Clinical features

Menopausal symptoms are thought to affect around two thirds of women

• around 10-20% describe these symptoms as distressing
• the duration and the severity of the symptoms vary and cannot be predicted (1).

The effects of the menopause may be discussed in terms of:

• vasomotor symptoms } immediate / short term
• psychological effects } effects
• urogenital disease } medium term effect
• cardiovascular disease }
• osteoporosis } long term effects
• breast disease }

Reference:

• (1) Currie H, Cochrane R. Current options in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Prescriber 2010;21(13)