Studying the menopausal transition: methodological considerations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To document prospectively the menopausal status of a population-based cohort of women. METHODS: A 11-year community-based study with annual interviews of 438 Australian-born women who at baseline were aged 45-55 years, had menstruated in the previous 3 months and were not using hormone therapy or the oral contraceptive pill. Women were interviewed annually in their own homes. Each woman's menstrual history during her transition to menopause was documented prospectively using menstrual calendars. RESULTS: After 11 years of follow-up, the retention rate was 83%. The percentages of the cohort who had experienced a natural menopause at the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 11th years of follow-up wer..