Has the climacteric been medicalized? A study on the use of medication for climacteric complaints in four countries.

Abstract

In order to compare the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), non-hormonal treatment for the menopause, and tranquillizers, samples of about 300 women aged over 40 were interviewed in France, the United Kingdom, the former West Germany and Italy. The proportion of women in the samples using HRT varied from 3% in Italy to 25% in Germany. The figures for non-hormonal treatment ranged from 2-13%, and for tranquillizers from 5-28%. The use of both HRT and non-hormonal treatment was found to be related to the perimenopause and the corresponding age groups and that of HRT to higher educational level. Tranquillizer use was related to the postmenopause and lower educational level. After controll..