Assessment of sexual activity and menopausal symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women using the Menopause Rating Scale

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess sexual activity and menopausal symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women and to correlate this with their vaginal maturation status (VMS).

Methods: 120 women aged 45–60 years were assigned to four groups: premenopause (Pre-M), perimenopause (Peri-M), early postmenopause (Post-EM), and late postmenopause (Post-LM). The menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale. VMS was determined using the vaginal maturation index (VMI) and pH value. Sexual activity including sexual frequency and distress was measured using self-administered questionnaires.

Results: A high proportion (48.2%) of Post-LM women reported low sexual frequency, and a high proportion (24.2%) of Peri-M women reported sexual distress. Physical/mental exhaustion and sexual problems were the most prevalent symptoms, followed by sleeping problems and hot flushes/sweating rated as severe or very severe. Physical/mental exhaustion and sexual problems became more frequent as menopausal stages progressed (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Hot flushes/sweating was more prominent in women in the Peri-M and Post-EM groups. The Post-LM group exhibited lower VMI and higher pH values than the Pre-M and Peri-M groups (p < 0.017 and p < 0.001, respectively), and pH was positively correlated with sexual problems (r = 0.298, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Advancing menopausal status is associated with prevalent physical/mental exhaustion and sexual problems in middle-aged Chinese women. Hot flushes/sweating is among the most frequent menopausal symptoms rated as severe or very severe. In addition, urogenital symptoms are correlated with pH in these women.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在评估中国中年妇女的性活动和更年期症状, 并将其与阴道成熟状态(VMS)联系起来。

方法：将120例45 ∼ 60岁女性分为四组：绝经前期(Pre-M)、围绝经期(Peri-M)、绝经早期(Post-EM)、绝经晚期(Post-LM)。采用更年期评定量表对更年期症状进行评定。采用阴道成熟指数(VMI)和pH值测定VMS。性行为包括性生活频率和性交疼痛程度, 这些是通过患者自行填写调查问卷来判断的。

结果：绝经晚期女性性行为频率低的比例高(48.2%), 而绝经前期女性性交痛的比例高(24.2%)。身体/精神疲劳和性问题是最常见的症状, 其次是睡眠障碍和严重或非常严重的潮热/出汗。随着绝经期的进展, 身体/精神疲劳和性问题变得更加频繁(p < 0.05和p < 0.01)。在绝经前期和围绝经期两组女性中, 潮热/出汗更为明显。与绝经前期组和围绝经期组相比, 绝经晚期组表现出更低的VMI和更高的pH值(p < 0.017和p < 0.001), pH值与性问题呈正相关(r = 0.298, p < 0.01)。

结论：中国中年妇女更年期的进展与普遍存在的身体/精神疲劳和性问题有关。潮热/出汗是最常见的更年期症状之一, 被认为是严重或非常严重的。此外, 泌尿生殖系统症状与她们的pH值相关。

Keywords:

• Menopausal symptoms
• Menopause Rating Scale
• sexual activity
• Chinese women
• middle-aged
• vaginal maturation status

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the women who volunteered to participate in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Source of funding

The study is supported by grants from Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry [No. 2010-609]; Dalian Scientific and Technological Planning Foundation, Dalian Municipal Science and Technology Bureau [No. 2014E14SF170].