民社区更年期妇女557例,年龄40岁~60岁(50.23±3.27)岁;文化程度:初中及以下文化259例,高中(包括中专)154例,专科89例,本科以上55例;