Our Study Questions
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What is the symptom experience of those in the Late Reproductive Phase (LRS)*?
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How is the symptom experience similar or different between those in the Late Reproductive Phase (LRS)* and those in the Menopausal Transition and later (MT+)**
*Getting regular periods with changes to the length of cycle, amount or number of days of flow.
**Cycle length changes of 7+ days or have had skipped periods.
Adapted From The Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop, Soules, et al 2001
Symptom experience was strikingly similar between those who hadn’t yet had irregular cycles and those that had.
For 54 of the 61 symptoms, there was less than a 10% difference between the two groups in the number of respondents reporting those symptoms.
Most reported symptoms by LRS Group: Monthly periods w/subtle changes to cycle length, days or amount of flow
% of respondents within LRS Group (subtly changing monthly periods) who reported these symptoms, n=945
I am more forgetful
0%
I am irritable (e.g. short tempered, impatient with others)
0%
I have a harder time concentrating
0%
I have sore breasts, breast tenderness
0%
I am less interested in sexual activities
0%
I am experiencing new fatigue, tiredness
0%
I have feelings of anxiety (e.g. more nervous)
0%
My skin is drier than it used to be
0%
I wake in the middle of the night (for 1+ hour)
0%
I feel easily overwhelmed, less able to cope
0%
I have urinary leakage w/ sneeze or cough
0%
Hot flashes
0%
I have low feelings (sad, blue, depressed)
0%
I have night or cold sweats
0%
Most reported symptoms by MT Group: Two or fewer periods in past 3 months
% of respondents within MT Group (irregular periods) who reported these symptoms, n=451
I am more forgetful
0%
I am irritable (e.g. short tempered, impatient with others)
0%
I have a harder time concentrating
0%
I have sore breasts, breast tenderness
0%
I am less interested in sexual activities
0%
I am experiencing new fatigue, tiredness
0%
I have feelings of anxiety (e.g. more nervous)
0%
My skin is drier than it used to be
0%
I wake in the middle of the night (for 1+ hour)
0%
I feel easily overwhelmed, less able to cope
0%
I have urinary leakage w/ sneeze or cough
0%
Hot flashes
0%
I have low feelings (sad, blue, depressed)
0%
I have night or cold sweats
0%
Only 6 of the top reported symptoms showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups.
Top Symptoms Difference Before and After 7-day change in Cycles
% of respondents who reported these symptoms
I am more forgetful
0%
0%
I have sore breasts, breast tenderness
0%
0%
I am less interested in sexual activities
0%
0%
My skin is drier than it used to be
0%
0%
Hot flashes
0%
0%
I have low feelings (sad, blue, depressed)
0%
0%
We don’t expect changes to happen as early as they do.
Think back to when you were 30. In which of the following age ranges did you assume the changes associated with the lead up to menopause would begin?
- Age 44 or younger
- 45-49 years old
- Age 50 or older