Culture May Influence How Women Experience Menopause

Even though hormonal changes after menopause produce similar symptoms in many women, cultural differences can still shape how people experience this stage of life, a study suggests.

Researchers reviewed results from an online survey asking 8,200 older men and women in North America and Europe how menopause impacted their sex lives and relationships and found similar complaints in different countries. But the magnitude of suffering for typical symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes and weight gain varied by nationality.

SOURCE: Reuters Health • AUTHOR: Lisa Rapaport • LAST UPDATED: June 5, 2015