Sammendrag
In this paper the association of hormones to vasomotor complaints
during the menopausal transition is discussed. 57 regularly
menstruating women without history of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
were selected for a longitudinal, prospective study around the
menopausal transition. The mean age at the start of the study was 51.3
(± 2.0) years. At intervals of 12 months all women went through a
semi?structured interview and filled in questionnaires. Venous
blood samples were collected every 12 month for analyses of estradiol
(E2), testosterone, androstendione, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate
(DHEA?S), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing
hormone (LH) and thyrotropin (TSH). Vasomotor complaints were tested
using questions about hot flushes and bouts of sweating in terms of
occurrence, frequency and degree of distress. 46 % of the subjects
reported hot flushes and bouts of sweating before menopause, increasing
to 67 % during the first year after menopause and 49 % in the second
year post menopause. Low levels of estradiol and high levels of FSH
were associated with vasomotor complaints before menopause. During
menopause high levels of TSH were related to vasomotor complaints. The
first year after menopause, women, who at this point achieved hot
flushes, were characterised by high levels of E2, but declining and low
levels of FSH, but increasing. Postmenopausal, high levels of
testosterone and DHEA?S seemed to protect against vasomotor
symptoms. Our most important finding was, that among women who achieved
hot flushes at the first assessment post menopause, the high androgen
levels was a significant predictor of recovery from hot flushes at the
last assessment, one year later.
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