Climacteric symptoms in a representative Dutch population sample as measured with the Greene Climacteric Scale

Abstract

Objective: To measure climacteric symptoms in a population-based survey as assessed by the Greene Climacteric Scale and to obtain normative data for the total score and subscales (psychological, somatic, vasomotor, and sexual) of the Greene Climacteric Scale. Methods: A sample representative of the Dutch female population is interviewed. The sample was drawn from the NIPO-Telepanel (with 269 women aged 45–65 years) and from the NIPO-CAPI@HOME database (a sample of 235 women aged 45–65 years). They all filled in the 21 items of the Greene Climacteric Scale. The women were divided in four groups according their menopausal status: premenopausal, perimenopausal, postmenopausal and posthysterectomy. Results: The total score of the Greene Climacteric Scale (mean; SD) was in premenopausal women 10.53±7.36). The score in perimenopausal women (15.78±9.09) and postmenopausal women (15.33±9.01) were significant higher than in the premenopause. The same significant difference between pre and peri/postmenopausal women was observed in the psychological, somatic and vasomotor subscales. The depression subscale did not change significantly during the menopausal transition. Hysterectomized women had the same score as postmenopausal women, reflecting the rather high mean age of the hysterectomized women (55.8 years). Conclusions: Prevalence and intensity of climacteric symptoms as expressed in the Greene Climacteric Scale do increase during the menopausal transition and stay high during the postmenopause. Data presented can be considered normative for the Greene Climacteric Scale in a mainly Caucasian population.