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Psychological and Sexual Symptoms Associated with the Menopause and the Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Jane Pearce ,
Keith Hawton  and
Fiona Blake
Jane Pearce*
Affiliation:
Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
Keith Hawton
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford
Fiona Blake
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
*
Dr Jane Pearce, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford OX4 4XN. Fax: (0865) 223061
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Abstract

Background

There is considerable inconsistency in the results of studies of the psychological and sexual sequelae of the menopause and their treatment.

Method

A search of the literature on Medline was made of studies of psychological symptoms in women who were either naturally or surgically menopausal or who were receiving hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms.

Results

There is evidence of a small increase in psychological morbidity (not usually amounting to psychiatric disorder) preceding the natural menopause and following the surgical menopause. Psychosocial as well as hormonal factors are relevant. While the response of psychosocial symptoms to hormone replacement therapy with oestrogens is variable and most marked in the surgical menopause, in some studies the effect is little greater than that for placebo. Where sexual symptoms are present, there is more consistent evidence that hormone replacement therapy is effective.

Conclusions

In the light of the available evidence, the current use of hormone replacement therapy to treat psychological symptoms detected at the time of (but not necessarily therefore due to) the natural menopause must be questioned. It does appear that oestrogen therapy ameliorates psychological symptoms after surgical menopause.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 2 , August 1995 , pp. 163 - 173
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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