Cultural construction of the menopausal syndrome: the Japanese case

Lock, Margaret; Kaufert, Patricia A.; Gilbert, Penny

doi:10.1016/0378-5122(88)90067-9

Cited by 129 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The present research, however, indicates that, regardless of positive attitudes surrounding the end of menstruation, Q'eqchi Maya women frequently experience menopausal symptoms. Our results coincide with research performed in China, Indonesia and Mexico, which found no local term for the "hot flash" (Beyene, 1986;Boulet, Oddens, Lehert, Vemer, & Visser, 1994;Lock, Kaufert, & Gilbert, 1988). Diet, fertility patterns, and exercise are often not thoroughly considered when gathering data on menopausal symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Symptoms, attitudes and treatment choices surrounding menopause among the Q’eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala

Michel

Mahady

Veliz

et al. 2006

Social Science & Medicine

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The present study explored symptoms, attitudes and treatments surrounding women's health and menopause among the Q'eqchi Maya of the eastern tropical lowlands of Guatemala. Data were obtained through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and plant walks with 50 Q'eqchi community members from the state of Izabal, Municipality of Livingston, including 5 midwives, 5 traditional male healers and 8 postmenopausal women. Results indicate that the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston possess their own cultural perceptions of women's health which affect attitudes, symptoms and treatment choices during the menopausal transition. Since discussions of menstruation and menopause are considered cultural taboos among the Q'eqchi, many women mentioned experiencing excessive preoccupation when unanticipated and unfamiliar symptoms occurred. Furthermore, many women suffered from additional hardship when their spouse misinterpreted menopausal symptoms (vaginal dryness, sexual disinterest) as infidelity. Seven of the eight postmenopausal women interviewed indicated experiencing one or more symptoms during the menopausal transition, including headaches, anxiety, muscular pain, depression, and hot flashes. These results differ from the lack of symptomatology reported in previous studies in Mexico, but are in line with the result of menopausal research conducted among other Maya groups from the highlands of Guatemala. Although the Q'eqchi did not use a specific term for "hot flash", three Q'eqchi women used the expression "baja presion" or a "lowering of blood pressure" to explain symptoms of profuse sweating followed by chills, heart palpitations, and emotional instability. The Q'eqchi Maya mentioned a number of herbal remedies to treat menopausal symptoms. Further research on these botanical treatments is needed in order to ascertain their safety and efficacy for continued use.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Symptoms, attitudes and treatment choices surrounding menopause among the Q’eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala

Michel

Mahady

Veliz

et al. 2006

Social Science & Medicine

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“…Despite this, and the lack of hormonal data in these studies, a brief look at the prospective epidemiology of the perimenopausal period is useful. The following two North American studies used similar questionnaires and analytic strategies, were both based on telephone interviews every 6 to 9 months, and, along with studies conducted in Japan by Dr. Margaret Lock of Montreal, have been used to frame some important cross-cultural understanding of menopause (9,20,21).…”

Section: Prospective Epidemiological Studies Of the Perimenopausementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cultural (17,18) and social status (19) differences in the reporting of midlife symptoms and the meaning of menopause in different societies (20), although very important, have been reviewed elsewhere (9,21,22). In addition, because Sowers and La Pietra (2) and Khaw (23) have recently reviewed the epidemiology of menopause, and there are few ways to relate the endocrinological events to the age at menopause, this review will not examine the epidemiology of menopause nor factors contributing to age at onset of menopause (23)(24)(25)(26)(27).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Perimenopause: The Complex Endocrinology of the Menopausal Transition

1998

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“…However, Ishizuka et al 57 studied a nonclinical random communitybased sample of Japanese women (n ¼ 1,169, mean age 50 years) and found a higher prevalence of HFs (36.9%) than in a previous report on Japanese women (9.5%). 58 This increased prevalence is partially explained by westernization and medicalization of menopause in Japan and the increased attention given to it in the media. 59 Although the prevalence of HFs has increased in Japan, however, it is still lower than in most Western populations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors That May Influence the Experience of Hot Flushes by Healthy Middle-Aged Women

Ziv‐Gal¹,

Flaws

2010

Journal of Women's Health

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Background: Interest in menopausal symptoms in general and hot flushes (HFs) in particular has grown in recent years. This is mostly due to increased awareness and the vast impact these symptoms have on women's lives. Despite the high prevalence of women who experience HFs, a definitive etiology for HFs is yet to be found. Our objective was to review the current literature dealing with associated factors for experiencing HFs and to provide a synthesized overview on this common and often debilitating condition. Methods: We systematically searched the English-language literature in the PubMed database using relevant key words and included only those articles that contained information on associated factors for HFs in generally healthy midlife women. Results: Both conflicting scientific results between studies documenting factors that influence HFs and the lack of validated measuring tools make it difficult to truly pinpoint associated factors for HFs. Nonetheless, we identified the following clusters of associated factors: the menopausal stages, sex steroid hormones, other endocrine agents, genetic polymorphisms, race=ethnicity, body mass index (BMI) and obesity, mood disorders, smoking, soy isoflavones and phytoestrogens, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Conclusions: No single associated factor was consistently identified as having a major role in experiencing HFs. More resources should be directed to develop a unified study system along with multivariable analyses to get a better understanding of this condition, which often imposes a tremendous social and personal toll on the women who experience it.

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Cultural construction of the menopausal syndrome: the Japanese case

Cited by 129 publications

References 6 publications

Symptoms, attitudes and treatment choices surrounding menopause among the Q’eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala

Symptoms, attitudes and treatment choices surrounding menopause among the Q’eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala

Perimenopause: The Complex Endocrinology of the Menopausal Transition

Factors That May Influence the Experience of Hot Flushes by Healthy Middle-Aged Women

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