Bionutra - The Freedom To Live Well : Menopause Statistics

Many researches and studies have been carried out to gain better knowledge about menopause. These researches review the occurrence of menopause including its causes and effects.

Evolution of Menopause Over the Years

In 1990, the total population of postmenopausal women throughout the world was reported to be 476 million.
It is predicted that the total number of postmenopausal women in 2030 will be approximately 1200 million and the proportion of these women in the developing world will increase to 76%.
From 1989 to 1992, the percentage of the population above 45 years of age in 11 countries (except Japan) in the East Asian region ranged from 15.3% to 24.0%, and those above 65 ranged from 3.8% to 6.6%.
As of end June 2003, 16% of the population in Singapore is made up of women aged above 45, 4% are above 65.
A study conducted on menopausal women in South-East Asian countries revealed a median age of menopause at 51.09 years.
It has been stipulated that there will be a sharp increase in the proportion of postmenopausal women over the next 20 to 30 years in Japan and China.

Menopause and Symptoms

The hypoestrogenic state of the menopause may cause psychological changes and other symptoms.
Asian women in the menopausal stage tend to experience a lower incidence of psychological complaints. For example, anxiety, irritability, headache, depression, insomnia, and vasomotor complaints including hot flushes, sweating, palpitation and dizziness.
General aches and pains appear to be a common problem in South East Asia and emerge to be the one consistent major symptom suffered by women in this region.
Hot flushes (56%), tiredness (53%), and heatiness (49%) are found to be the most common symptoms experienced by women in Malaysia.
The main symptom amongst the Chinese women in Malaysia was hot flushes (79%) whereas the Malays and Indians experienced more tiredness and joint pains.
It was found that Asian women with severe menopausal symptoms usually belonged to the higher socioeconomic group, unlike their Western counterparts where the severe menopausal symptoms were experienced by those in the lower socioeconomic group.

Menopause and Health

Cancer
- It was revealed that breast cancer is the most common disease amongst menopausal women in Singapore.
- Nonetheless, declines in incidence and mortality rates from breast cancer have been observed in Japanese women who have reached menopause.
Cardiovascular
- Serum cholesterol levels were also noted to be significantly higher after five years of menopause (64%) when compared to those women who are in the first five years of menopause (55%) and those from the Perimenopause group (45%).
- As estrogen levels decrease following menopause, women are at an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, making them just as vulnerable as men.
- Postmenopausal women are also susceptible to heart attacks, largely due to the reduction in estrogen following menopause.
Chronic Illnesses
- Women spent 36% of their remaining life after age 65 years with some form of chronic illness.
- Life spent with chronic illnesses is longer for Singapore women (6.9 years) as compared to Singapore men (5.4 years).
Osteoporosis
- With increase in life expectancy, women are now more exposed to osteoporosis fracture.
- Osteoporosis that occurs in postmenopausal years will lead to disproportionate loss of trabecular bone which is associated with fractures at sites rich in cancellous bone such as the vertebral body and distal radius.
- In postmenopausal women, bone loss occurs at a more rapid rate. This rate may be as much as 3% to 5% annually in cancellous (trabecular) bone and 1% to 3% in cortical bone during the early years following menopause.
Sexual
- The abrupt decline in sex hormone associated with menopause does adversely affect sexual function, regardless of the age at which the menopause occurs.
- Sexual dysfunction relating to ovarian hormone decline can have indirect effects such as weight gain or obesity, and a generalized decrease in tone, strength and elasticity of tissues, i.e. sagging, wrinkling and drying out of the skin.


				Menopause Statistics Understanding Menopause Stages of Menopause More About Menopause When Menopause Comes About Hormonal Changes During Menopause How Menopause Comes About Menopause Statistics Symptoms of Menopause Long Term Effects of Menopause Managing Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy Alternative Remedies Healthy Lifestyle Emotional Support Other Measures Many researches and studies have been carried out to gain better knowledge about menopause. These researches review the occurrence of menopause including its causes and effects. Evolution of Menopause Over the Years In 1990, the total population of postmenopausal women throughout the world was reported to be 476 million. It is predicted that the total number of postmenopausal women in 2030 will be approximately 1200 million and the proportion of these women in the developing world will increase to 76%. From 1989 to 1992, the percentage of the population above 45 years of age in 11 countries (except Japan) in the East Asian region ranged from 15.3% to 24.0%, and those above 65 ranged from 3.8% to 6.6%. As of end June 2003, 16% of the population in Singapore is made up of women aged above 45, 4% are above 65. A study conducted on menopausal women in South-East Asian countries revealed a median age of menopause at 51.09 years. It has been stipulated that there will be a sharp increase in the proportion of postmenopausal women over the next 20 to 30 years in Japan and China. Menopause and Symptoms The hypoestrogenic state of the menopause may cause psychological changes and other symptoms. Asian women in the menopausal stage tend to experience a lower incidence of psychological complaints. For example, anxiety, irritability, headache, depression, insomnia, and vasomotor complaints including hot flushes, sweating, palpitation and dizziness. General aches and pains appear to be a common problem in South East Asia and emerge to be the one consistent major symptom suffered by women in this region. Hot flushes (56%), tiredness (53%), and heatiness (49%) are found to be the most common symptoms experienced by women in Malaysia. The main symptom amongst the Chinese women in Malaysia was hot flushes (79%) whereas the Malays and Indians experienced more tiredness and joint pains. It was found that Asian women with severe menopausal symptoms usually belonged to the higher socioeconomic group, unlike their Western counterparts where the severe menopausal symptoms were experienced by those in the lower socioeconomic group. Menopause and Health Cancer It was revealed that breast cancer is the most common disease amongst menopausal women in Singapore. Nonetheless, declines in incidence and mortality rates from breast cancer have been observed in Japanese women who have reached menopause. Cardiovascular Serum cholesterol levels were also noted to be significantly higher after five years of menopause (64%) when compared to those women who are in the first five years of menopause (55%) and those from the Perimenopause group (45%). As estrogen levels decrease following menopause, women are at an increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, making them just as vulnerable as men. Postmenopausal women are also susceptible to heart attacks, largely due to the reduction in estrogen following menopause. Chronic Illnesses Women spent 36% of their remaining life after age 65 years with some form of chronic illness. Life spent with chronic illnesses is longer for Singapore women (6.9 years) as compared to Singapore men (5.4 years). Osteoporosis With increase in life expectancy, women are now more exposed to osteoporosis fracture. Osteoporosis that occurs in postmenopausal years will lead to disproportionate loss of trabecular bone which is associated with fractures at sites rich in cancellous bone such as the vertebral body and distal radius. In postmenopausal women, bone loss occurs at a more rapid rate. This rate may be as much as 3% to 5% annually in cancellous (trabecular) bone and 1% to 3% in cortical bone during the early years following menopause. Sexual The abrupt decline in sex hormone associated with menopause does adversely affect sexual function, regardless of the age at which the menopause occurs. Sexual dysfunction relating to ovarian hormone decline can have indirect effects such as weight gain or obesity, and a generalized decrease in tone, strength and elasticity of tissues, i.e. sagging, wrinkling and drying out of the skin.