THE MENOPAUSAL AGE AND CLIMACTERIC COMPLAINTS IN THAI WOMEN IN BANGKOK

Age at menopause, associated factors and related clinical symptoms were recorded in a sample of Thai women living in the Bangkok area. Interviews by trained nurses were offered to a sample of 2375 women aged 45-59 years selected at random in 19 of the 54 Bangkok Metropolis Administration health centers. Full reports were obtained from 2354 women. Fifty-six percent of the study population were classified as postmenopausal, i.e. having no vaginal bleeding during the last 12 months, 12% were perimenopausal, i.e. having irregular vaginal bleeding during the last 12 months and 31% were premenopausal, i.e. having regular vaginal bleeding during the last 12 months. The average age at menopause was 49.5 +/- 3.6 years and was not related to body weight, height, age at menarche, level of education, smoking or use of oral contraceptives. However, high parity was significantly correlated to delayed menopause. Clinical symptoms of oestrogen deficiency were reported at a significantly higher rate in the perimenopause group, but the premnopause and postmenopause groups did not differ in their complaints about any symptom, including hot flushes. The most striking effect of menopause was a dramatic loss of sexual desire in 86.9% of postmenopausal women. However, the situation did not induce any specific complaint or any request for medical support.