DETERMINING THE CONSEQUENCES OF PERSISTENT ESTROGEN DEPLETION IN OLDER AUSTRALIAN WOMEN

Menopause may result in symptoms, primarily vasomotor symptoms, lowered mood and vaginal dryness. The persistence of these symptoms beyond midlife is unknown. In a study of 1,548 Australian women, aged 65+ years, one-third of women had vasomotor symptoms, one fifth had vaginal dryness during intercourse, and one in 7 were distressed by low sexual desire. Vasomotor symptoms were associated with depressive symptoms. Nearly one half had at least one of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. Few older women receive appropriate treatment for these symptoms, which remain silent and under-treated, despite their concern to older women.