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Half of
the 5,000 women beginning menopause every day in the United
States do not understand what is happening to their bodies,
including the heightened risk of developing osteoporosis,
according to a national survey conducted by RoperASW.
Six out
of ten of the women surveyed did not understand the relationship
between estrogen loss and menopausal conditions, the survey
found:
The survey,
underwritten by Wyeth, a leading manufacturer of hormone replacement
therapy drugs, was released as part of the launch of a new
effort to educate women on the effects of menopause led by
actress Cheryl Ladd.
Among
the finds of the survey of 500 women age 45 to 64 were:
- 52%
of women surveyed have experienced sexual effects associated
with estrogen loss. The
most prevalent sexual effects were loss of sex drive (30%),
vaginal dryness (26%), discomfort during sexual activity
(20%) and difficulty becoming aroused (19%).
- 58%
of women who have experienced loss of sex drive and 44%
of those who have experienced vaginal dryness say these
conditions have had a negative effect on their sex life.
- 58%
of women surveyed have experienced dry skin.
- 51%
of women surveyed have experienced fine lines (51%).
- 23%
of women surveyed have experienced discoloration of the
skin or blotchy complexions.
- 56%
of women surveyed suffer from fatigue.
- 50%
of women surveyed have difficulty sleeping.
- 46%
of women surveyed suffer from mood swings.
- 43%
of women surveyed have problems with depression (43%).
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of April 14, 2002
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