Menopause : the journal of the North American Menopause Society
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Multicenter Study
Sleep difficulty in women at midlife: a community survey of sleep and the menopausal transition.
To compare age-adjusted and ethnic differences in prevalences of sleep difficulty at various stages of the menopausal transition and to determine the relative contribution of other factors, including vasomotor symptoms, sociodemographics, and psychological and physical health factors, to self-reported sleep difficulty in middle-aged women. ⋯ These results suggest that stage of the menopausal transition, independent of other potential explanatory factors, is associated with self-reported sleep difficulty. Older age per se was not significantly associated with difficulty sleeping.
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Comparative Study
An electronic menstrual cycle calendar: comparison of data quality with a paper version.
This pilot study compared a prototype electronic menstrual calendar on a handheld computer with a paper calendar for data quality and participants' perceptions. ⋯ Data quality with conventional paper calendars may be poorer than recognized. The data-logging feature, unique to the electronic calendar, is critical for assessing data quality. Electronic menstrual calendars can be useful data collection tools for research in women's health.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
17beta-estradiol vaginal tablet versus conjugated equine estrogen vaginal cream to relieve menopausal atrophic vaginitis.
The efficacy and safety of 25-microg 17beta-estradiol vaginal tablets (Vagifem) were assessed and compared with 1.25-mg conjugated equine estrogen vaginal cream (Premarin Vaginal Cream) for the relief of menopausal-derived atrophic vaginitis, resulting from estrogen deficiency. ⋯ Treatment regimens with 25-microg 17beta-estradiol vaginal tablets and with 1.25-mg conjugated equine estrogen vaginal cream were equivalent in relieving symptoms of atrophic vaginitis. The vaginal tablets demonstrated a localized effect without appreciable systemic estradiol increases or estrogenic side effects. Vaginal tablet therapy resulted in greater patient acceptance and lower withdrawal rates compared with vaginal cream therapy.
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To collect information relevant to the mission of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS)--i.e., increasing understanding of menopause--by assessing perceptions held by postmenopausal women in the United States aged 50 to 65 years regarding their menopause transition and early postmenopausal years. ⋯ Although the postmenopausal women surveyed had differing views of menopause as well as their perceptions of postmenopause compared with premenopause, the majority viewed menopause and midlife as the beginning of many positive changes in their lives and health. Hysterectomy was a factor associated with improved sexual relationships, spouse/partner relationships, sense of personal fulfillment, and physical health.