Research Database -
International Updates

Infertility / Menopause

Issue 25

STADBERG and colleagues, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Hospital, University of Goteborg, Sweden studied the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and their treatment in Swedish women. METHODS: A random sample of 5990 women, resident in Goteborg and born in 1946, 1942, 1938, 1934 and 1930 was obtained from the population register. The women were invited by letter to complete a questionnaire regarding health, reproductive history, menopausal symptoms and severity and treatment of menopausal complaints. The overall response rate was 76%. RESULTS: Prevalence of menopausal symptoms was as follows: vasomotor symptoms 53%; depression/irritability 57%; sleeping disturbance 52%; muscle/joint pain 57%; loss of libido 37%; and vaginal dryness 21%. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with medium potency oestrogens was being used by 13.4%; 7.7% were using low potency oestrogens. Previously, medium potency oestrogens had been used by 14%, and 6% had previously used low potency oestrogens. HRT was reported to be effective in the most common menopausal complaints in 70-90% of HRT users. Non-hormonal treatment regimens had been used by 45% of the women; 31-63% reported a positive effect upon menopausal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of peri- and postmenopausal women reported menopausal complaints, only 21% were currently using oestrogens. Non-hormonal treatment modalities were used by 45% of the women and were reported to have a positive effect upon menopausal symptoms in up to 63% of women, compared to up to 90% in HRT users.
Stadberg E et al. The prevalence and severity of climacteric symptoms and the use of different treatment regimens in a Swedish population. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 76(5): 442-8. May 1997.

COMMENTS: There is a similarly low percentage of menopausal women taking HRT in the UK, due to a combination of side effects and health concerns regarding taking hormones (see also June Butlin’s column this issue, page 40).

MANTYRANTA and colleagues, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. taina.mantyranta@helsinki.fi. studied the use of alternative treatments for the menopause in Finland. METHODS: The authors conducted a population-based survey in 1989 among 2000 Finnish women aged 45-64. The response rate was 86%. RESULTS: 11% of the women reported using alternative treatments for the menopause, food supplements and bee products the most common products cited. Users of alternative treatments differed little from other women with regard to health habits and use of health care services. Common characteristics were urban residence, greater than 9 years of general education, and among 50-54 year olds, the use of prescription or over the counter drugs for the menopause. Greater than half of the users of alternative treatments had also used hormone therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Women using alternative treatments during and after the menopause represent a large group. More information is needed regarding the clinical effects of alternative treatments.
Mantyranta T et al. Alternative drug use for the climacteric in Finland. Maturitas 27(1): 5-11. May 1997.

COMMENTS: Positive Health is hosting a Symposium entitled Natural Approaches to the Menopause, to be held on 25 April 1998 at Imperial College London, with internationally renowned practitioners addressing Nutrition, Natural Progesterone, Herbal Medicine, Homoeopathy and Lifestyle issues. For more information or to book seats, please telephone 0117-983 8851 or email sandra@positive.u-net.com.

Issue 22

PALAN and NAZ, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York USA studied levels of antioxidants in human seminal plasma and determined the association between antioxidant concentrations and antisperm antibody titres in immunoinfertile men. METHODS: Concentrations of antioxidant beta-carotene, lycopene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol in seminal plasma were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography in 37 men, 22 fertile and 15 immunoinfertile, aged 27-35 years. Antisperm antibody titres were determined using the sperm-immobilisation technique (SIT), tray-agglutination technique (TAT) and indirect immunobead test (IBT). RESULTS: Compared to fertile men, levels of 3 antioxidants - beta-carotene, lycopene and retinol were significantly decreased and concentrations of alpha-tocopherol was significantly increased in seminal plasma in immunoinfertile men. There was a significant linear correlation between the antisperm antibody titre and beta-carotene level measured by IBT, but no significant correlation with the other 3 seminal plasma antioxidants, lycopene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate for the first time, the presence of antioxidants in local genital tract secretions of men. Modulation of antioxidant concentrations in immunoinfertile men and correlation of antioxidant concentrations with antisperm antibody titrres strongly suggest the involvement of dietary antioxidants in male infertility, especially mediated through immunological factors.
Palan P and Naz R. Changes in various antioxidant levels in human seminal plasma related to immunoinfertility. Arch Androl 36(2): 139-43. Mar-Apr 1996.

COMMENTS: This is ground-breaking research and none too soon either, as the proportion of infertile men appears to be dramatically rising.

IRVIN and colleagues, Mind/Body Medical Institute, New England Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA USA studied the efficacy of relaxation for the treatment of menopausal hot flushes and concurrent psychological symptoms. METHODS: 33 women aged between 44 and 66 who were in general good health, with a minimum of 6 months without a menstrual period, experiencing at last 5 hot flushes per day and not using hormone replacement therapy participated in this randomised controlled prospective study, held in an outpatient clinic within a teaching hospital. The interventions used included relaxation response training and an attention-control group and daily symptom diary recording frequency and intensity of hot flushes. Measures for Anxiety and Mood Scale were also used. The women were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: relaxation, reading or control for the 10-week study. The first 3 weeks of baseline measurement of frequency and intensity of hot flush symptoms and preintervention psychological scores were compared with the final 3 weeks' data. RESULTS: The relaxation group demonstrated significant reductions in hot flush intensity, tension anxiety and depression. The reading group demonstrated significant reductions in trait anxiety and confusion bewilderment. The control group had no significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: Daily relaxation practice resulted in significant reduction in hot flush intensity and the concurrent psychological symptoms of tension anxiety and depression.
Irvin JH et al. The effects of relaxation response training on menopausal symptoms. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 17(4): 202-7. Dec 1996.